SLS 25RS-217 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 124
BY SENATOR OWEN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
WATER/WATERWAYS. Provides relative to the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act. (8/1/25)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 56:1847(3), to enact R.S. 56:1855(Q), and to repeal R.S.
3 56:1847(43) through (49), (54), (75), and (64), relative to the Louisiana Scenic
4 Rivers Act; to provide for natural and scenic rivers; to provide for exceptions; and
5 to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 56:1847(3) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 56:1855(Q)
8 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §1847. Natural and scenic rivers
10 The following rivers or designated segments thereof are hereby designated
11 as being natural and scenic rivers:
12 * * *
13 (3) Tchefuncte River and its tributaries - Washington, Tangipahoa, St.
14 Tammany - From its origin in Tangipahoa Parish to its juncture with the Bogue
15 Falaya River Lake Ponchartrain.
16 * * *
17 §1855. Exceptions
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 124
SLS 25RS-217 ORIGINAL
1 * * *
2 Q. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary,
3 beginning August 1, 2025, through August 1, 2033, no provision of this Part
4 shall:
5 (1) Prohibit the channelization, clearing and snagging, channel
6 realignment, reservoir construction, or dredging operations for drainage
7 purposes in the West Pearl River from Lock 1 to the Rigolets.
8 (2) Require a permit pursuant to R.S. 56:1849 for the channelization,
9 clearing and snagging, channel realignment, reservoir construction, or dredging
10 operations for drainage purposes in the West Pearl River from Lock 1 to the
11 Rigolets.
12 Section 2. R.S. 56:1847(43) through (49), (54), (75), and (64) are hereby repealed.
13 Section 3. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
14 renumber the paragraphs in R.S. 56:1847.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, 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)]
DIGEST
SB 124 Original 2025 Regular Session Owen
Present law creates the Natural and Scenic Rivers System to protect, conserve, and replenish
state water bodies and designates certain rivers, streams, and bayous that are part of the
system.
Proposed law retains present law and removes the following water bodies in St. Tammany
Parish from the system: Holmes Bayou, Bradley Slough (Bayou), Wilson Slough (Bayou),
Morgan River, Bayou LaCombe, Bayou Cane, Bayou Chinchuba, and Bayou Liberty.
Present law prohibits channelization, clearing and snagging, channel realignment and
reservoir construction on water bodies in the system.
Proposed law retains present law and creates certain exceptions for the portion of the West
Pearl River lying between Lock 1 and the Rigolets, from August 1, 2025, to August 1, 2033.
Effective August 1, 2025.
(Amends R.S. 56:1847(3); adds R.S. 56:1855(Q); repeals R.S. 56:1847(43)-(49), (54), (57),
and (64))
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.