Mile 39.7 - LBD Bayou Sherman Point
39.7 LBD Bayou Sherman Point
Small dune in small eddy alcove below Bayou Sherman Point
Atchafalaya Basin Pack List for Swampy/Marshy Camp Sites:
Before passing Krotz Springs check your gear. This might be your last resupply for food and water. Also, you might want to add a few swamp-specific items to your gear. If you haven’t already prepared for this, here are some very useful items to consider adding to your equipment stash before diving any deeper down the River of Trees:
-Machete: For trail-making. For clearing out campsites in brushy places. For clearing poison ivy from campsites.
-Water Filter (or Purification): For filtering swamp water in remote areas when you need drinking water. You can always find water within the Atchafalaya Basin, but you can’t always get to places with tap water. Be prepared to boil water, filter, or purify.
-Small camp stove: For boiling water and cooking food when you are camping surrounded by water, or in locations with no dry wood, or no possibilities for making a fire.
-Mosquito Netting: For especially bothersome mosquitoes, flies, gnats and no-see-ums.
-GPS: Might be useful. A smartphone might be just as good. Your phone will have service throughout most of the basin.
-Hammock: For wet campsites. For canoe camping. For highwater expeditions when little to no dry ground can be found.
-Extra tarp: For setting your tent on. To sit on in wet locations. For covering firewood on rainy/foggy/dewy nights.
Switching to the KROTZ SPRINGS GAGE (KG)
Now that we are entering Krotz Springs, the Rivergator will now switch to the Krotz Springs Gage which can be found online at:
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lch&gage=krzl1&prob_type=stage&source=hydrograph
Reading the Krotz Springs Gage with the following divisions for low water, medium water and high water will yield a fairly accurate picture of how much sand will be showing at different locations, which campsites and parks are still above water, and which landings are still usable for vehicles. Remember what you see on Google Earth might be vastly different than the actual water level and conditions of the sandbars and islands, and other places of importance to paddlers.
Water levels according to the Krotz Springs Gage
Low Water = 0 to 8 KG
Medium Water = 8 to 20 KG
High Water = 20 to 28 KG
Bank Full = 24 KG
Flood Stage = 28 KG and above
(KG = Krotz Springs Gage)
Flood Stage Warning: above 28 KG paddlers are advised to stay off the river. Limited access. Most landings and approach roads will be underwater. Most islands will be gone. No easy camping. All sandbars will be covered. Fast waters with many hazards. All islands and landings will be surrounded by flooded forests full of snags, strainers, sawyers and all other dangerous conditions associated with floodwater moving through trees. Docks, wharves, dikes and any other man-made objects will create strong whirlpools, violent boils, and fast eddies. Towboats will create large waves. The Rivergator will not describe the river and its islands at any levels above flood stage.