New River (Louisiana)
Encyclopedia
The New River is a 24 miles (38.6 km) waterway located in Louisiana
in Ascension Parish. Its source is near the Mississippi River
in Geismar where the two rivers were once connected. Before the levees were built to contain the Mississippi River, the New River was a distributary and a much larger river than it is today. Lack of river current has caused sediment to reduce both its depth and width.
New River meandered from Geismar passing through the city of Gonzales
and the communities of St. Amant and Acy
on its way to its mouth at the Blind River. During the early part of the twentieth century a 5 miles (8 km) canal, called the New River Canal, was constructed to the Petite Amite River, thereby cutting off the longer path to the Blind River. The cut off portion is now called the Old New River. The New River is a major drainage artery for east Ascension Parish, and it is part of the Lake Maurepas
drainage basin.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in Ascension Parish. Its source is near the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in Geismar where the two rivers were once connected. Before the levees were built to contain the Mississippi River, the New River was a distributary and a much larger river than it is today. Lack of river current has caused sediment to reduce both its depth and width.
New River meandered from Geismar passing through the city of Gonzales
Gonzales, Louisiana
Gonzales is a city in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,156 at the 2000 census. It has been called the "jambalaya capital of the world" and is famous for its annual Jambalaya Festival. Gonzales is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.State...
and the communities of St. Amant and Acy
Acy, Louisiana
Acy, Louisiana is a small unincorporated community in the southeastern part of the state. Acy is located about 30 miles southeast of Baton Rouge and about 45 miles northwest of New Orleans on Louisiana Highway 22 in the parish of Ascension....
on its way to its mouth at the Blind River. During the early part of the twentieth century a 5 miles (8 km) canal, called the New River Canal, was constructed to the Petite Amite River, thereby cutting off the longer path to the Blind River. The cut off portion is now called the Old New River. The New River is a major drainage artery for east Ascension Parish, and it is part of the Lake Maurepas
Lake Maurepas
Lake Maurepas is located in southeastern Louisiana approximately halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge directly west of Lake Pontchartrain.-Namesake:...
drainage basin.