GONZALES The Amite River and all other inland waterways in Ascension and Livingston parishes will be closed to recreational traffic starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Ascension and Livingston Homeland Security officials said.

Hazards caused by Tropical Storm Cindy are forcing the closure, which will remain in place until further notice, Ascension homeland security officials said in a Facebook post.

The two parishes share the Amite, but other rivers and bayous also course throughout both parishes.

Rick Webre, director of the Ascension Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said that floating debris was one factor in the decision to close the waterways but said high water in the Amite River Diversion Canal was also a major reason.

He said boat traffic through the high water in the canal is causing problems for homes and bulkheads that line portions of the waterway.

Mark Harrell, Webre's counterpart in Livingston Parish, said similar problems with wakes from boaters are being encountered on the Tickfaw River in the southeastern end of that parish.

Harrell said storm surge and wind from Cindy has swollen water levels on the river. The Tickfaw's mouth empties along the north shore of Lake Maurepas.

The order will close all boat launches in both parishes to recreational traffic.

Since making landfall Thursday morning, Cindy has been downgraded to a tropical depression by the National Weather Service.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Inland waterways in Ascension, Livingston to close Thursday evening due to post-storm 'hazards' - The Advocate