Overview
Bayou D'Arbonne Lake (Lake D'Arbonne) is a roughly 15,280-acre reservoir on Bayou D'Arbonne in Union and Lincoln parishes near Farmerville—the largest man-made lake in northern Louisiana. A dam and spillway built by the Louisiana Department of Public Works in the early 1960s created the pool for recreation and future water supply. The Bayou D'Arbonne Lake Watershed District oversees lake governance, while fisheries are managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The lake covers about 15 miles of length with more than 100 miles of shoreline, an average depth near 6 feet, and deeper channel holes approaching 40 feet. Corney and Little Corney bayous are major inflows alongside Bayou D'Arbonne itself, producing a broad, shallow north Louisiana reservoir with timbered edges, creek arms, and open main-lake water.
D'Arbonne is a regional draw for largemouth bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, with numerous public ramps and commercial landings. Lake D'Arbonne State Park on the western shore provides cabins, camping, and a boat launch that anchor visitor access.
Normal pool stage is about 80 feet above mean sea level. The Watershed District and LDWF periodically use drawdowns and spillway operations to manage vegetation and habitat, and high-water events can linger on this large, shallow basin—so monitoring current lake levels helps with boating, fishing, and shoreline access. Sister north Louisiana reservoirs include Lake Claiborne and Caney Lake.
Current Conditions
Bayou D'Arbonne Lake is currently 0.15 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.10 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.74 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Bayou D'Arbonne Lake is a 15,280-acre reservoir on the Bayou D'Arbonne managed by Bayou D'Arbonne Lake Watershed District / Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (fisheries).