The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in cooperation with the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury recently completed the installation of the three gravel beds on False River near New Roads to enhance fish spawning habitat on the lake. Siltation had previously covered much of the lake’s natural hard bottom, essential for nesting sportfish.
 
Approximately 24 yards of gravel provided by the police jury were distributed throughout three locations. These beds play an important role in the restoration of False River and promote the spawning of bass, bream and sac-a-lait.
 
Each spawning bed is roughly 400 square feet, measuring in strips of 20-foot by 20- foot or 10-foot by 40-foot, and measuring in thickness of about four inches of gravel. 
 
Alterations that occurred primarily during the 1970s and 80s along and within this oxbow lake’s watershed resulted in deterioration of the water quality, aquatic vegetation and fisheries. A watershed management plan was drafted in 2013 to address issues within the watershed. The plan draws from the expertise of many parish, state and federal agencies, including LDWF, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, as well as other local stakeholders.
 
With the completion of this project, a total of ten artificial reef beds were installed on the lake as part of the False River Restoration Plan.