After heavy rains swept through the area on Thursday, two neighboring parishes with plenty of rivers, streams and bayous are taking different approaches on recreational traffic.

Livingston Parish will close its waterways indefinitely to recreation at 6 p.m. Friday while Ascension will leave its open for now, officials in the parishes said.

The uneven orders mean the Amite River and the Amite River Diversion Canal, popular recreational waterways that fall in and out of the two parishes' borders, will be both open and closed depending on the location.

Livingston Parish officials cited the recent heavy storms, an increase of debris in the waterways and the possibility of more rain as reasons for the closure in proclamation for the closure.

According to National Weather Service data, the Amite River at Denham Springs rose from around 11 feet Thursday morning to more than 17 feet by 5 a.m. Friday.

By 2 p.m. Friday it had dropped a foot but was expected to rise to 19.5 feet by Sunday.

Action stage for that river is 26 feet, and flood stage is 29 feet.

Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment made the decision to keep that parishes' waterways open after consulting with the Louisiana Office of Wildlife and Fisheries and his parish's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

In a statement, he said both entities concurred with his decision to keep waterways open.

Cointment, however, stressed that Parish officials are regularly monitoring the weather and, if conditions change, new directives will be issued. He also urged boaters to exercise caution while on the water.

The Tangipahoa River at Robert fared worse during the storm, reaching 15.5 feet and minor flood stage by early Friday. Moderate flood stage is 18 feet and major would be 21 along the river in Tangipahoa Parish.

Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said Friday that the area around Robert had some flash flooding overnight but it was receding by noon.

National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Efferson said Friday that while both rivers saw an increase, they were not problematic and are not expected to see river levels continue rising to a dangerous point.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely across the area through the weekend, according to National Weather Service data.

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Livingston Parish waterways closed to recreation indefinitely; Ascension waterways open - The Advocate