ENROLLED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 35
BY REPRESENTATIVE LACOMBE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To extend the existence of the False River Watershed Council and provide for its
membership.
WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 123 of the 2012 Regular Session of
the Louisiana Legislature created the False River Watershed Council consisting of twelve
representatives of state agencies, local government agencies, the legislature, and concerned
citizens; and
WHEREAS, the council was charged with meeting to ". . . deliberate and produce
a report that will identify, review, and evaluate management strategies to facilitate the goal
of improving the aquatic habitat of False River; to provide recommendations for the optimal
management and protection of the resources within the False River watershed, including but
not limited to the following: the study of impacts and potential impacts to water quality,
excess nutrient and sediment run-off management, shoreline modification management,
watershed conservation measures, and innovative habitat restoration methodology;
coordination of federal, state, and local efforts to improve and protect water quality; surface
water resource management and protection policies; recommendations for the optimal
management and protection of the natural resources in the False River watershed;
identification of various funding options for ongoing maintenance of the False River
watershed; recommended changes to current procedures and practices to make the
management and protection of the natural resources in the False River watershed more
efficient, comprehensive, and sustainable"; and
WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 123 provides that the council shall
cease to exist on January 11, 2016, ". . . unless it is extended by further action of the
Louisiana Legislature. . ."; and
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WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 230 of the 2015 Regular Session of
the Louisiana Legislature continued the council's existence until June 30, 2016; and
WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 36 of the 2016 Regular Session of
the Louisiana Legislature continued the council's existence until June 30, 2017; and
WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 52 of the 2017 Regular Session of
the Louisiana Legislature continued the council's existence until January 13, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the participants in the watershed council's efforts for ". . . improving the
aquatic habitat of False River; to provide recommendations for the optimal management and
protection of the resources within the False River watershed . . ." are united in their desire
to continue those efforts through continued existence of the False River Watershed Council;
and
WHEREAS, to achieve the goal of a restored False River watershed as quickly and
completely as possible, it continues to be necessary to bring together the various government
interests, as well as nongovernmental stakeholder organizations who possess specialized
knowledge or whose members represent resource users in the False River watershed.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
extend the existence of the False River Watershed Council, whose membership shall be as
follows:
(1) The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee
within the department.
(2) The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality or his designee within
the department.
(3) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee within the
department.
(4) The secretary of the Department of Natural Resources or his designee within the
department, who will serve as vice chair of the council.
(5) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee within
the department, who shall serve as chair of the council.
(6) The state senator from Senate District 17.
(7) The state representative from House District 18.
(8) Two members to be selected by the senator from Senate District 17.
(9) Two members appointed by the representative from House District 18.
(10) Two members appointed by the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury.
(11) The director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness – Pointe Coupee Parish.
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(12) One member appointed by the mayor of the city of New Roads.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council shall submit an annual report to the
House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on
Natural Resources no later than thirty days prior to the convening of each year's regular
session.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the False River Watershed
Council shall not be entitled to receive any salary, per diem, expenses, mileage, or other
emoluments of the office for their service on this commission, outside of any that they may
be entitled to by virtue of their service in another public office.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council shall, at the proper time, contact the
following federal resource agencies to solicit their views and input with respect to
completing the study requested by this Resolution:
(1)United States Army Corps of Engineers.
(2)United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(3)United States Geological Survey.
(4)National Resources Conservation Service.
(5)United States Department of Agriculture.
(6)National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
(7)United States Environmental Protection Agency.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury, the commissioner of agriculture, the secretary of the
Department of Environmental Quality, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health,
the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, and the secretary of the Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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