An Overview of Louisiana's Rivers, Bayous, Lakes & Coastal Bays
Largest and Most Notable Rivers & Lakes
Louisiana’s landscape is shaped by the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya River, which build the coastal delta and wetlands. The Red River and Ouachita River drain the north; the western border follows the Sabine River. Other key systems include the Calcasieu, Mermentau, and Vermilion/Teche basins, and east‑side tributaries like the Amite, Comite, Tangipahoa, Tickfaw, Tchefuncte, and the Pearl/Bogue Chitto. Major lakes and bays include Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Lake Borgne, Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake), Vermilion Bay, Barataria Bay, Terrebonne Bay, Breton and Chandeleur Sounds, plus inland reservoirs like Toledo Bend, Caddo Lake, Lake D’Arbonne, Lake Bistineau, Lake Claiborne, Caney Lake, Cross Lake, Catahoula Lake, Lake Verret, Lake Palourde, White Lake, and Lac des Allemands.
Water Sources & Flow
Flows are rainfall‑driven with seasonal Mississippi stages and backwater effects. Distributaries (e.g., Atchafalaya) and man‑made channels move water toward coastal bays; oxbows and natural levees line older river courses.
River, Bayou & Lake Types
Louisiana features:
- Meandering alluvial rivers with oxbow lakes (e.g., False River, Lake Bruin).
- Distributary bayous (Bayou Lafourche, Bayou Plaquemine) and coastal estuaries (Barataria, Terrebonne, Vermilion Bay).
- Large reservoirs for power, water supply, and recreation (Toledo Bend, D’Arbonne, Claiborne, Bistineau, Caney).
Navigation, Flood Risk & Restoration
The Lower Mississippi and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway support heavy navigation. Flood management, subsidence, and coastal land loss are central issues; freshwater and sediment diversions, marsh creation, and levee projects are ongoing priorities statewide.
Recreation
Inshore fishing in Calcasieu Lake, Barataria, and Terrebonne bays; bass/crappie on Toledo Bend, Caney, D’Arbonne, Bistineau, and Claiborne; paddling on scenic bayous like Teche, Manchac, Kisatchie, and D’Arbonne.
Louisiana Rivers, Bayous, Lakes, Streams and Water Features
Mississippi River (LA reach), LA
Atchafalaya River, LA
Red River (LA reach), LA
Ouachita River (LA reach), LA
Black River (LA), LA
Tensas River, LA
Boef (Boef/Boeuf) River, LA
Bayou Macon, LA
Bayou Bartholomew (LA reach), LA
Bayou D'Arbonne, LA
Bayou Dorcheat, LA
Bayou Bodcau, LA
Bayou Pierre (NW LA), LA
Sabine River (LA reach), LA
Calcasieu River, LA
Whiskey Chitto (Ouiska Chitto) Creek, LA
West Fork Calcasieu River, LA
Mermentau River, LA
Bayou Nezpique (Nézpique), LA
Bayou des Cannes, LA
Bayou Queue de Tortue, LA
Bayou Plaquemine Brule, LA
Vermilion River (Bayou Vermilion), LA
Bayou Teche, LA
Bayou Carencro, LA
Bayou Cocodrie, LA
Atchafalaya distributaries (Wax Lake Outlet, Lower Atchafalaya), LA
Grand Lake (Atchafalaya), LA
Amite River, LA
Comite River, LA
Bayou Manchac, LA
Blind River, LA
Tickfaw River, LA
Natalbany River, LA
Tangipahoa River, LA
Tchefuncte River, LA
Bogue Falaya, LA
Pearl River (LA reach), LA
Bogue Chitto River (LA reach), LA
Bayou Lafourche, LA
Bayou Barataria, LA
Bayou Segnette, LA
Bayou Des Allemands, LA
Bayou Terrebonne, LA
Bayou Petit Caillou, LA
Bayou Grand Caillou, LA
Bayou Dularge, LA
Bayou Black, LA
Bayou Chene, LA
Bayou Sorrel, LA
Bayou Plaquemine (Old River area), LA
Bayou Cane (Terrebonne), LA
Bayou Boeuf (Assumption/Terrebonne), LA
Lake Pontchartrain, LA
Lake Maurepas, LA
Lake Borgne, LA
Lake Salvador, LA
Lake Cataouatche, LA
Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake), LA
Sabine Lake (LA share), LA
Vermilion Bay, LA
Barataria Bay, LA
Terrebonne Bay, LA
Atchafalaya Bay, LA
Breton Sound, LA
Chandeleur Sound, LA
Caminada Bay, LA
Timbalier Bay, LA
Toledo Bend Reservoir, LA
Caddo Lake, LA
Cross Lake (Shreveport), LA
Lake D'Arbonne (D'Arbonne Reservoir), LA
Lake Bistineau, LA
Lake Claiborne, LA
Caney Lake (Jimmie Davis), LA
Kincaid Lake, LA
Anacoco Lake, LA
Vernon Lake, LA
Black Lake (Natchitoches), LA
Saline Lake (Saline/Larto complex), LA
Larto Lake, LA
Catahoula Lake, LA
Poverty Point Reservoir, LA
Lake Bruin (oxbow), LA
Lake Providence (oxbow), LA
Lake St. Joseph (oxbow), LA
False River (oxbow), LA
Concordia Lake / Lake Concordia, LA
Lake Verret, LA
Lake Palourde, LA
White Lake, LA
Lac des Allemands, LA
Bayou Kisatchie, LA
Bayou Rapides, LA
Bayou des Glaises, LA
Bayou Jean de Jean, LA
Bayou Plaquemines (local), LA
Bayou Terre aux Boeufs, LA
Bayou Sauvage, LA
Bayou Gentilly (historic), LA
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (LA reach), LA
Mississippi River – Gulf Outlet (legacy), LA
