Water Levels Continue to Rise; Sandbags Made Available

Recent heavy rainfall combined with the now saturated ground conditions has resulted in projected high water conditions on Lake Bistineau, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service.

Additional rainfall is expected, forecasters say, and that, along with rain impacting the Dorcheat Bayou system, will most likely push Lake Bistineau to a crest at 144 feet by Feb. 20.

Although Bistineau appears to be rising, the Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (BOHSEP) reports other main waterways in the parish are in good shape and flowing.

Water levels on the Red River are forecast to crest at 28 feet by Friday, Feb. 14. According to Executive Director Ian Snellgrove, BOHSEP will continue to monitor gauges on parish waterways and will post updates as needed.

On Lake Bistineau, water levels could rise above flood pool stage by early Sunday morning, forecasters said. An automatic no wake order is posted when the lake reaches an elevation of 144 feet.
Residents on the lake may see flooding on access roads and should secure low area buildings and docks along with boats and other types of watercraft. Forecasters predict flooding similar to that experienced during Spring, 2019 when Bistineau crested at 144.5 feet could be expected.

Residents who may want to pick up sandbags as a precaution may do so at the following locations:

 

Bossier Parish

• Highway Department, 410 Mayfield, Benton, 318-965-3752.
  The highway department is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Hours are subject to change if emergency situations should warrant.
• South Bossier Fire District #2, 1325 Robinson Rd., Elm Grove, 318-987-2555
• Haughton Fire District #1, 4494 Hwy 80, Haughton, 318-949-9440
• Town of Plain Dealing, 205 W. Palmetto, Plain Dealing
• Town of Haughton, 120 W. McKinley Ave, Haughton, 318-949-9401

Locations throughout Bossier parish where sandbag storage containers have been placed are self-service. Those who need sandbags from satellite locations should call the phone numbers attached for access.

 

Webster Parish

• Webster Parish Police Jury Public Works barn in Sibley at 532 Crichton Road
• Police Jury barn in Sarepta at 6137 Hwy. 2.

In Webster Parish, sandbags can be picked up Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sandbags are also available at the public works departments of the City of Minden and the City of Springhill. According to a facebook post by the Webster Parish Police Jury, there will be a limit on the number of sandbags issued per verified resident to be sure everyone has access to them.

In other weather related news, the burn ban that was issued in July of 2019 for the Lake Bistineau area has been terminated due to the recent rain and higher water levels. A termination letter from the Webster Parish Police Jury and Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and emergency Preparedness stated that “there is no longer a threat possibility to life and property of the citizens of this parish due to the closing of the drawdown gates and the recent rains have returned Lake Bistineau to its normal condition.”

Remember, never drive or walk through a flooded area. Report flooded roadways to local law enforcement.

Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service | This National Weather Service graphic shows the expected rise of Bayou Dorcheat at Lake Bistineau over the next week.