The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has scheduled a drawdown for parish/state/landowner maintenance, vegetation control, and fish habitat improvement on Vernon Lake in Vernon Parish. The drawdown is scheduled to begin the first week of September 2016. The control structure will be closed during the first week of January 2017 to allow water levels to return to normal..
The lake level will be lowered 8 feet below pool stage. This level is required to achieve the desired effect and allow access for maintenance of private and public property.
LDWF and the Vernon Parish Police Jury / Vernon Parish Game and Fish Commission have cooperatively developed a schedule for drawdowns on Vernon Lake.. Under this agreement, Vernon Lake will be drawn down every 7 years for dam, spillway and boat ramp maintenance, vegetation control, and fish habitat improvement (compaction of bottom sediments).
Although the lake will not be closed to fishing, caution is advised of boaters during the low water period, as boat lanes will not provide normal clearance for underwater obstructions.
For additional information regarding the drawdown, contact Sean Kinney, LDWF Biologist Manager, at skinney@wlf.la.gov (337) 491-2575.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.