WHEREAS, Castor Creek was judged to be qualified for the National Scenic River System by the U. S. Forest Service in the 1999 Forest Plan, and
WHEREAS, much of its 4.9 mile length flows through towering loblolly pine, beech, magnolia, sweetgum, ash and bald cypress within the Evangeline Unit of Kisatchie National Forest and is crossed by the Wild Azalea National Recreation Trail, and
WHEREAS, Castor Creek and two tributaries make up the expanded Castor Creek Scenic Area with numerous trees over 100 years old, and
WHEREAS, this clear, sandy-bottomed stream is habitat for the federally listed threatened Louisiana pearlshell mussel and the sensitive Teche painted crawfish, and is a good stream fishery for largemouth and spotted bass, longear and bluegill sunfish and eastern chain pickerel (jackfish), and
WHEREAS, Little Brushy Creek, Long Branch, Loving Creek and Little Loving Creek are part of the Castor Creek watershed and come together to enter Bayou Boeuf, and
WHEREAS, together these streams constitute over half of the pearlshell mussel population in Rapides Parish and have similar older plant communities and aesthetic appeal.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports the nomination of Castor Creek, Little Brushy Creek, Long Branch, Loving Creek and Little Loving Creek for designation from their origin to their terminus as Louisiana Natural and Scenic Streams, and urges the Louisiana Legislature to nominate these streams for such designation.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in Convention Assembled, March 16, 2008 in New Iberia, Louisiana.