Tangipahoa River Reopens After Smitty's Supply Fire Cleanup

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Published November 7th, 2025

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) announced the full reopening of the Tangipahoa River on November 7, 2025, following environmental cleanup efforts after the Smitty's Supply fire. While the river is open, some cleanup and monitoring activities will continue.

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What changed

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), in coordination with the Tangipahoa Parish Government and the U.S. EPA, has announced the full reopening of the Tangipahoa River to the public as of November 7, 2025. This follows environmental cleanup operations necessitated by the August Smitty's Supply fire in Roseland. While the river is now accessible, ongoing cleanup and recovery operations will continue in select areas to ensure long-term water quality and ecosystem protection.

While the reopening signifies a major milestone, the public is advised to remain mindful of ongoing work, personnel, and containment booms still in place. Disturbing any equipment or boom is discouraged as they are crucial for final cleanup and monitoring. This notice serves as an update on the environmental recovery status and does not impose new compliance obligations on regulated entities, but rather informs the public and stakeholders about the restoration of the waterway.

Source document (simplified)

FOR RELEASE: Contact: Meagan Molter Nov. 7, 2025 Phone: 225-219-3964 LDEQ Announces Full Reopening of Tangipahoa River Following Smitty’s Supply Fire BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), in coordination with the Tangipahoa Parish Government and with federal oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is pleased to announce that the Tangipahoa River has been fully reopened to the public as of Nov. 7, 2025, following the August Smitty’s Supply fire in Roseland and its subsequent environmental impacts. While the river is now open for full public use, cleanup and recovery operations will continue at select areas along the river to ensure the long-term protection of water quality and surrounding ecosystems. LDEQ asks boaters and residents to remain mindful of ongoing work, personnel, and containment boom that may still be in place. The public is urged to not disturb any equipment or boom as these are essential to final cleanup and monitoring efforts. LDEQ, EPA, and Tangipahoa Parish extend their appreciation to local residents for their patience and cooperation throughout the response and recovery process. The reopening marks a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between local, state, and federal agencies to restore and protect Louisiana’s waterways. For environmental concerns, please contact LDEQ at (225) 219-3640 or visit Tangipahoa.org — and follow LDEQ’s social media channels for continued updates. ###