By an act of the Louisiana legislature on July 13, 1962, the Bayou DeSiard-Bayou Bartholomew Cut-Off Loop Water Conservation Board was created to build control structures and manage the water levels in the basin.

[6][2] The bayou is also used for fishing, duck hunting, boating and water skiing.

[9] Dense stands of bald cypress are located on the northern end of the bayou.

[2] Floating vegetation includes duckweed, water hyacinth and eichhornia crassipes.

Submerged vegetation includes coontail, fanwort, elodea and southern naiad.