LDWF coordinates with Cheniere Lake authorities for a scheduled drawdown

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), in conjunction with the Ouachita Parish Police Jury (OPPJ), scheduled a drawdown of Cheniere Lake which began Aug. 11 and will end on Nov. 15. The purpose of this drawdown will be for management of the invasive aquatic plant giant salvinia. Drawdowns have become a vital component of LDWF’s integrated management to control overabundant aquatic vegetation, especially giant salvinia, and have become a common practice in many impacted waterbodies throughout Louisiana.

The lake is initially scheduled to be lowered four feet below pool stage, though further lowering may be necessary to achieve maximum results. The control structure, which is operated by OPPJ, will be opened to allow a dewatering of 4 to 6 inches per day. As this will be the first drawdown on Cheniere Lake for control of giant salvinia, and the first time operating the newly installed water control structure, LDWF staff will closely monitor the conditions during the initial lowering of the lake.

Giant salvinia was first detected in Cheniere Lake in early 2025, following a lengthy drawdown for repairs to the Highway 3033 bridge and spillway. The lake has been at pool stage since January 2024. The primary goal of this control effort will be to reduce the total plant coverage, which has recently reached an estimated 30% of the 3,100 acre lake. Dewatering the shallow areas will allow the late-summer heat to desiccate the invasive plants, which greatly reduces total plant coverage going into winter when growth and expansion are at a minimum. This also coincides with the season of low recreational use on most Louisiana waters. Preserving the young fisheries population is also a high priority. LDWF will be monitoring water levels and locations of fish refuge to ensure no negative impact. At a drawdown of 4 feet, small recreational boats will still be able to use the various boat launches. LDWF reminds boaters that navigation hazards will be found throughout the lake and extra precaution should be used while boating.

Additional control efforts, such as herbicide treatments, will continue through the drawdown as access and water levels permit. Stocking of salvinia weevils is planned this year as another method of controlling giant salvinia. The weevils are natural consumers of salvinia, but typically die off in wintertime during freezing temperatures in north Louisiana. However, in the event of a mild winter, some weevils may survive to help establish further biological control of the invasive plant in 2027.

LDWF coordinates with Cheniere Lake authorities for a scheduled drawdown

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