Bayou Pierre Cooperative River Basin Study United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service Alexandria, LA Bayou Pierre Cooperative River Basin Study Prepared for The Citizens of Caddo, De Soto, Natchitoches and Red River Parishes Red River Levee and Drainage District Natchitoches Soil and Water Conservation District Red River Soil and Water Conservation District De Soto Soil and Water Conservation District Sabine Soil and Water Conservation District Caddo Soil and Water Conservation District Natchitoches Levee and Drainage District Police Jury of Natchitoches Parish Red River Parish Police Jury Police Jury of Sabine Parish Caddo Parish Commission De Soto Parish Police Jury Caddo Levee District City of Shreveport A Cooperative Planning Effort Coordinated By: United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Alexandria, Louisiana April 2004 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................. II INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................................................... 1 AUTHORITY................................................................................................................................................................... 1 SPONSORS, PARTICIPANTS, AND COOPERATING ENTITIES..................................................................................... 1 OBJECTIVES OF THE REPORT ...................................................................................................................................... 2 USE OF THE REPORT..................................................................................................................................................... 2 MAPS AND FIGURES..................................................................................................................................................... 2 APPENDICES.................................................................................................................................................................. 2 PHYSICAL SETTING..................................................................................................... 4 LOCATION AND SIZE.................................................................................................................................................... 4 CLIMATE........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY..................................................................................................................................... 6 HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES.................................................................................................. 7 INVENTORY OF EXISTING RESOURCES................................................................ 9 SOILS.............................................................................................................................................................................. 9 WATER RESOURCES................................................................................................................................................... 18 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................................................18 Groundwater..........................................................................................................................................................19 Groundwater Rights in Louisiana......................................................................................................................25 Surface Water Monitoring...................................................................................................................................25 Designated Uses of Water Bodies......................................................................................................................26 Water Quality Stations.........................................................................................................................................26 Degree of Support of the Surface Water Bodies..............................................................................................28 Suspected Sources and Causes of Water Impairment.....................................................................................28 Total Maximum Daily Load................................................................................................................................28 Drainage Patterns................................................................................................................................................30 Bayou Pierre Operations and Maintenance.....................................................................................................30 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES.......................................................................................................................................... 31 Special Emphasis Area ........................................................................................................................................31 Aquatic Habitats and Fishery Resources..........................................................................................................31 Terrestrial Habitats and Wildlife Resources....................................................................................................32 Threatened and Endangered Species................................................................................................................35 Christmas Bird Count..........................................................................................................................................36 Recreation..............................................................................................................................................................36 National Wildlife Refuge .....................................................................................................................................37 ECONOMIC RESOURCES............................................................................................................................................. 38 Population..............................................................................................................................................................38 Education Attainment...........................................................................................................................................38 Income.....................................................................................................................................................................39 Employment ...........................................................................................................................................................39 Tourism...................................................................................................................................................................40 Oil and Gas Wells.................................................................................................................................................42 Coal Mining Operations......................................................................................................................................42 Reclamation Success............................................................................................................................................43 PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION ................................................................................... 44 iii PRINCIPAL FLOOD PROBLEMS/DRAINAGE PATTERNS.......................................................................................... 44 Repetitive Flood Losses.......................................................................................................................................45 Caddo Parish of the Study...................................................................................................................................46 Natchitoches Parish of the Study.......................................................................................................................48 INADEQUATE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT DUE TO RAPID DEVELOPMENT..................................................... 49 WATER QUALITY........................................................................................................................................................ 49 WATERSHED PROTECTION.......................................................................................................................................