Lake D'Arbonne Steadily Rising
By: Brittney Johnson
Updated: October 31, 2009
Judy and Jim Collier moved to Terral Island on Lake D'Arbonne over a year ago.
Judy Collier said, "We just love the water and the piece and quite of it."
But not the height of it. Lately they're piece of heaven has been getting pummeled by heavy rain. Now, for the second time this month, the lake they love is above flood stage.
Judy Collier said, "We actually have markers. We stick a coke can in the driveway and in 30 minutes the can is floating, so we know the waters coming up."
Up above the table and chairs where Jim Collier sits when he's fishing. Up above the ladder they use on their boat house. The Colliers have moved their boat and party barge so they won't break through the roof of the boat house when the water gets even higher. The couple says they should have seen this coming, because there were sandbags near the house when they bought it.
Collier said, "They told us it flooded in 1991 and water got in the house. We thought 1 in 100 years flood, we won't live another hundred years so we'll enjoy it while we can."
But for now, instead of gazing at its beauty, they're trying to keep it from taking over their property. The Colliers have stacked sandbags all around their home to protect it from the rising lake. They say they hope the lake commission can figure out how to stop this reoccurring flooding nightmare, so they can get back to living their dream.
Collier said, "A lot of people are getting frustrated. I mean we're retired, and we're not going to move again. We love it here, we may have to build an arc."
Judy Collier said, "We just love the water and the piece and quite of it."
But not the height of it. Lately they're piece of heaven has been getting pummeled by heavy rain. Now, for the second time this month, the lake they love is above flood stage.
Judy Collier said, "We actually have markers. We stick a coke can in the driveway and in 30 minutes the can is floating, so we know the waters coming up."
Up above the table and chairs where Jim Collier sits when he's fishing. Up above the ladder they use on their boat house. The Colliers have moved their boat and party barge so they won't break through the roof of the boat house when the water gets even higher. The couple says they should have seen this coming, because there were sandbags near the house when they bought it.
Collier said, "They told us it flooded in 1991 and water got in the house. We thought 1 in 100 years flood, we won't live another hundred years so we'll enjoy it while we can."
But for now, instead of gazing at its beauty, they're trying to keep it from taking over their property. The Colliers have stacked sandbags all around their home to protect it from the rising lake. They say they hope the lake commission can figure out how to stop this reoccurring flooding nightmare, so they can get back to living their dream.
Collier said, "A lot of people are getting frustrated. I mean we're retired, and we're not going to move again. We love it here, we may have to build an arc."
