Bayou Nezpique is a small river located in the Mermentau River

Mermentau River

The Mermentau River is a river in southern Louisiana in the United States. It enters the Gulf of Mexico between Calcasieu Lake and Vermilion Bay on the Chenier Coastal Plain.The Mermentau River supplies freshwater for the Mermentau Basin...

 basin of south Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

, USA. The bayou is 70 miles (112.7 km) long and is navigable by small shallow-draft boats for 23 miles (37 km) of lower course.

The area was first settled by the Attakapa Indian tribe. The bayou is named after the Bayou Nezpiqué village which was near property owned by William Wikoff, who bought 2733 acres (11 km²) on the west bank of the bayou from Le Tortue, an Attakapas Indian, calling himself chief of the village of Nezpiqué, and his son, Celestine," recorded in 1791. In 1932, linguist William A. Read explained that the word Nezpiqué, or "tattooed nose", "simply emphasizes the fact that the Indians in its vicinity practiced the art of tattooing."

The bayou contains the Upper Bayou Nezpique No 7 Dam in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

 which was completed in 1970. It is used for flood control purposes and has a normal surface area of 1 acres (4,046.9 m²). It is of earth construction and its length is 1741 feet (530.7 m). Maximum discharge is 746 cubic feet (21.1 m³) per second. Its capacity is 1500 acre.ft.

Also, the bayou contains the Crooked Creek Reservoir which is impounded by the Upper Bayou Nezpique No 3 Dam in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

. It is used for flood control and recreation purposes. Construction was completed in 1974 and it has a normal surface area of 432 acres (1.7 km²).