WHEREAS, the proliferation of nuisance aquatic weeds in Louisiana’s waters has been a problem since the introduction of the water hyacinth many years ago, and
WHEREAS, access to many waters has been severely impaired by several species of mostly exotic aquatic species which have also threatened aquaculture, agriculture and waterfowl habitat, and
WHEREAS, with the expansion of hydrilla and invasion of Salvinia, the threat to Louisiana’s waters has reached crisis proportions in some areas, and
WHEREAS, one of the ways noxious aquatic plants are introduced and spread to new waters is by boats and trailers that inadvertently transport fragments of aquatic weeds from one waterbody to another, and
WHEREAS, aquatic weed control research and management is expensive and the state has been unable to keep up with the problem, and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable to ask boaters to contribute to the state’s aquatic weed control effort in addition to being conscientious in cleaning their boats and trailers after leaving one waterbody and before launching in another.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports the adoption of a reasonable “aquatic weed control” fee to be assessed on boats or boat trailers, to be dedicated to the management of noxious aquatic vegetation in state waters.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is LWF’s intent that the funds generated by this aquatic weed control fee supplement, and not replace or be used in lieu of, funds expended for aquatic weed control that represent an average of the state’s aquatic weed control expenditures for the previous 3 years.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, 62nd Annual Meeting, March 4, 2001 in Many, Louisiana.