ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 82
BY REPRESENTATIVE ST. GERMAIN
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To commend Harold Schoeffler for his tireless advocacy to promote and enhance the
Atchafalaya Basin for Louisiana citizens.
WHEREAS, the Atchafalaya Basin is the nation's largest and most productive river
swamp, spanning eight parishes and covering more than eight hundred thousand acres; and
WHEREAS, the Atchafalaya Basin's bottomland hardwoods, swamps, bayous, and
backwater lakes are home to over two hundred fifty species of birds and more than one hundred
species of fish that attracts thousands of anglers, boaters, campers, hunters, bicyclists, and
bird-watchers each year; and
WHEREAS, Harold Schoeffler has been active in the fight for conservation of
Louisiana's coastal and wetland habitat, chief among them, the Atchafalaya Basin; and
WHEREAS, Harold Schoeffler has served in leadership roles in several groups
committed to these causes, including the Sierra Club, the Louisiana Coastal Coalition, and as
a cofounder of Save Our Coast; and
WHEREAS, Harold Schoeffler has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the Boy
Scouts of America, first as a youth member and in adulthood as a decorated scouter serving as
scoutmaster of Troop 405, having distinguished himself amongst his scouting peers by being
nominated for, and presented with numerous awards in recognition of his work with scouting
youth, including the Saint George Award, the Bronze Pelican, and the prestigious Silver Beaver
Award; and
WHEREAS, through Harold Schoeffler's decades of commitment to passing along the
ideals of the Boy Scouts, and sharing his passion for preserving and experiencing the
Atchafalaya Basin to younger generations, has made him uniquely qualified to identify the needs
of user groups for undeveloped primitive lands for exploring, observing nature, and for camping;
his committed leadership has led him to discover available, undeveloped state- owned land
resources to meet these needs; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 82
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WHEREAS, the Atchafalaya Basin Program in the Department of Natural Resources,
is the designated agency to coordinate state efforts in the Atchafalaya Basin with those of the
federal government; and
WHEREAS, the Atchafalaya Basin Program has a history of promoting public use of the
basin including working to implement recreation projects in the Atchafalaya Basin; and
WHEREAS, Harold Schoeffler nominated a project for increased use of the Atchafalaya
Basin to the Atchafalaya Basin Program with minimal cost that involved the development of
primitive camping areas on state-owned lands, and to facilitate this proposal, he provided the
design and location of what has become thirty separate primitive campsites located on state-
owned land in the Atchafalaya Basin available for all Louisianians to use, free of charge; and
WHEREAS, the Atchafalaya Basin Program adopted the primitive campsite project
nominated by Harold Schoeffler and the Louisiana Legislature approved the 2013 Basin Annual
Plan including demarcation and publication of map coordinates for primitive campsites identified
and designed by Harold Schoeffler; and
WHEREAS, today and for generations to come, there are now thirty primitive campsites
for all to enjoy, free of charge, in the Atchafalaya Basin.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Harold Schoeffler for his advocacy for and promotion of access to, and increased use
of public lands in the Atchafalaya Basin, does hereby express to him enduring appreciation for
his distinguished service to the citizens of the state of Louisiana, and does hereby recognize and
record his vital contributions and tireless dedication to the cause of promotion and preservation
of the Atchafalaya Basin.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Harold Schoeffler.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE