Once again, too much rainfall in the Cross Lake and Red River water basins are threatening local flooding.
The Red River in Caddo Parish has lost capacity to handle flood waters.
Lock and Dam 5 has slowed the flow of the river. Thus, the siltation is building up in the river bottom at an accelerated pace, resulting in less volume to hold water.
Additionally, urbanization along the river banks has reduced the capacity for overflow waters. Development in the low areas along the river means less area for flood waters.
Siltation in Cross Lake has also reduced the lake's capacity for water.
Cross Lake floods when tributaries in Arkansas and Oklahoma dump excessive water into the Cross Lake watershed.
The flood gates on the Cross Lake dam can be opened to reduce these flood waters. However, the rate of outflow sometimes does not equal the amount of inflow.
Waters from Cross Lake back up when the river is at flood stages. This results in flooding in the MLK area.
Dredging of Cross Lake and the Red River would provide relief from flooding. Needless to say, this is much easier said than done with economics being the driving factor.
The flooding problems at Cross Lake and the adjoining MLK areas will only increase with time unless significant infrastructure efforts are made.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.