Lake Martin still closed

Lake Martin has been closed for more than two weeks due to flooding that rose across Rookery Road.
Will DeGravelles of the Nature Conservancy told the Teche News that water at the Lake Martin Visitor Center was three to four feet deep at the height of the flood. Risk of damage to the levee, he said, requires that inspections be conducted before the road can be used, even though water has receded.
DeGravelles said that his best guess is that Rookery Road should be able to reopen sometime next week. The lake will probably open to boats at that time as well, he added.
Flooding also caused a delay in reopening the hiking trail after the yearly closure for alligator nesting season. Muddy conditions have delayed mowing of the trail, but DeGravelles expects to be able to open it within the next ten days.
Effects of the high water levels on things such as alligator and fish populations in the lake have yet to be evaluated.