Bundick Lake drawdown gets an early start

Bundick Lake’s water control gate was opened last Friday, July 19 by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in anticipation of heavy rainfall from Hurricane Barry. DOTD has specific protocols in place for flood control during inclement weather, including the opening and closing of water control gates.

During the closure of the drawdown gate, following passage of Barry, a critical component of the gate’s mechanical system malfunctioned, preventing its closure. The drawdown of Bundick Lake was originally scheduled to begin on August 1, but due to the gate malfunction, has already begun.

The drawdown gate is still scheduled to close on or about November 29, 2019, to allow water levels to return to normal. The lake level will be lowered 8 feet below pool stage at the rate of 2 to 4 inches per day.

LDWF would like to remind private landowners that lake levels will fluctuate with rainfall and to take advantage of low water levels to complete projects in a timely fashion.