UL ASCE Conducts Annual Clean the Coast Event

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) triumphantly conducted another Clean the Coast event from October 24–26 in Grand Isle, Louisiana.  Clean The Coast is a signature community service  event, unique to our student organization, to promote environmental responsibility and community involvement. Our student chapter worked with three different agencies as part of this event; the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), and The Nature Conservancy.  Thanks to the generosity and support of these agencies, our student chapter was able to successfully complete this community service event and learn about their missions to preserve the natural resources of the Louisiana coast.

Early Saturday morning, ASCE members worked alongside BTNEP staff to clean Elmer’s Island Beach, collecting 86 bags of trash totaling approximately 1,500 pounds in just three hours. Following the cleanup, students returned to the LDWF Research Facility, where representatives from BTNEP, LDWF, and The Nature Conservancy gave presentations highlighting their organizations’ missions and ongoing efforts to protect Louisiana’s wildlife, coastal areas, and ecosystems. In the afternoon, volunteers continued their service by helping clean and restore trails managed by The Nature Conservancy, further contributing to the preservation of Grand Isle’s natural beauty for all to enjoy.

The UL ASCE Student Chapter is deeply thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with these organizations and contribute to such a meaningful cause of such a noble pursuit as preserving the beautiful state in which we live. Events like Clean the Coast allow students to apply their passion for Civil and Environmental Engineering to real-world environmental initiatives and community service.