The draw down of Vernon Lake has enticed some out onto the spillway and levee, despite signs that warn against the trespass, said Arno Arpke, chairman of the Vernon Parish Game and Fish Commission.
With scheduled work by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development on the spillway beginning in earnest now with the lifting of the grates, those who trespass onto the levee or spillway will encounter an especially dangerous situation, Arpke said.
"We don't want anybody getting hurt or messing up our spillway," he added. Once the grates are lifted, trespassers may suddenly encounter large holes that drop close to 100 feet.
In addition, people caught trespassing on the spillway can be fined up to $500. Those caught driving motorized vehicles on the levee can also be fined up to $500, Arpke said.
The 50-year-old levee and spillway, which were damaged from waves caused by Hurricane Rita in 2005, were last maintained in 1995, Arpke said.
The recent draw down of the lake has provided an opportunity to make those repairs. The draw down offers other benefits as well, Arpke said, including rebuilding beaches and repairing sea walls and boat launches; assuring that all boat lanes are completely clear; providing homeowners an opportunity to repair their docks, build piers and sea walls; and encouraging the growth of grasses on the lake bottom which will improve water clarity and fishing once the lake refills.
The lake draw down began June 1 and is scheduled to be in effect until Oct. 31 but is contingent upon how the work on the spillway progresses, Arpke said.
"Right now we're in pretty good shape," he said. "But as you go, you discover other issues that have to be addressed."
While the lake level is down, Arpke requests that everyone respect the lake bed and refrain from tearing up the bottom with ATV's. In addition, keeping trash and glass bottles away from the lake will ensure that it remains clean for everyone.
Leesville, La. —
