Parish President Chester Cedars (left) and Brac Salyers, manager of Dist. 9 Inland Fisheries for the state, check the progress of the drawdown of Henderson Lake at the Control Structure in the Atchafalaya Basin. The gates were opened on Aug. 1 to lower the lake level to 6 feet and Salyers said Monday the level had dropped below 7 feet and was expected to reach six feet later this week when the gates will be closed. The drawdown is necessary to help control the severe problem with vegetation such as hydrilla, water hyacinths and giant salvinia that rob the water of essential nutrients that support fisheries.(Sally Angelle)
