HLS 14RS-1022 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 52
BY REPRESENTATIVE FOIL
WATER/RESOURCES: Urges the commissioner of conservation to evaluate the
appropriateness of restrictions on withdrawals from the Southern Hills Aquifer
System
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the commissioner of conservation to evaluate the efficacy and2
appropriateness of imposing limitations on the amount of withdrawals from the3
Southern Hills Aquifer System.4
WHEREAS, the Southern Hills Aquifer System underlies the parishes of East and5
West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, and Livingston and is the major source of6
drinking water for the Capital Area Region; and7
WHEREAS, not only does the Southern Hills Aquifer System provide drinking water8
for the Capital Area Region, there are numerous industrial facilities that withdraw potable9
water from the aquifer system for their industrial processes; and10
WHEREAS, there has long been concern about the viability, sustainability, and11
health of the Southern Hills Aquifer System; even as long ago as the early 1960s there were12
concerns about saltwater intrusion into the aquifer; and13
WHEREAS, the concern about the sustainability of the aquifer system has been14
growing recently and has resulted in many activities, discussions, studies, and public15
hearings including a groundwater awareness survey conducted in the Baton Rouge area in16
December of 2012 to try to determine just how well versed Baton Rouge residents were17
about their drinking water and where it came from; and18 HLS 14RS-1022 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 52
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WHEREAS, among the findings of the survey was that only a little over half of the1
people surveyed knew that their drinking water came from the Southern Hills Aquifer2
System; and3
WHEREAS, the office of conservation and the Capital Area Groundwater4
Conservation Commission, using the United States Geological Survey Water Resources5
research and data, have worked together to study the Southern Hills Aquifer System and to6
develop management regimes and policies that are conducive to the sustainability of the7
aquifer system and to minimize the effects of saltwater intrusion into the system; and8
WHEREAS, in the spring of 2012, the office of conservation, at the request of the9
Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission and the Baton Rouge area legislative10
delegation, held public hearings on the issue of saltwater encroachment in the fifteen11
hundred foot sands and two thousand foot sands of the Southern Hills Aquifer System, where12
information was provided that supported the fears that the aquifer system is not sustainable13
due to the saltwater encroachment which resulted in the commissioner of conservation taking14
action to have certain groundwater well owners provide information as to their current and15
projected withdrawal volume; and16
WHEREAS, even with all the focus and increased activity towards protection and17
conservation of the Southern Hills Aquifer System, particularly as a drinking water source,18
there remains concern about the sustainability of the aquifer system and a desire to see19
implementation by the commissioner of conservation of withdrawal restrictions throughout20
the Southern Hills Aquifer System in order to preserve the necessary drinking water for the21
population of the Capital Area Region.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby23
urge and request the commissioner of conservation to evaluate the efficacy and24
appropriateness of imposing limitations on the amount of withdrawals from the Southern25
Hills Aquifer System.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commissioner of conservation report his27
findings and determinations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment28
and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources no later than March 1, 2015.29 HLS 14RS-1022 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 52
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the1
commissioner of conservation.2
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)]
Foil HCR No. 52
Urges and requests the commissioner of conservation to evaluate the efficacy and
appropriateness of imposing limitations on the amount of withdrawals from the Southern
Hills Aquifer System.
Requires the commissioner of conservation to issue a report of its findings and
recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the
Senate Committee on Natural Resources no later than March 1, 2015.