Avoyelles Police Jury closer to creating Spring Bayou Commission

Meeting with LDWF on proposal was ‘positive’

After what several participants called “a positive meeting” of police jurors, state wildlife officials, private conservationists and private landowners, it is likely that a Spring Bayou Commission will be created, Police Jury President Charles Jones said.

The role and impact of that commission, however, may be a bit different than some parties have envisioned.

Those local individuals attending the July 11 meeting in Baton Rouge were Jones, four other police jurors, two representatives of the Spring Bayou Restoration Team and a landowner who pumps water from Spring Bayou.

On the other side of the table were Wildlife & Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet and a team of LDWF attorneys and staff.

“The legal staff of LDWF was supportive of the creation of a commission, which could be formed as a ‘lake commission,’” Jones said.

Montoucet made it clear any policies and procedures put forth by the commission “would have to meet the approval of the LDWF,” he added.
concern over pumping

The interest in a “lake commission” for the Spring Bayou complex is based in large part on outdoor recreationists’ concern with large agricultural landowners pumping water for crops and other uses during times of drought or low water levels.

SBRT members have called on the Police Jury to create a commission that would monitor water levels and regulate pumping out of Spring Bayou -- including a ban on pumping when the water stops flowing over the dam at Little River.

The back-and-forth between landowners and the recreation/ conservation advocates has resulted in allegations that a landowner said he can “pump Spring Bayou dry if I want to” and claims that conservationist extremism could result in devastating agricultural losses.

In 2016, the Police Jury asked the Attorney General’s Office for an opinion on whether the Police Jury could do anything about the issue.

A year later the jury got its answer -- a 7-page opinion that concluded the jury has the “power to regulate riparian water withdrawals only through a local game and fish preserve commission, and only with the concurrence of the state through the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries.”

That encouraged conservationists to push for the creation of a commission which they maintain is essential to protecting the recently rejuvenated recreation area’s future and ensuring accessibility throughout the complex.

MARCH MEETING

In a meeting in March, Montoucet called on all parties to get together to resolve their differences before taking action that could result in a lengthy and expensive legal battle. He said state courts have recognized that adjacent landowners to a waterway “have extensive rights” to use the water from that waterway.

Jones has also tried to play peacemaker -- setting aside his personal love of fishing and of fishing in Spring Bayou in particular -- to try to find a workable middle ground that will allow large farms and the recreation area to prosper.

Jones said Montoucet noted any policies to restrict or prohibit the adjacent landowners’ rights to pump water when they need it “would be a non-starter.”

That being said, Montoucet emphasized he and his staff are “committed to support the efforts of the parish government and its citizens on the matter and would always be available to answer questions and assist whenever possible,” Jones said.

There were some positive movements in the meeting that gave Jones hope that a workable and effective commission can -- and probably will -- be created.

Landowner Roland Dugas “was clear on his position that he, along with other landowners, were clearly within their rights to remove water from the bayou,” Jones said. “However, he was open-minded and was prepared to work with others as it relates to sustaining the wildlife quality in Spring Bayou.”

Jim Landry, a past president of SBRT, would say only that it was a “good meeting. A positive meeting.” He said he and other conservationists will reserve further comment until after they see what action the Police Jury takes in response to the discussion at that meeting.

Jones said Montoucet told the delegation there are grant funds available to develop outdoor recreation and protect the environment. The envisioned “lake commission” would be a good vehicle to seek and administer those grants, he noted. “There were several issues and proposals discussed,” Jones continued.

On the major concern of accessibility and the ability to launch boats during low-water periods, Montoucet said dredging entry points and boat lanes would be an easier solution than attempting to prohibit pumping from Spring Bayou.

Jones said siltation is a bigger cause of accessibility problems than low water.
increase flow

“They had talked at one time about pumping water from Red River through Bayou Choctaw to increase the flow of water through Spring Bayou and reduce the siltation,” he said.

That plan was never put into action, but he said a grant consultant or engineer could be hired to look at that or other quality-improvement proposals if funding could be obtained.

Another proposal presented is to raise the Little River dam to hold more water, thus reducing the effect of the agricultural pumping. However, Jones noted, that could flood some camps and cause more siltation in that part of the complex behind the dam.

“We would need a study to determine the effects of that proposal,” Jones said.

Montoucet told the delegation that he and his staff will be visiting Spring Bayou soon, possibly in early autumn.

Another encouraging sign that a commission will be created and be successful in its efforts “is the number of people who have already come up to me and said they would like to serve on the commission.”

The would-be commissioners are not just outdoors enthusiasts, but also include adjacent landowners and others in the community who are interested in developing Spring Bayou as a tourist attraction or just want to see the quality of life in this area improve.

“I still feel very positive about the efforts and the future of Spring Bayou,” Jones said. “I am hopeful that we can move forward immediately with the formation of the ‘Lake Commission.’ I am also hopeful the commission will be positive and look for ways that we can continue to improve this paradise of natural beauty.”

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