HLS 12RS-3306 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 117
BY REPRESENTATIVES ST. GERMAIN, BARRAS, BERTHELOT, CHAMPAGNE,
DOVE, GUILLORY, HARRISON, HUVAL, JONES, LAMBERT, TERRY
LANDRY, LEBAS, LEGER, MONTOUCET, JIM MORRIS, ORTEGO, PIERRE,
SCHEXNAYDER, THIBAUT, AND THIERRY
WATERWAYS/RIVERS: Urges the governor to request that the Corps of Engineers divert
increased water from the Mississippi River to the Atchafalaya River
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the governor of the state of Louisiana to submit a request on behalf of2
the state of Louisiana to the Major General of the Mississippi River Commission and3
the Mississippi Valley Division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to4
increase the water flow at the Old River Control structure from the Mississippi River5
into the Atchafalaya River in an amount necessary to effect a stage change increase6
of approximately six inches at the Butte La Rose gauge.7
WHEREAS, federal law requires that the United States Army Corps of Engineers8
divert into the Atchafalaya River thirty percent of the flow of the Mississippi River through9
the Old River Control structure located at Simmesport, Louisiana; and10
WHEREAS, in order to maintain the health of the Atchafalaya Basin as habitat for11
the flora and fauna indigenous to the state of Louisiana, to maintain the necessary water12
quality levels to provide appropriate habitat, to enable access to the Atchafalaya Basin to13
allow our citizens and visitors to pursue the recreational and commercial activities supported14
by the basin, and to ensure a sufficient amount of water in the Atchafalaya Basin to allow15
normal crawfish production and harvest, the water level in the Atchafalaya River needs to16
be higher than is currently present in the basin; and17
WHEREAS, due to a lack of rainfall and snow melt this spring, the water levels in18
the Atchafalaya River and, therefore in the Atchafalaya Basin, are significantly lower than19
normal for spring water levels which in turn has negative impacts on the flora and fauna20 HLS 12RS-3306 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 117
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located in the Atchafalaya Basin and has increased the amount of black water in the system,1
indicating a lack of oxygen and indicating that the quality of the water in the basin has2
diminished to dangerous levels; and3
WHEREAS, the law governing the United States Army Corps of Engineers4
management of the Old River Control structure provides a process by which the governor5
of the state of Louisiana submits to the Major General in charge of the Mississippi River6
Commission and Mississippi Valley Division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers7
a request on behalf of the state of Louisiana for an increase in the amount of water diverted8
from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya River; and9
WHEREAS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has been very cooperative10
in the past when requested by the state to add additional flow into the Atchafalaya River11
during times of low water; and12
WHEREAS, at the present time, an increase of water that would result in a stage13
change increase of approximately six inches would provide much needed relief for the14
Atchafalaya Basin.15
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby16
urge and request the governor of the state of Louisiana submit a request on behalf of the state17
of Louisiana to the Major General of the Mississippi River Commission and the Mississippi18
Valley Division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to increase the water flow at19
the Old River Control structure from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya River in an20
amount necessary to effect a stage change increase of approximately six inches at the Butte21
La Rose gauge.22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the23
governor of the state of Louisiana, the Mississippi Valley Division of the United States24
Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and to the Louisiana congressional25
delegation in Washington, D.C.26 HLS 12RS-3306 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 117
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
St. Germain HCR No. 117
Urges the governor to request that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increase the water flow
at the Old River Control structure from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin.