The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is taking measures to combat the invasive giant salvinia in Saline Lake by scheduling a significant drawdown this summer, aiming to manage the aquatic vegetation, reduce organic muck, and improve fish habitats. According to the LDWF's announcement, the process will start on July 7, with the water control structures being opened, to commence the drainage at a rate of 4 inches per day until the desired level is reached.
Based on the plan, the lake will experience an 8-foot decrease in its water level below the normal pool stage, contingent on conditions at the Red River Pool 3; the controlled draining of Saline Lake is part of LDWF's ongoing commitment to ecological management and is necessary to deter the giant salvinia from further sprawling, as well as to replicate natural overflow lake systems through an annual high and low water fluctuation cycle that offers benefits akin to natural ebb and flow. Notably, the closure of the Saline Lake control gates is slated for October 1, which will allow the lake to gradually refill in time for fall and winter recreational activity, the reduction of organic muck and fish habitat improvement are also goals of the drawdown.
Despite the planned decrease, Saline Lake will not entirely dry out; an estimated 2,500-3,000 acres of water will persist, giving boaters the chance to navigate the main water body from the Mulligan Inn Boat Ramp, albeit with smaller vessels and increased caution due to potential, previously submerged hazards. This drawdown, as part of the LDWF's integrated management strategy, seeks to maintain the balance of human recreation needs with that of ecological integrity.
The success of the drawdown largely hinges on the cooperation of late summer, fall, and winter weather patterns as these can greatly influence the effectiveness of the process; while some drawdowns achieve their intended results, others may fall short due to variability in weather.
