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
Work on May Street continues. Pile driving for the May Street bridge has begun!.
The project team conducted a comprehensive site walk on June 22nd, to review progress made on recent landscape installations around University Lake, as well as the maturation of the previously installed shoreline landscaping around City Park Lake and Lake Erie.
While the maturation and “filling in” of the plant material installed will take some time, the project team did observe many areas where growth of the native species planted is on track. In other areas, particularly along shoreline edges, growth has been slow due to frequent inundations caused by heavy rain events. Project landscape architects and contractors are re-evaluating plant selections in those areas.
Landscape maintenance is ongoing to remove weeds, water (as needed), and cut back new growth periodically in the newly landscaped areas.
Phase 2A
Dredging in the northern half of University Lake is wrapping up, and landscaping of the newly created island near West Lakeshore Drive and shorelines at the corner of May Street and Dalrymple is already underway. New islands and shoreline areas along South Lakeshore Drive and Stanford Avenue will be the next to be landscaped. Before then, a local contractor will spray the new, invasive vegetation that has already grown on the new shoreline fill.
Phase 2B
Dredging of the southern half of University Lake continues and is scheduled for completion later this summer. 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 as the geotextile tubes that form the perimeter of green spaces are placed and filled with sediment.
Campus Lake
Raking and drainage improvements are complete, and dredging is set to begin in early July.
Presentation from Public Meeting
June 9, 2026
High School students and BR Green planted Cypress trees at University Lake
January 23, 2026
Dam release at May Street
July 2, 2025
Dam prior to release at May Street
Dam release at May Street
Lake Erie aerial view
Dam prior to release at May Street
Contracts & Amounts
Contracts | Payments | Task |
|---|---|---|
Sevenson | 53,753,915 | Dredging CMAR |
Brown Industrial | 11,549,859 | May Street Contractor |
Sasaki | 4,523,010 | Master Designer |
Stantec | 2,420,036 | Flood Risk Reduction Designer |
CSRS/B&D | 2,077,387 | Project Manager |
RCI | 2,771,840 | Landscape Contractor |
Unawarded Landscape | 2,645,838 | Landscape |
GeoEngineers | 613,883 | Geotechnical Engineer |
Fenstermaker | 536,267 | Survey |
J&W Contractors | 123,000 | Drainage |
Big Gator | 77,500 | Survey |
Taylor Porter | 23,008 | Legal |
Eisner Amper | 22,750 | Audit |
Terracon | 12,000 | Consulting Engineer May Street |
G&S Aerial | 6,160 | Drone Sprayer for invasive aquatic vegetation |
TOTAL | $81,161,694 |
Funding
Funding | Amount |
|---|---|
Capital Outlay | 50,750,000 |
CBDG | 10,000,000 |
EBR | 5,350,000 |
BREC | 5,000,000 |
LA DOTD | 5,000,000 |
LSU Foundation | 4,077,500 |
LSU | 50,000 |
Interest Earnings | 986,456 |
TOTAL | $81,213,956 |
