The Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System in 1970. From small creeks to large rivers, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) administers the Scenic Rivers Program, encompassing over 60 waterbodies constituting an estimated 3,100 miles of the state’s streams, rivers and bayous. Waterways accepted into the system as a Louisiana Designated Historic or Natural & Scenic River are afforded safeguards that protect the aesthetic, scenic, and recreational qualities of the body of water. In addition, the protection of the stream’s fish, wildlife, botanical resources, and the stream’s natural and physical features are preserved.
These benefits are accomplished in part by ensuring certain activities are prohibited on designated Natural and Scenic Rivers because of their detrimental ecological impacts on the streams.
These prohibited activities currently include:
- channelization
- clearing and snagging
- channel realignment
- reservoir construction
- commercial cutting of trees within 100 feet of the ordinary low water mark
- use of a motor vehicle on the stream
A Scenic River Permit is required for all activities on or near system rivers that may detrimentally impact on the ecological integrity, scenic beauty or wilderness qualities of those rivers. These permits, when granted, contain specific conditions aimed at preserving the stream’s natural character and quality.
Recently, a Notice of Intent (NOI) was presented to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission that proposed changes to the administration of the Natural and Scenic Rivers Program by clarifying allowable timber harvest activities, reducing the evaluation period and the number of publications required by permit applicants, extending the term for which permits are valid, and adopting new rules for expedited permitting. Upon review of the specific changes and recommendations to the program, LWF recognizes that clarifying timber removal guidelines, reducing public notice times to 30 days, and allowing for minor repairs and activities to be expedited under a general permit process all work to streamline the program and make the guidelines more consistent with best practices. While the Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports a comprehensive review of the rules and regulations that are put into place to best serve the natural resources of our state, we believe added steps should be included to best confront the growing challenges faced by our scenic river system. LWF believes online access to permits and public notices would serve the public’s best interests and be consistent with other state agencies in how permits are presented for public review. Locating all permits, applications, and notices on the LDWF Website would provide real-time transparency and streamline the permitting process. The Federation also asks that the Scenic River Advisory Council be reestablished to provide guidance and oversite to the program. The Scenic Rivers Program offers a unique opportunity for individuals and communities to get involved in protecting, conserving, and preserving two of Louisiana’s greatest natural resources, its water and its wilderness. Too often, attacks from development and industry have threatened to remove the protections that have served to safeguard our natural resources, and we believe that restoring the Scenic Rivers Advisory Council would provide an additional layer of accountability for all parties involved.
We recognize the State of Louisiana for their efforts to have strong restrictions and protections on our scenic waterways. LWF has been a vocal advocate of Louisiana’s Natural and Scenic Rivers System for more than 50 years. The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to the scenic rivers program in 2018 with a resolution approved by LWF’s Board of Directors – LWF Reaffirms Support for the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System – Louisiana Wildlife Federation. Decisions that impact flood control management and river management must be made based on good information and provide meaningful participation in the permitting process, especially for those who might be impacted by those decisions. The Wild and Scenic Rivers program is working, and these streams and rivers deserve to be properly managed so that they continue to provide services such as floodwater storage, fish and wildlife habitat, and opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy their beauty.
Interested persons may submit written comments relative to the proposed Rule until October 1, 2025, to Amelia Wolfe, Office of Wildlife, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, P. O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or via e-mail to awolfe@wlf.la.gov.
You can learn more about LWF’s written comments on the proposed LDWF Notice of Intent here.
You can read the full LDWF Notice of Intent to amend Scenic River regulations here.