By JIM BUTLER
Drivers have been using the Catahoula Lake Diversion Canal levee 50 years. They’ve seven months to find a way to continue.
The canal on LA 28 East is part of the control system opened in 1972 to keep Catahoula Lake from permanently flooding after Black River was dammed below Jonesville.
The canal and its levee run about 17 miles south to LA 124, in the process passing through what then was pretty much undeveloped territory and is now public and private fishing and hunting areas, camps, residences and other enterprises.
The alternative to its use requires more distance and more time.
The Tensas Basin Levee District has announced plans to close a major portion of the road to most users on April 1.
Users include countless Rapides residents accustomed to traveling it as the shortest route to the Larto area.
The gated closure will start at the Hunt Oil Road, officials said. To that intersection Wildlife & Fisheries will monitor the road.
At a meeting Monday night the levee district explained reasons for the decision and fielded questions, with more answers to come, according to Catahoula Current News Jodie Routon’s report.
Levee districts have specifc authority under state law to control road access.
Though the state’s civil code recognizes custom over the long haul (no pun intended) turning into practice generally accepted as law it does not override state statutes.