Atlanta State Park remains closed for holiday

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscountynow.com

CASS COUNTY— Anyone making plans to spend to spend the Fourth of July at Atlanta State Park will have to make other plans.
Due to heavy flooding and safety concerns, Atlanta State Park has announced that they are remaining closed.
The park first closed on May 3. It was hoped, at the time, that the park could reopen by June 1. On June 8 park officials announced that it would be closed “though at least July 10.” This date is flexible, they say, based on how much rain comes over the next couple of weeks.
Park officials say that due to the heavy flooding one restroom has completely destroyed and at another the flooding damaged the plumbing so bad that it was inoperable.
Last year the park celebrated the opening of a new amphitheatre. That structure has also been totally destroyed. According to park officials at one point the amphitheatre was three-quarters submerged, it then broke loose from its foundation.
While park employees are hopeful that they will be able to rebuild the facilities, when that will happen is still to be determined.
While Atlanta State Park may be closed, there are a pair of other parks that are open for visitors. Caddo Lake State Park, in Karnack, is open for regular hours. Park officials say that the bayou is low enough that they can endure another set of rains without fear of closing. Daingerfield State Park is also open for visitors.
On May 9 the Wright Patman Lake set a new record elevation at 254.5’. This was 29.74 over the normal elevation for this time of year. By June 14 it had fallen to 250.44’. Current release at the Wright Patman Dam is 9,716 cubit feet per second (CFS). In January, the release was 9,400 CFS into the Sulphur River.
Elevation records have been kept since 1986.
In 2016, the lowest level the lake reached was 247.19 feet on March 9. In 2015 the river never got above 249.79 feet (on Dec. 31).
Other closing announced by the Army Corp of Engineers are: Dam road from FM 2148, to access the Project Office or the Dam, Lower Spillway Park and Sportman's Cove Special Event Area.
Also, all Hunting Access roads are closed for season due except Black Point, Mudd Lake, and WP 32 and WP 34. Hunters and anglers are advised to use “Extreme Caution” at other primitive park locations and boat access points due to high water levels from flooding.
Clear Springs Park, Clear Springs ATV Area and are Big Creek ATV Area Closed for the Season as is Elliott Bluff. The direct road to Clear Springs Campground has been closed due to high water. Traffic to and from the park has been detoured and signage has been installed along the detoured route. Herron Creek Boat Ramp, North Shore Park, Boat Ramp 3, Piney Point Campground, Rocky Point Park, Malden Lake Park and Malden Lake Park Campground are also closed due to flooding.