Thibodaux council hopeful of new boat launch

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Thibodaux City Councilman Chip Badeaux would like to see more people having fun on Bayou Lafourche in his city.

Badeaux said he is looking into bringing a boat launch back to Thibodaux. The councilman said the plan is still in its infancy, as he is searching for a location for the launch.

According to Badeaux, the launch would provide multiple benefits to the area. Aside from attracting more visitors to Thibodaux, it could also help improve water quality in Bayou Lafourche, which supplies for water for more than 300,000 people across four parishes.


“If you had boat traffic in Bayou Lafourche, it would help alleviate and destroy some of the vegetation and allow the water to flow a lot more. I was looking at it from a safety standpoint,” Badeaux said.

Badeaux was also quick to highlight the recreational enhancements the launch would provide.

“At one time people used to ski and fish and do everything in Bayou Lafourche,” Badeaux said. “The other thing is, most of the communities’ guests that come from other cities, couple of things they ask: one, ‘Where can I listen to Cajun music?’ And two, ‘Where can I get a kayak so I can go in the bayou?’”


Charles Mosley, director of the Bayou Rowing Association, has not overlooked the proposed launch’s effect on tourism. Mosley said he has been in touch with collegiate rowing teams from the northeast United States in an effort to bring them to Bayou Lafourche for their winter practice.

Mosley said Thibodaux’s small, college town character makes it attractive to those rowing teams. However, the nearest launch to Thibodaux is currently on La. Highway 308 near the Greenwood Plantation. Mosley said having one in the heart of the city would go a long way to bringing in rowers from across the country.

“We’re about three miles from downtown Thibodaux, so certainly having something with more access to downtown Thibodaux would be a benefit,” Mosley said.


Timothy Bush, executive director of the Bayou Lafourche Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, noted the effect the launch could have on fishing in the area.

“Fishing is one of the main experiences that draws visitors to Lafourche Parish. Our fishing opportunities are something that visitors associate with our destination as an asset. The creation of a new boat launch would further enhance our reputation as a destination with plenty of outdoor recreation activities to enjoy,” Bush said.

While there is enthusiasm for the project, the logistics of implementing the launch have lagged behind. Badeaux said he estimates the launch would cost about $300,000 based on information he received from Terrebonne Parish on a launch it built. He said he thinks he could find the money from both nonprofit and governmental entities, but finding a location for the launch has proven difficult.


“There’s not many pieces of property left. There’s not anybody knocking on my door willing to donate any land,” Badeaux said.

A weir in the bayou at Thibodaux has hampered the location search, though. Kayakers and boaters are stopped from going further downstream by the weir, so Badeaux has only been able to look at areas south of the structure. However, the weir is scheduled to be removed sometime next year, according to Badeaux.

The councilman said he wants to get the ball rolling on preliminary steps even as he searches for a location. Badeaux said he plans to get council approval for an engineering study that would get a more exact construction cost and examine the feasibility of finding a location.


“I had been thinking about this project for years, and I’ve just been procrastinating on it, and when I read articles about the quality of water, I said let me get off my butt,” Badeaux said. •

Thibodaux boat launch