HLS 14RS-1480 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 62
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON
COASTAL RES/COASTAL ZONE: Urges and requests the Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority to study Lake Verret as an alternative drinking water source
for Bayou Lafourche
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to study the feasibility2
of a project to utilize the freshwater of Lake Verret as an alternative drinking water3
source for the residents along Bayou Lafourche.4
WHEREAS, Bayou Lafourche serves as the primary water source for several drinking water5
systems that serve over three hundred thousand people throughout the parishes of Ascension,6
Assumption, Lafourche, and Terrebonne by freshwater conveyed from the Mississippi River7
into Bayou Lafourche through a pumping station in Donaldsonville; and8
WHEREAS, those residents came to realize just how precious Bayou Lafourche is9
as a natural resource after Hurricane Gustav inundated the bayou with large volumes of10
debris, fallen trees, and other vegetation which substantially blocked the flow of water, and11
the decomposition of which resulted in the contamination of the water and impairment of12
the water’s availability, treatability, color, odor, and taste, rendering the bayou useless as a13
drinking water source; and14
WHEREAS, since then the state of Louisiana has dedicated over forty three million15
dollars to make this important resource more resilient, which has brought to light the need16
for an alternate freshwater source besides pumping from the Mississippi River; and17
WHEREAS, in the event of a pump station failure, major spill in the river, train18
derailment, or some other catastrophic event, the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District has19 HLS 14RS-1480 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 62
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no other means to get fresh water into the bayou and to the residents who are dependent1
upon it; and2
WHEREAS, one alternative to address this problem is to utilize the freshwater of3
Lake Verret by constructing a structure at Cancienne Canal to Bayou Lafourche, channel4
clearing and dredging within Cancienne Canal, and water quality analysis within Lake5
Verret.6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby7
urge and request the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to study the feasibility of8
a project to utilize the freshwater of Lake Verret as an alternative drinking water source for9
the residents along Bayou Lafourche.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted11
to the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.12
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)]
Harrison HCR No. 62
Urges and requests the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority study the feasibility of
a project to utilize the fresh water of Lake Verret as an alternative drinking water source for
the residents along Bayou Lafourche.