HENDERSON — St. Martin Parish has scheduled a drawdown of Henderson Lake to help manage invasive aquatic vegetation and improve fisheries habitat, based on recommendations from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The drawdown began Aug. 24 after high water levels delayed the usual early August start. Record-setting rainfall in St. Landry and Avoyelles parishes sent floodwater into the lake through the Bayou Courtableau Drainage structure, keeping water levels elevated from June through August.
Once the southern control structure gates are open, the lake will lose 2 to 4 inches of water per day. It will drop to 3.0 feet below pool stage or 6.0 feet mean sea level at the US Geologic Survey Lake Pelba gauge…