LARTO – A breech in the Cross Bayou Weir, which helps regulate flow into and out of the Larto-Saline Lakes Complex, was plugged Monday.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries retained Riverside Construction of Vicksburg, Miss. to repair the break which occurred in late January.

The complex which stretches from here about 30 miles west to near the Deville area lost about eight feet of water before the 75-feet-wide gap in weir was plugged with about 2,000 tons of rock.

The lakes complex was at high water stage due to winter rains and fisheries biologists say the drain out was stopped before levels got low enough to adversely affect sports fisheries spawn this spring.

The Cross Bayou weir is one of three structures used re-create hydrology changed by flood control and agricultural changes in the area in the last quarter of the 20th Century.

Their presence permits regulation of the exchange of water within the complex with water from the Black River.