The University Lakes Restoration Project team reminds the public that May Street is closed to all traffic between Dalrymple Drive and East Lakeshore Drive.
This applies to vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
REIMAGINE THE
LAKES
Exciting changes are coming to
the University Lakes System.
A partnership between LSU and
state and local partners is working
to create a more sustainable lakes system through ambitious environmental restoration that will also add tremendous recreational value for all people of Baton Rouge.
What's Happening at the Lakes?
Phase 1
The May Street bridge structure is in place, and the contractor will begin pouring the approach slabs and bridge deck soon. Grading and electrical work is also ongoing, and landscaping should begin in the next few weeks.
The project team is developing a new guide to help residents and visitors identify the native plant material that has been planted around the lakes, including a flowering schedule. Look for this new resource on the website soon.
Landscape maintenance is ongoing to remove weeds and cut back new growth periodically in the newly landscaped areas. The project team is also creating a long-term maintenance guide for the lakes.
 May Street improvements from above |
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Phase 2A Dredging
Phase 2A dredging, which included the northern half (approximately) of University Lake and College Lake, is complete!
Phase 2 Landscaping
Landscaping of the new shoreline along Stanford Avenue, between S. Lakeshore Drive and Milford Wampold Park, is complete. The contractor is now landscaping the first segment of new shoreline areas and maintenance is ongoing.
 Site preparation at the new shoreline along South Lakeshore Drive |
|---|
Phase 2B
Dredging of the southern half of University Lake began in early 2025 and is scheduled for completion this October. The new green space across from the Lod Cook Alumni Center at LSU, as well as the expansion to BREC's Wampold Park, are continuing to take shape!
 LSU Bird Sanctuary |
|---|
Campus Lake
Dredging continues and is scheduled for completion by the end of October 2026.
 Mechanical dredging in Campus Lake |
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Presentation from
Public Meeting
June 9, 2026
High School students and BR Green planted Cypress trees at University Lake
January 23, 2026
Contracts & Amounts
Contracts | Payments | Task |
|---|---|---|
Sevenson | $53,899,783 | Dredging CMAR |
Brown Industrial | $11,709,252 | May Street Contractor |
Sasaki | $4,521,505 | Master Designer |
Stantec | $2,490,384 | Flood Risk Reduction Designer |
CSRS/B&D | $2,204,000 | Project Advisor |
RCI | $3,177,365 | Landscape Contractor |
Unawarded Landscape | $1,832,304 | Landscape |
GeoEngineers | $608,042 | Geotechnical Engineer |
Fenstermaker | $529,317 | Surveyor |
J&W Contractors |
$123,000 | Miscellaneous Repairs |
Big Gator | $77,500 | Brush Clearing |
Terracon | $41,070 | Consulting Engineer for May Street |
Eisner Amper | $25,375 | Audit |
Taylor Porter | $23,008 | Legal |
G&S Aerial | $9,956 | Vegetation management |
Louisiana Pond Management | $18,000 | Vegetation management |
Bayou Tree Service |
$10,100 | |
Unawarded Stanford Shared Use Path | $904,850 | Shared Use Path Construction |
TOTAL |
$82,204,811 |
Funding
Funding | Amount |
|---|---|
Capital Outlay | $52,750,000 |
CBDG | $10,000,000 |
EBR | $5,350,000 |
BREC | $5,000,000 |
LA DOTD | $5,000,000 |
LSU Foundation | $4,186,300 |
LSU | $50,000 |
Interest Earnings | $1,038,976 |
TOTAL | $83,375,276 |
