@louisianacrawfishco: What should Craw-Kid explain next? 👇 Man-made crawfish farms drain their ponds every year. But why? Draining is a critical part of the crawfish life cycle. It simulates the natural rise and fall of water in the Atchafalaya Basin—where most wild-caught crawfish come from. Out there, when the water level drops, it sends a signal to the crawfish: time to burrow. Burrowing is how they survive. They dig down into the mud to stay cool and safe, and it’s inside that burrow where the females lay their eggs and protect the hatch. No burrowing means no hatch. Draining also lets us: – Clean and prep the ground for next season – Disc and replant so soot and grass can grow – Break down leftover organic matter – Prevent disease, algae buildup, and oxygen crashes – Time the next hatch and harvest window Why don’t we pull all the boards out at once? The slow drop in water level allows the crawfish plenty of time to burrow safely underground. (The birds are always lurking…) This way better mimics the natural cycles of water in our state. Our family built these ponds over time. So our drainage system is pretty unique. To us, it makes perfect sense. But if you’re seeing it for the first time, it probably looks confusing. At the end of the day, the water drains back into the canal and reconnects with the river system. When it’s time to refill, we’ve got options: Rain, our reservoir, the canal, or if we absolutely have to, our wells. #Crawfish #Louisiana #Farming #SouthernLifestyle #CrawfishSeason #FunFacts

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Saturday 26 July 2025 13:18:42 GMT