Demonstration Sites

The LSC has four demonstration sites — a lake, a wetland and two bayous. After stormwater equipment is installed nearly all litter flowing into these watersheds will be captured.

Our demonstration projects — Capitol Lake, the Burden Wetlands, Bayou Fountain, Monte Sano Bayou — are a direct result of SCR 24, which called for a stormwater feasibility study. In addition to these project studies, the LSC is also leading an effort to manage stormwater in a residential detention pond in Five Oaks Estates off Highland Road; this is made possible through collaboration with community stakeholders and partner donations.

The LSC continues to demonstrate that funding stormwater management works, but it takes a combination of grants, state and federal dollars, private donations and community partnerships to create success. Even with a permanent stormwater fee, when combined these various funding mechanisms help keep fees low.

Once these demonstration projects are completed, the LSC’s goal is to draft a manual on how to create and develop a stormwater management program. This manual will be distributed and made available to the public.

Capitol Lake

Much of the litter in Capitol Lake consists of single-use plastics, glass, and aluminum cans. As a bird sanctuary and a prominent location behind both the Louisiana State Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion, the lake's cleanliness is a top priority. With the installation and upkeep of new stormwater litter equipment, we aim to capture 80% of the litter in the lake.

In October 2024, the first phase of the stormwater litter management plan was initiated.

In September 2025, the second phase of the plan began. After securing the necessary permits and right-of-ways from the State of Louisiana, the City of Baton Rouge, and private landowners, new equipment to capture litter and debris has been installed.

Over the next year, the LSU AgCenter, the LSC, the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the Governor’s Office, and the City of Baton Rouge will collaborate on this project to help minimize and manage litter in Capitol Lake.

Project Communications & Media Coverage:
CAPITOL LAKE UPDATE, October-December 2024

CAPITOL LAKE LITTER ABATEMENT PROJECT FACT SHEET, September 2025

WBRZ NEWS STORY — Capitol Lake Phase 2, September 24, 2025

The Burden Wetlands

BEFORE stormwater equipment was installed in the Burden wetlands.

The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden is an expansive collection of specialty gardens, woodlands, wetlands, arboreta and university research facility located in the heart of Baton Rouge. In the back corner of the property bordered by Ward Creek, there was seven tons of litter in the property’s wetlands. During periods of flash flooding and heavy rains, the creek’s contents overflowed onto the Burden property creating acres and mounds of litter at least three feet deep. Engineers, scientists, remediation experts, the state and the City of Baton Rouge studied the situation and worked to develop and implement a long-term cleanup solution. In June 2022, the Phase 1 cleanup of the LSU Burden borrow pit was completed. Later that year the Phase 2 cleanup of the Burden wetland was completed. In 2023 the stormwater catchment devices — in this case a litter coral — was installed and a legacy cleanup was conducted. The wetland remains clean and continues to be monitored, tested and maintained.

To see the benefits of stormwater management from an aerial view, please click here.

**AFTER stormwater equipment was installed in 2023; photo above was taken in February 2024. The wetlands remain virtually litter-free with equipment in place.**

Bayou Fountain

Cleaning Up Bayou Fountain for Recreation and Eco-Tourism
For decades, dedicated volunteers from PaddleBR and other local enthusiasts have been hand-picking litter from Bayou Fountain, a popular waterway that runs through southern Baton Rouge along Highland Road. Their efforts have helped create a few miles of clear, beautiful scenery for recreational paddlers.

To expand on this success and promote eco-tourism, the Louisiana Stormwater Coalition chose Bayou Fountain as its third demonstration site. We purchased and installed a 75-foot litter-catching boom, which provides immediate relief for kayakers and canoeists and is helping to create up to 10 miles of litter-free waterway for residents to enjoy.

The boom, which also traps flood-causing sediment, is maintained by Osprey Initiative, who handles the removal and disposal of all the trapped litter.

Donate to Bayou Fountain boom maintenance fund

Monte Sano Bayou

In July 2024, the Monte Sano Bayou in North Baton Rouge got a much-needed makeover thanks to a successful community cleanup event called "Bash the Trash." This bayou, part of the BREC park system and a critical stormwater demonstration site for the LSC, was a prime target for a significant cleanup.

Over 50 volunteers from ExxonMobil, the LSC, the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and BREC joined forces to tackle a serious litter problem. Their hard work paid off, as they removed hundreds of tires and nearly 700 pounds of trash and recycling from the bayou and its shoreline.

Beyond the initial cleanup, ExxonMobil's funding and continued support led to the installation of a litter boom catchment device, which is now being maintained to prevent future litter from polluting the bayou. This ongoing effort is a great example of how community partnerships can lead to lasting environmental improvements. Read more.