Read LWF’s 2-page recommendations for comprehensive water management.
Louisiana may seem to have abundant amounts of water to serve all our needs for drinking water, agriculture, and industrial use. But do we?
Frankly, we cannot be sure. Louisiana lacks a comprehensive and consistent water resource monitoring network. We need a full audit of groundwater and surface water. The state needs to develop a water “budget.”
What Louisiana does have is a patchwork of laws and inadequate regulations to manage our water resources, with no comprehensive statewide water code. New industrial users are coming to the state. How is the state making a commitment about water for their usage too?
Overuse and lax monitoring must be addressed
Louisiana’s groundwater resources are being overused. Since 1951, groundwater depletion rates have increased 578.7% across the Gulf Coastal Plan Regional Aquifer System, which includes Louisiana. At least there is some regulation of groundwater, particularly when that water is in a critical state of overuse, such as what happened to the Sparta Aquifer.
In the past when users were overconsuming groundwater, they were directed to use surface water. Unfortunately, surface water is the least regulated in Louisiana.
The Department of Conservation and Energy has authority to restrict groundwater withdrawals in designated areas of concern but lacks similar authority for surface water withdrawals, which remain under a voluntary program.
The reality is that any entity can withdraw surface waters, they don’t need permission, and there is no required fee for it. At best, you may enter into a voluntary agreement with the state to report on the withdrawal and pay an amount of your own choosing. What business would operate like this for their most precious asset? This is a public trust resource and should be managed prudently on the people’s behalf.
Some good news: Statutory priority hierarchy exists for water use in Louisiana, with human consumption and public health as the highest priority, followed by agriculture, irrigation, and industrial/mining. But enforcement mechanisms are lacking.
A top priority for Louisiana Wildlife Federation
Louisiana’s wildlife needs sustainable habitat and that includes adequate surface water in rivers, bayous, swamps, and estuaries. What’s good for wildlife is good for people. It’s a basic fact that people and wildlife cannot live without water.
More questions than answers
How should we manage water resources in times of drought? For how many users and at what volume can Louisiana’s water needs be sustained? When will the state comprehensively manage all the water demands and monitor water usage? How can we respond to demands from other states to buy or use or divert water we may need in our state? How can we determine a monetary value to sell water if we don’t know how much water we have nor how much is being used? What are the necessary laws that provide regulatory guidance and declare what is allowed for usage?
Take action by questioning state leaders
These are questions that need answers from legislators and rule making from agency administrators. Every time we get the chance, LWF will be asking these questions and more.
Read LWF’s RECOMMENDATIONS to legislators and agency leaders to educate yourself.
Talk with your legislators and urge them to make comprehensive water management a priority for the state.
“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” -Ben Franklin
Putting in place all that may be needed for improved water management is a big task and as much about the law as it is about hydrology or engineering. It’s also about protecting water quality and managing water quantity. Louisiana is far behind other states in water planning and water management. Other thirsty states are looking for water for their own prosperity. Let’s wise up about the most precious commodity we have. We simply cannot survive without water.
Bills in the legislature this session
Some bills have been filed in the 2026 Regular Session to address water management in specific ways. LWF is commenting on water bills when there is a hearing. You can track progress on the bills that have made it out of committee.
HB 599 by Rep Schamerhorn passed the House and moves to the Senate.
HB 1205 by Rep Marcelle was voluntarily deferred.
HB 1206 by Rep Walters was voluntarily deferred after committee discussion.
HB 1209 by Rep Firment passed the House and moves to the Senate.
For more information read this recent article in The Advocate and this editorial in The Advocate.
You can help by sharing LWF’s 2-page recommendations.