| Calcasieu River | |
|---|---|
 Interstate 10 bridge over the Calcasieu River atLake Charles | |
 Calcasieu River | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parishes | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of bayous/forests |
| • location | Vernon Parish,Louisiana, United States |
| • coordinates | 31°17′29″N93°12′16″W / 31.2915°N 93.2044°W /31.2915; -93.2044 |
| Mouth | Calcasieu Pass andCalcasieu Ship Channel;Gulf of Mexico |
• location | Cameron,Cameron Parish,Louisiana, United States |
• coordinates | 30°03′25″N93°18′45″W / 30.0569°N 93.3125°W /30.0569; -93.3125 |
| Length | 200 mi (320 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Cities | |
TheCalcasieu River (/ˈkælkəˌʃuː/KAL-kə-shoo;French:Rivière Calcasieu) is a river on theGulf Coast in southwesternLouisiana.[1] Approximately 200 miles (320 km) long,[2] it drains a largely rural area of forests andbayou country, meandering southward to theGulf of Mexico. The name "Calcasieu" most likely comes throughFrench from theAtakapa languageKatkōsh Yōk ('Crying Eagle'), the name of a local Atakapa leader.[3]
The Calcasieu rises inVernon Parish, north ofLeesville, and flows initially southeast, passing through theKisatchie National Forest southwest ofAlexandria. It then turns southwest, flowing pastOakdale andLake Charles, the largest city on the river. It enters the north end of the brackishCalcasieu Lake, anestuary on the Gulf of Mexico approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Lake Charles. The lake, which is referred to by locals as "Big Lake", is connected by a 5-mile (8 km) channel to the gulf on the south end. The lower portion of the river south of Lake Charles is paralleled by a navigable canal which connects to theGulf Intracoastal Waterway.
In the early 19th century, the area of present-day Louisiana andTexas west of the Calcasieu River extending roughly north-south to the Arroyo Hondo in Natchitoches Parish and east of theSabine River was disputed between the United States andSpain. The dispute arose from differing interpretations of the western boundary of Louisiana under the terms of theLouisiana Purchase. The area became known asNeutral Ground and became a haven forprivateers outside the legal jurisdiction of both nations.[4][5]
During the US Civil War, anaval engagement occurred on May 6, 1864 atCalcasieu Pass, with the Confederates capturing two Union gun boats.[6]
Because the river passes through areas with intensivepetroleum refining and other industries, petrochemical wastes have been found contaminating the river and estuarine environment along the lower Calcasieu River. A 1993, a Condea Vista Chemical Company pipeline spill was reported by the company to have leaked 1,600,000 pounds (730 tonnes) of a highly toxic chemical known asethylene dichloride.Mother Jones reported the spill as potentially discharging between 19,000,000 and 47,000,000 pounds (8,600 and 21,300 tonnes), that would have spread throughout parts of the estuary.[citation needed]
Sasol Ltd purchased Condea Vista in 2000[7] inheriting the controversy. The site was designated a "super-fund site" and Sasol has been involved in long-term legal battles that have resulted in settlements, fines, and the clean-up of affected areas. A problem is that the chemical sinks in water and becomes covered by deposits of silt. Any clean-up would inevitably stir up the covered chemical, causing furtherecological damage. The lower end of the estimated spill (19,000,000 pounds (8,600 tonnes)) would be two times the 1988 US production of ethylene dichloride, which was 9,445,000 tons. 1.6 million tons were cleaned up.[8] Any construction might disturb contaminated soil so would have to be constantly monitored.[9][failed verification]
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