Water resources of Richland Parish, Louisiana

Abstract

Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of water in Richland Parish, Louisiana, is critical for proper water-supply management. The purpose of this fact sheet is to present information that can be used by water managers, parish residents, and others for stewardship of this vital resource. In 2014, about 41.73 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water were withdrawn in Richland Parish, including about 28.57 Mgal/d from groundwater sources and 13.17 Mgal/d from surface-water sources. Withdrawals for agricultural use, composed of general irrigation, rice irrigation, aquaculture, and livestock uses, accounted for about 88 percent (36.88 Mgal/d) of the total water withdrawn. Other categories of use included public supply, which accounted for about 10 percent (4.38 Mgal/d) of the total water withdrawn and rural domestic which accounted for about 1 percent (0.48 Mgal/d). Water-use data collected at 5-year intervals from 1960 to 2010 and again in 2014 indicate that water withdrawals peaked in 1980 at more than 60 Mgal/d.