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Residents opposed to second False River drawdown

7 years 8 months 3 weeks ago Friday, June 24 2016 Jun 24, 2016 June 24, 2016 6:34 PM June 24, 2016 in News
Source: WBRZ

NEW ROADS - Some residents along the False River say they are against a plan to draw down the lake's water by six feet.

When officials lowered the lake by three feet in 2014, resident Rick Falgout said the soil on his property gave away, causing $6,000 in damages.

"It pushed the walkway and pier out to the point where we had to rebuild," Falgout said.

Residents believe that rock weirs and dredging are the best ways to remove excess silt from False River. But the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a draw down is also necessary.

"If we don't do something about False River, people are going to wake up one day and not only are not going to able to eat the fish, you are not going be able to swim in the lake," state Representative Major Thibaut said. 

Thibaut said the first draw down exposed existing problems that owners needed to fix anyway.

"It did expose any structural deficiencies in there bulk heads and property. I think another draw down is going to further expose any structural deficiencies," Thibaut said.

Thibaut also said a rock weir silt filtration system and a second dredging project are also in the works. The drawdown is just one part of a larger solution.

"Engineers, biologist different people who know about rivers, who know about lakes, who know about water have told us that this one of the tools that need to be implemented and we look forward to getting it done," he said. 

Residents plan to show up in force at the next Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury meeting. 

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