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In the 19th century, Dorcheat was navigable for three to six months per year as far as [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], the seat of government for Webster Parish.<ref name=lebreton/> Wharves and warehouses were built along the bayou, as [[steamboat]]s brought supplies to the outlying areas and then returned with mainly [[cotton]] to the large market available in [[New Orleans]].<ref name=lebreton/>

In the 19th century, Dorcheat was navigable for three to six months per year as far as [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], the seat of government for Webster Parish.<ref name=lebreton/> Wharves and warehouses were built along the bayou, as [[steamboat]]s brought supplies to the outlying areas and then returned with mainly [[cotton]] to the large market available in [[New Orleans]].<ref name=lebreton/>

Steamboats, including side-wheelers and stern-wheelers, sometimes encountered tragedies on Dorcheat Bayou. An early steamer caught fire as it returned south; a woman leaped from the vessel with a child under each arm. She but only one of the children was rescued. In 1850, the ''Shamrock'' also burned with the loss of one person. The ships carried cargo and passengers and often offered mostly musical entertainment. Among these ships were the ''Danube,'' the ''Jewel,'' and the ''Marie Louise,''<ref name=lebreton/> a reference to the second wife of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. The steamboat era on Dorcheat ended in 1892, with the enhanced access to [[railroad]]s, one of which was the Sibley, Lake Bistineau, and Southern Railway. Passenger rail service along Dorcheat Bayou ended in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lakebistineau.com/history/History/History/DATES%201.html|author=Joe Hinton|title=Lake Bistineau History|publisher=lakebistineau.com|accessdate=August 25, 2009}}</ref>​

Steamboats, including side-wheelers and stern-wheelers, sometimes encountered tragedies on Dorcheat Bayou. An early steamer caught fire as it returned south; a woman leaped from the vessel with a child under each arm. She but only one of the children was rescued. In 1850, the ''Shamrock'' also burned with the loss of one person. The ships carried cargo and passengers and often offered mostly musical entertainment. Among these ships were the ''Danube,'' the ''Jewel,'' and the ''Marie Louise,''<ref name=lebreton/> a reference to the second wife of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. The steamboat era on Dorcheat ended in 1892, with the enhanced access to [[railroad]]s, one of which was the Sibley, Lake Bistineau, and Southern Railway. Passenger rail service along Dorcheat Bayou ended in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lakebistineau.com/history/History/History/DATES%201.html|author=Joe Hinton|title=Lake Bistineau History|publisher=lakebistineau.com|accessdate=April 8, 2020}}</ref>​

The Nature Conservancy maintains forty acres on Dorcheat Bayou donated by James W. Bransford, who pledged to designate another one thousand acres in the future. The preserve is not open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/louisiana/preserves/art6873.html|title=The Nature Conservancy: Bayou Dorcheat|publisher=nature.org|accessdate=August 24, 2009}}</ref>​

The Nature Conservancy maintains forty acres on Dorcheat Bayou donated by James W. Bransford, who pledged to designate another one thousand acres in the future. The preserve is not open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/louisiana/preserves/art6873.html|title=The Nature Conservancy: Bayou Dorcheat|publisher=nature.org|accessdate=August 24, 2009}}</ref>​