BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Saline Lake Commission have extended the current drawdown on Saline Lake in Natchitoches and Winn parishes until Nov. 1.

The extension is due to unusually heavy rainfall, which kept the area inundated for most of August.

The department said in a news release Wednesday that the drawdown, which began June 14, was originally scheduled to end no later than the first week of October.

The department says drawdowns are a necessary part of its integrated management plan to control aquatic vegetation growth and to improve access for recreational activities.

Saline Lake was created in 1933 with the building of the Allen Dam. The lake has often been plagued by aquatic vegetation that can be problematic for boating and fishing.