Posted: Mar 12, 2020, 4:09 PM
Bossier Parish is not currently expecting dangerous flooding from any of its waterways, according to Ian Snellgrove, director of the Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Snellgrove said BOHSEP monitors water levels throughout Bossier Parish as well as gauges in other states and parishes during times of high water. The agency also watches for heavy rainfall that may be forecast by the National Weather Service and the River Forecast Center.
“During high water and heavy amounts of forecasted rain events, our office is in contact with the National Weather Service and report information to local officials, flood plain managers and local responders,” Snellgrove said.
“Our parish is unique in that we have several different watersheds that effect our area, and there is no set answer to how we will be affected by flood waters or heavy isolated rainfall,” he added. “It depends on just how wet the ground is, how full the systems are at the time, and which ones are high when we receive rainfall locally or regionally.”
When the parish experiences a lot of rain during any or all of the seasons (winter, fall or spring) high water can be expected on Cypress Lake, Red Chute water shed system and Lake Bistineau water shed system, Snellgrove said.
Currently, Cypress Lake is at an elevation of 179.94 ft. Pool stage is 180.0ft. elevation. Cypress Lake sends water into the Red Chute system.
Bodcau Dam catches, holds and introduces water into Red Chute Bayou. Gauges currently show Red Chute at Dogwood bridge has crested at 160.92 and is receding slowly. Snellgrove predicts the bayou will continue to recede slowly but remain elevated into the summer as it has historically under similar circumstances.
Lake Bistineau receives its water from local rainfall and through Bayou Dorcheat. Snellgrove said the lake is currently at an elevation of 141.86 and has been holding steady for a few weeks.
“Red River is currently standing at 16.56 feet at the Shreveport/Bossier gauge and will fluctuate as we have seen recently, due to heavy rainfall north and as upstream,” he said. “Lakes often release water for flood control or hydroelectric power generation.”
One of those main lakes, Texoma near Denison Dam, increased the Red River tremendously during the Red River flood of 2015. Snellgrove said the lake is currently below its pool stage of 615 ft. elevation.
Texoma had free-flowed over the spillway in 2015 at an elevation of 645.49 feet, some 30.49 feet higher than its current level. That event was also exacerbated by a tropical system (Bill) that dumped heavy amounts of rainfall in that region months prior to the flood event.
Bossier Parish residents have ready access to sandbags to help prepare for high water and prior to heavy rain events should they feel like they need them. Residents who may want to pick up sandbags may do so at the following locations:
Highway Department, 410 Mayfield, Benton, 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.
Satellite locations include South Bossier Fire District #2, 1325 Robinson Rd., Elm Grove, 318-987-2555; Haughton Fire District #1, 4494 Hwy 80, 318-949-9440; town of Plain Dealing, 205 W. Palmetto; town of Haughton, 120 W. McKinley Ave., 318-949-940.
Sandbag storage containers in satellite locations are self-service. Those who need sandbags from those locations should call the phone numbers attached for access.
