BATON ROUGE, LA - The Sierra Club Delta Chapter, which encompasses the entire state of Louisiana and is comprised of over 3,400 members, strongly opposes SB 490, sponsored by Senator Bodi White (R - Central), which would suspend the protection of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act for the Comite River for three years.
Without these protections, the Comite River would be in danger of channelization, clearing and snagging, channel realignment, reservoir construction, or dredging operations “for drainage purposes,” according to the bill - all without a Scenic Rivers Program permit.
“The Louisiana Scenic River Program recognizes and codifies the need for oversight, accountability, and science-based rules for dealing with some of our state’s most prized natural resources,” says Julie Rosenzweig, Sierra Club Delta Chapter Director. “This bill removes all three.”
The Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act, enacted in 1970, establishes a system for administering designated rivers and streams to preserve, protect, reclaim, and enhance these water bodies “for the present and future benefit of Louisiana citizens.” The section of the Comite River designated as a state Scenic River runs from Wilson-Clinton Highway in East Feliciana Parish to the entrance of White Bayou in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Currently, the Scenic Rivers Act calls for interagency consultation between the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, who administer the Scenic Rivers Program, and other agencies before addressing issues of classifying or delisting waterbodies from the law. SB 490 skips all those steps.
“This bill undercuts current state efforts to start regional flood planning, removes all state oversight and control over activities affecting a public waterway, and fails to specify who will design or certify whatever work is done or how it will be assessed,” says Rosenzweig.
Further reference resources:
RS 56:1856 – Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/document/36295-scenic-rivers-act/scenicriversact2009.pdf
LDWF page on Scenic Rivers Act: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/scenic-rivers
Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers Map: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/louisiana-natural-and-scenic-rivers-descriptions-and-map