§2909. Constructions which would impede flow of water in watershed prohibited; pollution defined and prohibited; penalties fixed for violations

A. No person or public corporation shall erect within the drainage area of the district any dam or reservoir upon any stream or water course which will affect the proposed lake until a copy of the plans thereof has been filed with the board of commissioners for approval.

Whoever violates this subsection shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days, nor more than sixty days, or both.

B. No person shall knowingly and willfully empty or drain into, or permit to be drained from any pumps, reservoirs, wells or oil fields into any stream or drain constituting the watershed of the proposed lake or from any stream within said district into the said reservoir any oil, salt water or other noxious or poisonous gases or substances which would render the water unfit for irrigation purposes or would destroy aquatic and fish life in the streams.

Whoever violates this subsection shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars or more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than three months.

Each and every day that oil, salt water or other substances are permitted to flow into natural streams or drains which constitute the watershed of the proposed lake shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

C. No person shall:

(1) Obstruct drainage channels which compose any drain or stream flowing into the proposed lake by bridging them except in accordance with plans, specifications and instructions prescribed by the board of commissioners of the district.

(2) Construct dams, locks, or gates in drainage channels of the said watershed of the proposed lake without permission of the commission.

(3) Extend fences of wire or any other material across drainage channels into and forming a part of the watershed of the proposed lake.

(4) Anchor rafts, crafts, fish traps, fish cars and other obstacles in the channel of any stream, drain or natural flow of the feeder streams of the watershed of the proposed lake.

(5) Drain into channels by natural or artificial inlets except under regulations prescribed by the board of commissioners.

(6) Float timber in the watershed of the proposed lake.

(7) Use the channels for transportation or navigation except under authority of and agreement with the board of commissioners.

(8) In any manner obstruct drainage channels, natural flow drains or natural flowage or violate any of the rules or regulations adopted and promulgated by the board of commissioners for preserving and maintaining the efficiency of the drainage channels in the district.

Whoever violates this subsection shall be fined not less than two hundred and fifty dollars or more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days, or both.

D. No proprietor, owner, lessee or possessor of land abutting upon the reservoir of the proposed lake or upon any public road paralleling the water line or contiguous to the reservoir of the proposed lake shall in any manner close or place any obstruction in the drains or ditches, whether on private property or on the public road or levee adjacent to the road which will in any manner interfere with the effective, through and continuous drainage into the reservoir.

Whoever violates this subsection shall be fined not less than two hundred and fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days, or both.

The sheriff of the parish, in addition to his other duties, is charged with the responsibility of aiding and assisting the commission in the enforcement of all rules and regulations adopted in accordance herewith.

E. The district attorney of the judicial district within which the watershed district is situated is hereby designated as the proper official and charged with the responsibility of the prosecution of all violations of the rules and regulations adopted by the said commission in pursuance hereto.

Added by Acts 1968, No. 589, §1.