WHEREAS, due to approximately 33 years of heavy farming practices along Bayou Choctaw with limited conservation or environmental safeguard practices, the Spring Bayou Complex near Marksville in Avoyelles Parish (including 26 other lakes downstrepm) has suffered detrimental impacts of heavy siltation and bad water quality leading to a very huge loss of revenue to the community that would otherwise have been generated by recreational activities – estimated in 1988 to be approximately $1 million to the city of Marksville alone in sales from boats, rentals, campsites, recreational gear, etc., and
WHEREAS, just recently, a planned youth fishing tournament was canceled because of degraded conditions in the lakes area, and
WHEREAS, this situation is now having the effect of restricting the young generation from enjoying the great Louisiana outdoors, and
WHEREAS, recent conditions have caused thousands of acres to dry up, degrading wetlands and having a huge impact on the ecosystem, which greatly affects people everyday, and
WHEREAS, without action through legislation and other means to further the restoration of these lakes and wetlands, the people of Louisiana will not only lose part of their heritage but there will be huge impacts to fisheries, recreational opportunities, and human health, and
WHEREAS, these water quality problems affect the local Indian Tribal Grounds with a huge siltation deposit which affects lake access and threatens domestic water supply in the housing areas, and
WHEREAS, property values have been significantly reduced due to the degradation of the Spring Bayou Complex, and
WHEREAS, the Avoyelles Wildlife Federation is trying to end a 30-plus year battle with the community’s environmental problems.
THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports the Avoyelles Wildlife Federation’s efforts in achieving the financial, political and agency support that will be required to actually give Mother Nature a helping hand in restoring the quality of the Spring Bayou Complex so that Louisiana’s natural heritage will not be lost.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, 3 March 2002, in Marksville, Louisiana