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Message
re: Draining a Private Lake
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:10 pm to Rob Perillo
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:10 pm to Rob Perillo
It'll be nearly impossible to get the compaction needed to repair the "cut" in the levee and tie back into the existing soils. You'd likely have to pull back well away from the cut and repair it. Avoid cutting the levee at all costs.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:16 pm to Houston Texas Tiger
quote:
and tilapia
Not in LA - illegal as hell. But I’m guessing the OP knows this. Sterile grass carp are legal.
OP - shoot an email to Dr. Chris Mudge LINK, he is an aquatic weed specialist and adjunct professor with the LSU AgCenter - he is actually a federal employee housed on the LSU main campus. He should be able to answer most, if not, all your questions and provide good guidance on fixing this issue, short term and long term.
This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 8:18 pm
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:32 pm to Rob Perillo
I feel like the bayou will fill the lake once you cut the levee, not the other way around
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:40 pm to Rob Perillo
How long is your dam? In order to properly repair the purposeful breach it will need to be recored. This means digging the middle of the dam down under the water line and establishing a solid core trench.
I have a breached dam on my pond at the moment. To properly repair they would have to do the above, I've been quoted 65-84k.
I have a breached dam on my pond at the moment. To properly repair they would have to do the above, I've been quoted 65-84k.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:49 pm to CrawDude
Thanks, I’ll reach out to him.
The proposed cut would need to be 8’-10’ deep and about 20’ in length to get through the levee. The bottom of the lake at this point is still higher than the bayou when it is as normal pool. Right now it’s very low.
The responses have encouraged me to take a second look at all the options before bringing in the heavy iron. Maybe I’ll update thread with restoration progress once we get the ball rolling.
The proposed cut would need to be 8’-10’ deep and about 20’ in length to get through the levee. The bottom of the lake at this point is still higher than the bayou when it is as normal pool. Right now it’s very low.
The responses have encouraged me to take a second look at all the options before bringing in the heavy iron. Maybe I’ll update thread with restoration progress once we get the ball rolling.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:52 pm to CrawDude
quote:
Not in LA - illegal as hell. But I’m guessing the OP knows this. Sterile grass carp are legal.
I didn’t realize that. I am in Texas and we had no issues and it worked when spraying didn’t.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 9:13 pm to Rob Perillo
quote:
The proposed cut would need to be 8’-10’ deep and about 20’ in length to get through the levee. The bottom of the lake at this point is still higher than the bayou when it is as normal pool. Right now it’s very low.
Over the years I worked with crawfish farmers that did this on a routine basis, and it was legal, but today as I type this I’m not sure - you might ask 4 different people at 4 different state regulatory agencies and get 4 different answers. The water quality in your weed infested pond is likely better than the bayou it would drain into but that doesn’t mean squat to regulatory agency.
Let Dr. Mudge guide you through the entire process as to the best course of action.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 9:26 pm to Rob Perillo
quote:
Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
This is always the answer if the option is involving a state agency that will make you jump thru a bunch of red tape for no reason other than the fact that they think you should. Just cut it incrementally and you will be fine. Your pond, unless it is constantly draining bare clay soil, is almost 99% sure to be cleaner than the bayou. I would cut it and not worry about it. Rebuilding it is possible and not as difficult as some here make it out to be.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 12:10 am to Rob Perillo
I wish threads like this included pictures. Would make fixing the problem much easier
Posted on 6/30/23 at 7:11 am to Rob Perillo
Before you tear up your levee, you should reach out to someone at LSU and see what they say. There should be sprays or other means to kill the weeds.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 8:33 am to Rob Perillo
Those grass carp work. Cross Lake was covered in hydrilla to the point you could see the bottom it was so clear. Couldn't sail for the huge balls of weeds you'd drag. Was most of the lake covered in that shite. They put haploid carp in it and poof! Gone. Pretty sure you don't have a problem bigger than that.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 9:28 am to Rob Perillo
Mix 5 gallons of Diurex with 25 gallons of water and spray it around the pond
That’s how I kill aquatic weeds in my catfish ponds
That’s how I kill aquatic weeds in my catfish ponds
Posted on 6/30/23 at 9:31 am to Sparty3131
quote:
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.
He should see if anyone who farms would let him borrow an irrigation relift pump and just pump it down before cutting levee
Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:00 am to deltaland
I think you're absolutely nuts if you mess with your levee.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:42 am to Quatrepot
quote:
Get some Rotenone for any parts that do not drain
Good luck. Epa recently shut down the last rotenone manufacturer and we can’t find another plant yet willing to do it. I use 300 gallons a year on the farm. I have the only remaining 70 gallons in the entire country
That’s the liquid rotenone. I think you can still buy powder form and mix it yourself
Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:44 am to CrawDude
quote:
and tilapia Not in LA - illegal as hell.
Not illegal there are tilapia farmers in Louisiana. You do need a permit and must follow regulations to prevent escape into the wild. I have a tilapia permit but I’m in MS
Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:46 am to Monahans
quote:
think you're absolutely nuts if you mess with your levee.
Should be a last resort. I had to replace old drain pipes in some ponds and water seeps through the levee where we dug it up to install new pipe even with using a trackhoe and dirt bucket to pack it down
Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:52 am to deltaland
I’m stocking some catfish fry as we speak


Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:55 am to deltaland
quote:
Should be a last resort. I had to replace old drain pipes in some ponds and water seeps through the levee where we dug it up to install new pipe even with using a trackhoe and dirt bucket to pack it down
Helped my cousins try to repair one on such a great little 3 acre crappie lake. It hasnt been the same since they messed with it.
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