Spotlight on LDWF Dredge Fill Material Program

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) amended a notice of intent on changes to the dredge fill material program administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) during its July 1st meeting in Baton Rouge.

The amendment reads as follows: “The extent of a single permitted site in the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya River, the Red River, the Pearl River (not including the West Pearl), the Calcasieu River below the saltwater barrier, the Ouachita/Black River south of the confluence of Bayou Bartholomew shall not exceed 1 linear mile and shall not extend across the geometric center line of the stream.”

“Fill material, sand and gravel shall not be permitted to be removed from the water bottom of any designated Natural and Scenic River unless removal of such material is specifically allowed by statute.”

The LWFC approved changes to the program, which covers dredging of fill material from the water bottoms of Louisiana, earlier this year.

According to LWFC, the rule changes align regulations with statute and codify current practice by identifying the licenses required to remove dredge material from state water bottoms.