Black Lake (Louisiana)

Black Lake is a reservoir located between Creston and Campti in North Louisiana.[1][2] Water feeds into Black Lake from Black Lake Bayou, a watershed that extends from north of Gibsland in Bienville Parish and south to Clarence in Natchitoches Parish[3] through the parishes of Claiborne, Webster, Bienville, Red River and Natchitoches. The elevation of the lake is 102 feet (31 m). Louisiana Highway 9 runs across Black Lake. On the west side of Highway 9 the body of water is called Black Lake — the east is called Clear Lake or Clear Lake Bayou. The Clear Lake side is near another body of water: Saline Lake. Between Clear Lake and Saline Lake is the Alan Chiverly Dam, constructed in 1934. Road 1226 also extends between the lakes.[4] The full area of the lake is 13,500 acres. Black Lake itself is shallow so in cold temperatures the fish head to Clear Lake and continue on towards Black Bayou as the weather gets colder so that in colder months the fish can be found only in deeper waters. Most of the crappie found at Black Lake are black crappie.[5]

Black Lake
Lac Noir (former French name)
Cypress trees dominate the waters of the lake.
Black Lake Black Lake
Location	Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States
Coordinates	31.9574°N 93.0466°W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Black Lake Bayou
Primary outflows	Red River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	5 miles (8.0 km)
Max. width	1.8 miles (2.9 km)
Surface area	about 7,000 acres (28 km^2)
Surface elevation	102 ft (31 m)
Settlements	Ashland, Campti, Clarence, Creston, and Goldonna

Pier extends into Black Lake at Bell's Camp near Campti.

The former Sea and Sirloin Restaurant at 6454 Highway 9 on Black Lake

Joy Bell Wimberly at Bell's Camp (founded 1936)

Moss-laden tree at Bell's Camp

Abandoned stone structure at Bell's Camp

Residents about Black Lake use the Campti and Clarence ZIP Codes, 71411 and 71414, respectively. They are zoned to Lakeview Junior/Senior High School. There are boat launches and campgrounds for fishing and boating. Bell's Camp, founded in 1936 by the late Albert and Eva Bell, is still operated by their daughter, Joy Bell Wimberly (born 1924). Nearby is a catfish and steak restaurant known as Sea and Sirloin, which opened in 1983.

Landscape

Black Lake is wide in some places such as at the Hwy 9 bridge and tight in other places because of the growth of cypress trees. There are channels cut into the lake that allow clearance for boats. Boats stay in the channels or risk grounding the bottom of the boat on tree stumps. The aquatic vegetation such as moss, seaweed and algae are visible at surface level.

Geography

The latitude and longitude coordinates for Black Lake are 31.9574, -93.0466 and the altitude is 102 feet (31 m).[6]

References

1. Google Maps
2. Area 1 - Fishing Louisiana Archived November 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
3. Black Lake Bayou Watershed - 11140209 | Surf Your Watershed | US EPA
4. Black Lake
5. "Head to beautiful Black Lake for black crappie".
6. Black Lake Fishing in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana | Fishing Works