ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Spanish Lake Game and Fishing Preserve Commission held a preliminary meeting to explore options for restoring the historic Spanish Lake.

The lake, which lies in both Iberia and St. Martin Parish, has become harder to access in recent years. Fishing success has dropped dramatically, largely due to an estimated 17 feet of sediment that has accumulated at the bottom.

Spanish Lake Game and Fishing Preserve Commission member, David Tate, says current habitat conditions make it difficult for fish populations to thrive.

"The habitat there is not conducive for fish reproduction," said Tate.

He explains removing the sediment would be the first crucial step toward any effective renovation.

"The bottom sediment has to be removed," said Tate. "The lake is slowly filling up and when the lake was made back in the 50's it was a shallow lake to begin with, and it's filled with up to 17 feet of sediment."

The last major improvements to the lake occurred in the 1990s, when LDWF cleared vegetation, added infrastructure, and stocked gamefish. Since then, siltation, poor bottom structure, and low oxygen levels have continued to degrade the lake's ecosystem.

Now, the commission and LDWF are working on a new restoration strategy.

"They will have a skeletal plan and then we will look at that and then have questions and flesh that out," said Tate. "We hope that by the spring, we'll have something to present to our legislators."

Officials say any future plan will aim not only to restore the fishery, but also to support long-term sustainability of Spanish Lake as a public resource.

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