Created in 1984 by Act 161 of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana, the Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermilion District is a tax-supported organization whose purpose is to beautify, manage, and preserve the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish. The District is governed by a Board of Commissioners appointed by the Lafayette Consolidated Government President, the City-Parish Council President, and mayors of other cities and towns in Lafayette Parish.

The activities of the Bayou Vermilion District encompass the environment, recreation, economic development, and cultural tourism. The District removes trash and debris from the river and works with local government to monitor water quality and water depth. It manages parks and boat launches along the river to promote recreation, and it sponsors the Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park which represents the Acadian, Creole, and Native American cultures found in the Attakapas region.