False River (French : Lac False River) is an oxbow lake located in southeastern Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana centered at 30°38′19″N91°29′04″W / 30.63861°N 91.48444°W Coordinates: 30°38′19″N91°29′04″W / 30.63861°N 91.48444°W This lake was once the main channel of the Mississippi River in this area, but was cut off in about 1722 when seasonal flooding cut a shorter channel to the east.
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and his party bypassed False River to shorten their route up-river. [1]
This 10.5-mile (16.9 km) long lake is a "trophy lake", which means that fish of a certain size are required to be thrown back to grow larger. False River has often held the state record for the largest bass caught, and has the largest number of striped bass per acre in the state. Between 1974 and 1981, more than 265,000 striped bass fingerlings were released into the lake which covers approximately 3,212 acres (13.00 km2). [2]
Additionally, water sports including boating, sailing, and water skiing may be enjoyed in the clean, sparkling waters of the lake. A number of commercial establishments provide launch facilities, boat rentals, supplies, and concessions. There are also many restaurants, bar & grills, antique shops, and bed & breakfast accommodations in the area.
During duck hunting season, waterfowl may be legally harvested by the public in an area near Jarreau and Oscar, Louisiana known as "the south flats". Several private duck blinds have been erected in this area, but most duck hunters tend to simply anchor off their boats in the shallow water of the flats.
Located on the northern end of the lake is the city of New Roads. A free public boat launch, barbecue and picnic facilities, a fishing pier and gazebo may be found at the end of Morrison Parkway, near City Hall and the downtown area. Another boat launch, open to the public for a launching fee, is located on the southern end of the lake in Jarreau. This launch, which is the most accessible when coming to the area from Baton Rouge, Louisiana is located on the Island side of False River on Louisiana Highway 413. Other paid launching facilities include Bergeron's Campground near Lakeland, Bueche's Bar & Grill located near Ventress, Jim's Place located in Ventress, The Sand Bar (also home of Pelican Yacht Club) in Oscar, Louisiana, and the Point Breeze Motel on False River Drive (LA-1) in New Roads.
The lake can be seen in the 2002 film The Badge .
Pointe Coupee Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,758. The parish seat is New Roads.
Morganza is an incorporated village near the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 610 at the 2010 census, down from 659 in 2000. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village's zip code is 70759. The Morganza Spillway, a flood control structure between the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya Basin, is located nearby.
New Roads is a city in and the parish seat of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The center of population of Louisiana was located in New Roads in 2000. The population was 4,831 at the 2010 census, down from 4,966 in 2000. The city's ZIP code is 70760. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Waterloo is the name of a former town at the upriver juncture of the False River oxbow on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. Founded circa 1820, the community grew as a bustling export center for cotton and sugar cane produced in Pointe Coupee Parish.
The Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, or simply the Baton Rouge metropolitan area or Greater Baton Rouge, is a sprawling metropolitan statistical area surrounding the city of Baton Rouge. Its principal city Baton Rouge is unusual because it has no major incorporated satellite cities, a rarity for a metropolitan area of its size. Including the western edge of the Florida Parishes regions, it is known as "Plantation Country", the "Capital Region", and "The 225". At the 2010 U.S. census, the metropolitan area had a population of 802,484, up from 705,973 in 2000. At the 2020 census, its population increased to 870,569, up from 2020 estimates at 858,571.
Ventress is a census-designated place located in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the northeastern end of the False River. The population of the area is approximately 1,100. It is home to the Hunter Fabre Post 248 American Legion Hall on Legion Road. The zip code is 70783.
Jarreau is an unincorporated community in the 7th Ward of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. Jarreau is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Baton Rouge, and is a part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. The community is located on the banks of False River. It is situated on the southern end of this ox-bow lake, in an area known as "The Island". The community is served by Louisiana Highway 413, known locally as Island Road. The Jarreau Post Office is located on Boulevard D' Isle. Several local businesses were featured in scenes in the Billy Bob Thornton film "The Badge" (2002). The area is also known for fishing and boating with the main publicly accessible boat launch on the southern end of False River being located here.
East Krotz Springs is a ghost town that was located in Pointe Coupee Parish's 1st Ward, approximately 12 miles west of Livonia, Louisiana, United States. The site of the town itself is located at coordinates 30°32'12.87"N, 91°44'24.59"W, and is abandoned. United States Geological Survey maps from 1948 show the town to be located on the east bank of the Atchafalaya River at the mouth of Bayou Sherman, directly across from Krotz Springs, south of the railroad bridge.
Torras is the name of a former town in the extreme northeastern corner of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town was located along either side of the Texas & Pacific Railroad at its juncture with Lower Old River. The Mississippi River is located just to the east and the juncture of the Red and Atchafalaya Rivers just to the west.
Rougon High School was a school located at 13258 Louisiana Highway 416 in the town of Rougon, Louisiana. The school's mascot was the Devils. The school was built in 1940 on land donated by the Rougon family. It was originally called Rougon Graded School, and was partly formed from the students of the old Bueche School located in Jarreau, Louisiana. It was a high school in the Pointe Coupee Parish Public School system until after the 1990–91 school year, when the high school was closed down as part of a plan to combine all parish public schools into the newly formed Pointe Coupee Central High School. The school had been somewhat of a powerhouse in track & field in the 1970s and 1980s. The school won LHSAA state championships in track and field in Class C in 1975, 1976, and 1977. It won Class B state championships in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988. The old Rougon High School building, which was built in 1940, is currently the home to Rougon Elementary School.
False River Academy is a nonsectarian private school located in New Roads, Louisiana, in Pointe Coupee Parish. It serves grades Pre-K through 12. The school is independent, and has its own school board. Its enrollment is drawn from Pointe Coupee and surrounding parishes. It is one of two private schools and one of three high schools in the parish.
Dupont is an unincorporated community in southeastern Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community is located along Louisiana Highway 413, north of the community of Jarreau. The area falls under the service of the nearby Jarreau Post Office.
False River was an unincorporated community located in southern Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was situated near present-day New Roads and the current lake of False River.
Red River Landing was the name of a community located in northern Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community was located near the Red River and the Mississippi River, adjacent to the current location of Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Parlange is the name of a community located in southern Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The community was along Louisiana Highway 1, on the banks of False River.
Point Coupee is the name of an unincorporated community located in Pointe Coupée Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is the home of St. Francis Chapel and is located along Louisiana Highway 420, north of New Roads.
Istrouma Area Council serves Scouts in both Louisiana and Mississippi, primarily in the Greater Baton Rouge Area and Florida Parishes. Specifically, the council includes Scouts from the following parishes: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, St. Tammany, Washington, and Tangipahoa. Wilkinson County is the sole Mississippi county in the council.
Raccourci Old River, also called Old River, is a 12-mile (19 km) long ox-bow lake located in northern Pointe Coupee Parish and western West Feliciana Parish in Louisiana, USA. It is also sometimes called Old River creating some confusion with the other Old River. It encompasses approximately 4,000 acres (16 km2).