LOUISIANA’S (add your state and pictures here) NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS Amite RiverWhiskey Chitto Creek Pushepatapa Creek

NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS (add information regarding your state’s scenic river initiatives or other initiative relavent to water issues)  The Louisiana Natural & Scenic Rivers System is one of the nation’s largest, oldest, most diverse, and unique state river protection initiatives  It currently includes 52 streams, rivers, bayous, stream complexes and segments thereof, totaling over 1700 miles  Additions or deletions to the Scenic River System are made by the LA Legislature

NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS  Created by the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers Act in the early 1970’s –Outlined requirements for a river to be included –Established a regulatory program –Empowered the Secretary of the LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to administer the system through regulation and permits

ACTIVITIES REQUIRING A PERMIT  Bridge, pipeline, and powerline crossings  Bulkheads, piers, docks, and ramps  Waste water discharges  Land development adjacent to the river  Prospecting and mining natural resources  Water withdrawal for irrigation  Aerial application of pesticides & fertilizers to fields adjacent to scenic streams

ACTIVITIES REQUIRING NOTIFICATION OF THE LA OFFICE OF FORESTRY  Selective harvest in 100 foot buffer of the low water mark of a state scenic stream  Cutting trees for insect and/or disease control  Harvesting trees for personal use by the person who owns or leases the property

BUT  Disposal of trees or treetops into a Scenic River is a violation of both the State Water Pollution Control Act and the Scenic Rivers Act  The riparian landowner is liable for a violation of this nature regardless of who actually placed the trees or tops into the stream

ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA  Channelization  Clearing and Snagging  Impoundments  Commercial clearcutting of timber within 100 feet of the low water mark

PENALTIES  Civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation. Each day on which a violation occurs shall be a separate offense.  Criminal penalties for first, second, and third and subsequent offenses.

Spring Creek

Bayou Cocodrie

CONTACTS  Keith Cascio Scenic Rivers Coordinator La. Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries 368 CenturyTel Drive Monroe, LA Office: ext. 4 (add local contact information here.)