LDWF Schedules Drawdown for Nantachie Lake
Keith Lusher 08.30.23
Historically, aquatic vegetation has been problematic in Nantachie Lake. And with the exceedingly hot summer we’ve seen, hydrilla and giant salvinia are causing problems for recreational users of the lake, especially home and camp owners.
Because of this, The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has scheduled a drawdown for Nantachie Lake in Grant Parish. The water reduction will start on Sept. 4, 2023. The department said the drawdown is needed to improve fisheries habitat and manage aquatic vegetation. The lake will be dewatered at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per day until it reaches 4 feet below pool stage.
During the drawdown, caution is advised when on the water as numerous obstructions that are normally not seen are present.
The previous drawdown of Nantachie Lake was conducted in 2012 when hydrilla was causing serious problems in the lake. In the fall of 2012, approximately 56% of Nantachie Lake was covered with hydrilla with the majority of the water matted to the surface with hydrilla. The drawdown in 2012 was followed with a stocking of triploid Grass Carp in the spring of 2013 which helped keep the vegetation in check.
Many locals consider the drawdowns to be an inconvenience the department said it is a necessary strategy to manage vegetation.
Drawdowns also benefit sportfish populations by exposing the bottom to air and temporarily making baitfish more available to predators. Exposing the bottom to the air accelerates the decomposition of organic matter that builds up on the bottom over time. This cycles nutrients and improves the spawning habitat in shallow areas where sportfish typically spawn.
The lake draining is timed to take advantage of prevalent late summer, fall, and winter weather patterns. If favorable weather patterns do not occur, the effectiveness of the drawdown is reduced. For this reason, some drawdowns are very successful, while others can be less effective. The drawdown gates are scheduled to be closed on January 8, 2024, to allow the lake to refill.
For more information about Nantachie Lake, see LDWF’s Nantachie Lake Management Plans: Lake History and Management Issues and the Waterbody Evaluation and Recommendations, updated in 2020.
For further information regarding the drawdown, contact Richard McGuffee, LDWF Biologist Manager, at (318) 487-5307 or at rmcguffee@wlf.la.gov.
