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Message
Draining a Private Lake
Posted on 6/29/23 at 2:42 pm
Posted on 6/29/23 at 2:42 pm
We have an 8 acre lake on family property that has been overtaken by invasive aquatics over the past few years. The fishing was once great but is now near impossible to manage due to the overgrowth. We were hopeful that a freeze might manage to kill off the aquatics, but after the freeze this past year failed to make a dent, I think that we are hopeless for natural intervention.
We have had some discussions and decided that draining the lake and restarting would be the most effective way to recover the habitat. There is a bayou which is separated from the lake by a levee. The plan would be to get an excavator and cut the levee, draining the lake into the bayou. Fwiw, the insavive aquatics got into the lake initally from the bayou overtopping the levee and backing into the lake.
My question is would there be any legal implications to draining a private lake into a bayou like this. Right now, it is very low and there appears to be plenty of volume for the water to drain.
We have had some discussions and decided that draining the lake and restarting would be the most effective way to recover the habitat. There is a bayou which is separated from the lake by a levee. The plan would be to get an excavator and cut the levee, draining the lake into the bayou. Fwiw, the insavive aquatics got into the lake initally from the bayou overtopping the levee and backing into the lake.
My question is would there be any legal implications to draining a private lake into a bayou like this. Right now, it is very low and there appears to be plenty of volume for the water to drain.
15
Posted on 6/29/23 at 2:51 pm to Rob Perillo
Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 2:53 pm to Goldensammy
this
although how is this going to keep this from happening again the next time the bayou floods?
although how is this going to keep this from happening again the next time the bayou floods?
Posted on 6/29/23 at 3:11 pm to Rob Perillo
Legal implications
I'm sure the Bayou is tied to other waterways as well and would be considered waters of the State. Draining it into waters of the State would be a violation of LDEQ regs and if you cause a fish kill you would deal with LDWF as well.
Depending on what watershed you are in you may deal with the Pontchartrain Basin Foundation or other local environmental groups.
I'm sure the Bayou is tied to other waterways as well and would be considered waters of the State. Draining it into waters of the State would be a violation of LDEQ regs and if you cause a fish kill you would deal with LDWF as well.
Depending on what watershed you are in you may deal with the Pontchartrain Basin Foundation or other local environmental groups.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 3:21 pm to Rob Perillo
Do it at night. Nascar Fan drained his private lake w/ a 5gal bucket. Took 15 minutes
Posted on 6/29/23 at 3:31 pm to Sparty3131
quote:
Draining it into waters of the State would be a violation of LDEQ regs
Not necessarily. As long as his lake doesn't include sanitary wastewater, oil and grease, meets TSS and turbidity thresholds, doesn't result in a discharge of sediment to the water of the state, isn't a discharge from a sand or gravel mining operation, isn't used in hydrostatic testing, is free of pesticides, the area of disturbance is less than one acre, and is not associated with an automotive repair shop, I can't see where it would be regulated under LAC 33.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 3:55 pm to tenfoe
quote:
Not necessarily. As long as his lake doesn't include sanitary wastewater, oil and grease, meets TSS and turbidity thresholds, doesn't result in a discharge of sediment to the water of the state, isn't a discharge from a sand or gravel mining operation, isn't used in hydrostatic testing, is free of pesticides, the area of disturbance is less than one acre, and is not associated with an automotive repair shop, I can't see where it would be regulated under LAC 33.
I see your point. I agree with you. However, if he cuts a levee and the lake drains fast it will probably bring a lot of sediment in with it. If you could make the lake drain across a field before entering the bayou it would do a good job of catching a lot of sediment. Chances are the pond has a lot of fine sediment that is going to drain with the water if it is in the bottom half of Louisiana.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 4:09 pm to Sparty3131
quote:
if he cuts a levee and the lake drains fast it will probably bring a lot of sediment in with it.
That is true. He'll probably need to pump at some point anyway, since the bottom of the pond is likely below the bottom of the levee. And no BMPs you'd put up to control sediment are going to hold with 8 acres of water pushing on them.
OP, you trying to drain it dry or just lower the water to get stuff that's growing around the edges? You could rent a 6" pump that flows about 2500 gpm. If your 8 acres averages 5' deep you could suck it dry with one 6" pump flowing 2500gpm in about 70 hours. Would be price of pump rental plus about $500 in diesel.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 4:21 pm to Rob Perillo
Posted on 6/29/23 at 4:24 pm to cgrand
quote:
although how is this going to keep this from happening again the next time the bayou floods?
Once we patch the levee up and let it naturally refill, the thought would be to install some sterilized grass carp. Not sure on how many per acre are needed, but its worth a shot. That and being more vigilant in spraying emerging aquatics before they get out of control.
quote:
He'll probably need to pump at some point anyway, since the bottom of the pond is likely below the bottom of the levee
I believe the bayou is lower. We are going to cut it at the deepest part, which should be about 8'-10' deep. The vast majority is much shallower, especially at the moment. Probably less than 5' on average. There might be a very small pocket of water remaining but I think it would achieve the goal. We would leave the gap open and let it dry out probably until the spring before patching it back. Probably do some dirt work on the bottom of the lakebed while its dried out.
I'm not sure pumping would work so well. Like I said, it is very choked up. I would think a high volume pump would be sucking the vegetation against the inlet and greatly reducing the capacity.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 5:52 pm to Rob Perillo
Once you break the levee establishing it might be a little more difficult than you think. It’s hard to seal one properly depending on your soil conditions. I would recommend a pump. Then get grass carp and tilapia. It will take a winter of nature cutting back on vegetation with cold weather.
I had a lot of unwanted vegetation in my 5 acre lake. Couldn’t get rid of it. Last summer I loaded it up with tilapia and it seemed to really not do anything. Winter came along and then when spring came the tilapia began eating all the new growth and I have virtually nothing this summer. And it’s a great base now for my bass.
I had a lot of unwanted vegetation in my 5 acre lake. Couldn’t get rid of it. Last summer I loaded it up with tilapia and it seemed to really not do anything. Winter came along and then when spring came the tilapia began eating all the new growth and I have virtually nothing this summer. And it’s a great base now for my bass.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 6:01 pm to Rob Perillo
What invasive aquatics are we talking about here?
Submerged or floating?
Submerged or floating?
Posted on 6/29/23 at 6:15 pm to Rob Perillo
Get some Rotenone for any parts that do not drain. Will instantly take oxygen out of water and fish will be on bank- immediately. One of the most incredible things I’ve ever witnessed.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 6:27 pm to Rob Perillo
Don’t cut your levee. Do no harm. Don’t cut the levee. Make a sump in the pond close to the bayou with whatever equipment you have.
Fashion a siphon with PVC or hose. You may need a primer pump to inject water to get it starter.
Rule of siphon : exit lower than entry. Or discharge lower than suction.
Or get a pump.
Don’t cut the levee. It won’t patch as well as it is now. You will have a weak link. Don’t cut the levee.
Fashion a siphon with PVC or hose. You may need a primer pump to inject water to get it starter.
Rule of siphon : exit lower than entry. Or discharge lower than suction.
Or get a pump.
Don’t cut the levee. It won’t patch as well as it is now. You will have a weak link. Don’t cut the levee.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 6:31 pm to Rob Perillo
quote:
Draining a Private Lake
why not just fill it with carp? they will eat all the grass and algae until its all gone then starve to death or you can remove them using a shocking device
i wouldnt let the carp into the bayou when you are done with them, or they could destroy whats living there now
This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 6:32 pm
Posted on 6/29/23 at 6:51 pm to LSUballs
frick off lol
Posted on 6/29/23 at 7:19 pm to Rob Perillo
If anything just tell them the levee failed and y’all are making repairs
Posted on 6/29/23 at 7:19 pm to Nascar Fan
you can apply for a permit for sterile grass carp from WLF and then buy from fish farm- I got 10 for one acre pond
Posted on 6/29/23 at 7:23 pm to Rob Perillo
Also you could spray it easily with 10 oz of glyphosate and surfactant and about ten gallons of water. Using by the fly math.
I can tell you exactly what you need to spray depending on your type of vegetation. If you have Frogbit you need a different surfactant.
Contact me. I’ll give you the stuff.
My son or myself go almost very week to BR. But I need to know what you have growing. There is a photo guide to invasive species on the LDWF website if you need help identifying what you have.
Bigfishchoupique@gmail.com.
I’m going boat riding tonight so I might not answer till tomorrow.
I’d like to help you. Free.
Don’t cut the levee. If it thecut goes to the bayou you are altering wetlands.
Plus a unnecessary expense and potential problems down the road. Spray it.
I can tell you exactly what you need to spray depending on your type of vegetation. If you have Frogbit you need a different surfactant.
Contact me. I’ll give you the stuff.
My son or myself go almost very week to BR. But I need to know what you have growing. There is a photo guide to invasive species on the LDWF website if you need help identifying what you have.
Bigfishchoupique@gmail.com.
I’m going boat riding tonight so I might not answer till tomorrow.
I’d like to help you. Free.
Don’t cut the levee. If it thecut goes to the bayou you are altering wetlands.
Plus a unnecessary expense and potential problems down the road. Spray it.
This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 7:38 pm
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:03 pm to Bigfishchoupique
Thanks for all the responses. While I am open to exploring options, we have been looking at cutting it as a method of last resort. We have kicked around many of these ideas and it just seems like it’s too locked up to be restored from its current condition with carp, spraying, etc.
As someone pointed out, we have tried to siphon it without success. I failed to mention that there is actually a drain pipe with a valve right at the location where we’d like to cut it, but the pipe is completely silted in. The cut would serve the dual purpose of replacing a new drainage pipe.
I’d like to think spraying would be an option, but it’s a big task. It’s a variety of floating and submerged grasses like roots growing up from the bottom. I am not 100% sure what it is, it may be alligator grass along with other things. Not sure how hardcore spraying would impact harvesting fish from the waters later on.
I’ll shoot you an email.
As someone pointed out, we have tried to siphon it without success. I failed to mention that there is actually a drain pipe with a valve right at the location where we’d like to cut it, but the pipe is completely silted in. The cut would serve the dual purpose of replacing a new drainage pipe.
I’d like to think spraying would be an option, but it’s a big task. It’s a variety of floating and submerged grasses like roots growing up from the bottom. I am not 100% sure what it is, it may be alligator grass along with other things. Not sure how hardcore spraying would impact harvesting fish from the waters later on.
I’ll shoot you an email.
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