LOUISIANA’S (add your state and pictures here)
NATURAL
AND SCENIC RIVERS
Amite River
Whiskey 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
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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 71203
Office: 318-343-4045 ext. 4
Cascio_DK@wlf.state.la.us
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information here.)