Resolution No. 1A, 2016: Review of the Triploid Restriction on Grass Carp.
LWF requests that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries review its ban on the use of diploid grass carp for weed control, should its study show that the ban is pointless with respect to restricting the expansion of grass carp populations in the State of Louisiana. Grass carp are an effective control method for invasive hyrdrilla, but restrictions to use triploid grass carp have created additional costs, certifications, and have been ineffective in slowing diploid grass carp expansion.
Resolution No. 2B, 2016: Support for Increased Funding to Maintain and Operate Louisiana State Parks and Other Properties Managed by The Office of State Parks.
LWF urges the Legislature to maintain funding for the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to support the Office of State Parks in adequately funding operations, management, and maintenance of parks. Additionally, LWF further urges the legislature to give the Office of State Parks authority to modify its fee structures to reflect demand along with the authority to evaluate and implement public-private partnerships/concessions for new or expanded park services. The Office of State Parks budget has been cut by 40% over 10 years, creating dramatic cutbacks in park operations and a buildup of deferred maintenance, while being required to charge inadequate admissions rates, leading to suboptimal revenue.
Resolution No. 3E, 2016: Ban Open Burning of Munitions and Waste Explosives in Louisiana.
LWF supports the use of contained burn methods to dispose of munitions or waste explosives and supports a ban on the permitting or licensing of open burning of any munitions or waste explosives in Louisiana. Improper storage of millions of pounds of chemical propellant and explosives at Camp Minden led to an uncontrolled explosion in 2012, prompting a government-led cleanup. Citizens of Minden objected to the proposed open detonation and burning of chemicals out of concerns about safety and pollution of air, soil and water. Louisiana and the US EPA agreed on a contained burn system with advanced pollution abatement systems and with additional soil, water, and air quality testing.
Resolution No. 4B, 2016: Segmented Breakwaters for Coastal Restoration Projects.
LWF requests that the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, other agencies, and engineering firms consider the benefits of segmented breakwater systems as a primary option in shoreline protection projects when and where applicable. Additionally, LWF is a proponent of using segmented breakwaters in lieu of conventional (sand/dirt alone) shoreline protection and should be recognized as a “standard tool” to be used in coastal restoration projects without the specific alteration requests currently required. Louisiana is battling coastal erosion to communities, it’s economy, and wildlife habitat; yet, the use of economical and scientifically comprehensive segmented breakwater systems is underutilized.
Resolution No.5B, 2016: Support for Maintaining Public Lands and Their Proper Management
LWF opposes the transfer of federal lands to states or private interests, and supports the full funding of land and resource management agencies. Furthermore, LWF supports collecting fair value for consumptive use of our Nation’s resources, and directing the revenues toward enhanced land and resource management and ensuring that federal, state and local government officials and private stakeholders be encouraged to emulate successful examples of collaborative public lands management. Ultimately, federal and state lands are held in the public trust for the enjoyment and use of the general public, yet some officials create self-fulfilling rationales of mismanagement by starving agencies of necessary funding, leading to the transfer of lands and inflaming anti-government sentiments.
