WHEREAS, the Invasive Species Task Force (ISTF) was established in June 2000 by order of Governor Foster, and
WHEREAS, the objective of the ISTF is to address all invasive species, including noxious aquatic plants in the state’s lakes and bayous, and
WHEREAS, the rampant spread of hydrilla and now giant salvinia, present in so many lakes across the state, has made it impossible to fish and enjoy other recreational activities in these waters; some areas have virtually become non-navigable, and
WHEREAS, some of the private and business interests in Avoyelles Parish were successful in generating interest, and funding to the tune of $55,000, to help control hydrilla in the Spring Bayou Complex; the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) applied a control chemical in the late spring of 2001, and
WHEREAS, by working with local legislators the Avoyelles Wildlife Federation was able to procure $30,000 from the State, to be matched by local private contributions for control applications in the late spring of 2002, and
WHEREAS, these aquatic invasive species are not only a local or state problem, but a national concern, with many states allocating millions of dollars for aquatic vegetation control, and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) requests the Invasive Species Task Force to become aggressively active in addressing the problem of noxious aquatic vegetation in waters throughout the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LWF supports federal and state funding for the control of invasive aquatic species, especially hydrilla and giant salvinia.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, 3 March 2002, in Marksville, Louisiana