Turkey Creek concerns top police jury agende
by Michael DeVault - posted Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 @ 4:35 pm

A proposed drawdown of Turkey Creek Lake has Franklin Parish police jurors concerned about possible consequences to tourism and recreation for the region.

Police Jury president Harvey Guimbellot told jurors he had learned of the plan to lower water levels when several fishermen approached him with questions.

"Next year some time, (Louisiana) Wildlife and Fisheries is thinking about draining Turkey Creek Lake to kill giant salvinia," Guimbellot said.

Giant salvinia is an invasive plant species that can choke out waterways and destroy spawning areas to render lakes and streams useless for navigation or recreation.

Guimbellot said LDWF has opted to drain the lake to dry out the plant.

Turkey Creek Lake is managed by LDWF district four. Fisheries manager Evan Thames confirmed the plan is to draw down the lake, beginning in May.

Thames also confirmed containment of giant salvinia was "one of about five" reasons officials had decided to draw down the lake.

The drawdown will also allow time to repair the water control structures and the spillway, both of which were damaged during Hurricane Gustav last year.

Thames said fishermen will also see a long-term benefit from the drawdown.

"The banks are very deep in organic matter, meaning there's not a lot of area for fish to spawn," Thames said. "This drawdown will fix that."

At Thursday's meeting, jurors expressed a belief that the plan was to drain Turkey Creek Lake completely and to leave it dry. However, Thames suggested the plans were not that dramatic.

Thames said current plans are to take the lake down to about 42 feet deep -- about 8 feet below its normal pool stage.

Thames suggested the drawdown is important and critical, if only to control the giant salvinia.

"If we don't do something, we'll end up in a situation like the one at Lake Bistineau," Thames said.

According to previous reports, Lake Bistineau is set to be drained for as long as two years in order to eradicate the Giant Salvinia.