PIKE COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Before Hurricane Isaac, Lake Tangipahoa was 700 acres. It is now down to about 80 acres after a massive pumping operation drained it enough to get pressure off of the dam, which was damaged by the rain from the hurricane.
Two large sections of dirt slid off of the dam during the rains. An emergency drain pipe is being used to control the level of the lake. The park manager at Percy Quin State Park is optimistic the dam can be repaired by Christmas.
"It's gonna take 90 days according to the contractor to get it back, the dam completed, and start filling the lake back up," said Will Busby. "If we are able to save the piece we have now, we will be able to start fishing, hopefully by this spring."
A huge trench has been dug, 600 feet long and 100 feet wide, which will be used as a new spillway to allow future rains to drain from the lake which is fed by the Tangipahoa River. When the lake was drained, the body of an 18-year-old female from Pike County, Leslie Allen, was found September 12. She had been missing since September 4.
"This young lady was reported missing several days ahead of us finding her. Again, the autopsy results are pending, getting some answers we think to some of the questions we have," said Pike County Sheriff Mark Shepherd.
The pressure is off of the dam that was damaged by Hurricane Isaac and the rebuilding process is underway. The lake can never be fully drained because the Tangipahoa River runs through it.
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