Bayou Queue de Tortue facts for kids
Bayou Queue de Tortue (say it "KYOOD tor-TYOO") is a cool waterway in southern Louisiana, United States. Its name means "turtle-tail bayou" in Cajun French! This bayou is about 55 miles (89 km) long and some parts of it are even deep enough for boats to travel on. It's an important part of the Mermentau River system.
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Where is the Bayou Located?
Bayou Queue de Tortue starts near the city of Lafayette. It acts like a natural border between different areas, or "parishes," in Louisiana. It separates Lafayette Parish and Acadia Parish to the west. It also separates Acadia Parish and Vermilion Parish to the south.
History of the Bayou
The land around Bayou Queue de Tortue was first home to the Atakapa Indian tribe. People believe the bayou was named after Chief Celestine La Tortue, a leader of the Attakapas nation.
The Village of Queue de Tortue
An early village near Rayne was also called Queue de Tortue. In 1801, a settler named John Lyon bought land from the Native Americans in this area. He paid $87 for land on the south side of the bayou. This land is now in Vermilion Parish.
Flooding and Changes Over Time
Bayou Queue de Tortue has seen some big changes over the years, especially with flooding.
Flooding in Gueydan
In the 1940s, the bayou flooded the town of Gueydan. To help prevent future floods, Vermilion Parish built a small wall, called a levee, in the 1950s.
How the Levee Helped
This levee stopped the normal flow of the Maree Michel Canal into the bayou. More importantly, it also protected Gueydan from floodwaters during heavy rains or when the water flowed backward. Over time, this levee was made taller, growing from about 7 feet (2.1 m) to 12 feet (3.7 m) high.
Current Challenges: Silting
Today, the bayou is facing a problem called "silting." This means that dirt and mud are building up in the bayou, making it shallower.
Effects of Silting
This silting causes more flooding in low-lying areas of Acadia Parish. When these areas flood, it can kill the plants and trees there. This loss of plants then makes the ground erode more easily, which adds even more dirt and mud to the bayou. It's a cycle that makes the problem worse.
