Much later a distributary of Bayou Teche made its way south and eventually linked up with the consequent stream, forming a true north-south flowing river.

During times of heavy-rain events, parts of the Vermilion will experience negative discharge, reversing direction and flowing north.

Coulee Crow and Bayou Tortue are located upstream of the Surrey Street bridge on the Vermilion River.

[4] The importance of the Vermilion as a means of transportation and commerce declined with the introduction of the railroad and the paving in 1936 of all highways leading into Lafayette.

Water from the Vermilion River is used primarily for rice irrigation and for the dilution of municipal and industrial chemicals and sewage.

[8][6] Since that time, improved sewage treatment, low flow streamflow augmentation, and regular in-stream trash collection have changed the public perception to that of a celebrated recreational resource.