The ULM Toxicology faculty have been awarded a grant in the amount of $134,299 to conduct water quality monitoring in the Upper Bayou Lafourche watershed. The funding source is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with a sub-grant agreement with the Gulf of America Alliance and the Morehouse Soil & Water Conservation District. This project will determine current water quality conditions in the Bayou Lafourche watershed and indicate potential changes in water quality and nutrient reduction, due to Best Management Practices (BMPs) implemented by area farmers and landowners.
After BMP deployment is complete, ULM Toxicology will sample every month for three years. Over the years, the ULM Toxicology faculty has participated in multiple EPA and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality programs to establish baseline water quality standards and assess the effectiveness of BMP implementation to lower nonpoint source pollution and enhance the "health" of local water bodies.
According to Dr. Baer, Professor of Toxicology and an Aquatic Toxicologist, “These projects have provided our students with valuable experience and expertise in water quality monitoring methods and techniques as well as educating the community on a variety of nonpoint source pollution issues.”
The data gathered for this project will be used by the US Department of Agriculture and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to determine whether the application of Best Management Practices (BMP) has improved water quality and to pinpoint important areas for future BMP implementation. Nutrient management, grade stabilization structures, irrigation water management, field borders, and the planting of fodder and biomass.