RULES AND REGULATIONS The Levee District has established rules and regulations to govern the use of all lands, waters and facilities under its control. The rules and regulations are designed to promote the most effective use of the property while preserving and maintaining the integrity of all District controlled lands, waters, and facilities. All rules and regulations are to insure that everyone shares in the enjoyment, recreation, and safeworking environment of the areas while maintaining safety levels that are designed to promote the welfare of everyone. In addition to the regulations in this Part, all applicable Federal, State and Local laws and regulations remain in full force and effect on lands or waters which are under the control of the levee district. Any violation of any section of this Part shall constitute a separate violation for each calendar day in which it occurs. For the purposes of this Part, the owner of any unattended vehicle, vessel or aircraft as described herein shall be presumed to be responsible for its use on levee district property. Unless proven otherwise, such presumption will be sufficient to issue a citation for the violation of regulations applicable to the use of such vehicle, vessel or aircraft as provided for in violations of rules and regulations. Motor Vehicles (Laws) (1) This section pertains to all vehicles, including, but not limited to: automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, mini-bikes, all-terrain vehicles and trailers, campers, bicycles or any other such equipment. (2) Vehicles shall not be parked in violation of restrictions, or in such a manner as to obstruct or impede normal or emergency traffic movement or the parking of other vehicles, create a safety hazard, endanger any person, district property or environmental feature. Vehicles so parked are subject to removal and impoundment at the owner's expense. (3) The operation and/or parking of a vehicle off authorized roadways is prohibited except at locations and times designated by the levee district. The moving of any vehicle through, around or beyond a restrictive sign, recognizable barricade, fence or traffic control barrier is prohibited. (4) Vehicles shall be operated only in accordance with posted regulations and applicable to ALL Federal, State and Local laws and ordinances, which shall be enforced by the Levee District Police. (5) No person shall operate any vehicle in a careless, negligent or reckless manner so as to endanger any person, property or environmental feature. (6) At developed recreation areas, vehicles shall be used only to enter or leave the area, individual sites or facilities unless otherwise posted. Off-road vehicles (ATV's, Mini-Bikes, Dirt-Bikes, go-karts, etc.) shall NOT be operated on roads owned and/or maintained by the Tensas Basin Levee District between the hours of 90 minutes after sunset and 90 minutes before sunrise. Vessels (1) This section pertains to all vessels or water craft including, but not limited to, powerboats, cruisers, houseboats, sailboats, jet skis and any other such equipment capable of navigation on water, whether in motion or at rest. (2) Vessels or other water craft may be operated in the district waters, except in prohibited or restricted areas, in accordance with regulations, including buoys, and applicable Federal, State and local laws as regulated by enforcement officials. All vessels or water craft so required by applicable Federal, State and Local laws shall display an appropriate registration on board whenever the vessel is operated on district waters. (3) The operation of vessels or other water craft in a careless, negligent or reckless manner so as to endanger any property or person (including the operator and/or user(s) of the vessel or water craft) is prohibited. (4) All vessels, when in use shall have safety equipment, including personal floatation devices on board in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard boating safety requirements and in compliance with boating safety laws issued and enforced by the state. (5) The placing of floating or stationary mooring facilities on, adjacent to or interfering with any District project structures is strictly prohibited. Swimming Swimming, diving or scuba diving is prohibited at all launching sites; designated mooring points and other areas so designated by the District. Diving or jumping from district structures is prohibited. Camping (1) Camping is permitted only at sites and/or areas designated by the District. (2) The digging or leveling of any ground or the construction of any structure without written permission of the District is prohibited. Hunting Hunting, fishing and trapping are permitted except in areas where prohibited by the District. All Federal, State and Local laws governing these activities apply on District lands and waters, as regulated by authorized enforcement officials. Sanitation (1) Garbage, trash, rubbish, litter or any other waste material or waste liquid generated on District land and incidental to authorized recreational activities shall be either removed from the site or deposited in receptacles provided for that purpose. The improper disposal of such wastes, human and animal wastes included, on District land is prohibited. (2) It is a violation to bring onto District property any household or commercial garbage, trash, rubbish, debris, dead animals or litter of any kind for disposal or dumping. (3) The spilling, pumping or other discharge of contaminants, pollutants or other wastes, including, but not limited to, human or animal waste, petroleum, industrial and commercial products and by-products on District land or into project waters is prohibited. (4) Campers and all other persons using the District development sites shall keep their sites free of trash and litter during the period of occupancy. Fires (1) Fires shall be confined to those areas designated by the District as campsites and shall be contained in fireplaces, grills or other suitable facilities for this purpose. Fires shall not be left unattended and must be completely extinguished prior to departure. The burning of materials that produce toxic fumes, including, but not limited to, tires, plastics or treated wood products are prohibited. (2) Improper disposal of lighted smoking materials, matches or other burning material is prohibited. Explosives, Firearms, Other Weapons and Fireworks The possession of loaded firearms, ammunition, loaded projectile firing devices, explosive of any kind including fireworks is prohibited unless: (1) In possession of a law enforcement officer, (2) being used for hunting as permitted; with devices being unloaded when transported to, from or between hunting sites or (3) written permission has been received from the District. Public Property. (1) Destruction, injury, defacement, removal or any alteration of public property, including, but not limited to developed facilities, natural formations, historical and archaeological features and vegetative growth is prohibited except when in accordance with written permission of the District. (2) Cutting or gathering of trees or parts of trees and/or the removal of wood from District lands is prohibited without permission of the District. (3) Gathering of dead wood on the ground for use in designated campsite areas as firewood is permitted. Commercial Activities The engaging in or solicitation of business on District land is prohibited without written permission of the District. Permits. (1) It shall be a violation of the regulations to refuse to or fail to comply with the requirements or other terms or conditions of any permit issued by the District. (2) Permit applications in which the Levee District may become involved, fit generally into these categories: (a) Construction permits, (b) Operating permits (c) Event Permits and (d) permits which require both U.S. Corps of Engineers and Levee Board Authorizations. (3) Any activity involving construction on or adjacent to levee rights of way or any proposed activities that involve only short periods of time such as: fireworks displays, races, movie productions or charity events, etc. must be permitted. (4) The recommended format is an application letter requesting a permit; describing the proposed construction, action or activity, identifying the location in reference to the levee system or District land; and, when appropriate enclosing sketches or drawings in sufficient detail that the effect on the levee system or District land can be evaluated. The applicant is advised that plans for the proposed action must be reviewed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the State Department of Transportation and Development and, that in the interest of time, copies of the request letter and plans should be forwarded to the agencies concurrently with submission to the District. If the applicant fails to do so and documents are reproducible, the District distributes review copies. To clarify the procedure for inexperienced applicants, the District has prepared and will furnish a fact sheet explaining the procedure. Unauthorized Structures. The construction, placement or existence of any structure (including, but not limited to roads, trails, signs or landscape features) of any kind under, upon, in or over the District lands or waters are prohibited unless a permit, lease or other appropriate written agreement as been issued by the District. The design, construction, placement, existence or use of structures in violation of the terms of the permit, lease or other written agreement is prohibited. The District shall not be liable for the loss of, damage to, any private structure whether authorized or not, placed on District lands or water. Unauthorized structures are subject to summary removal or impoundment by the District. Special Events. (1) Special Events or other special recreation programs are prohibited unless written permission has been granted by the District. An appropriate fee may be charged. (2) The public shall not be charged any fee by the sponsor of such event on District land unless the District has approved in writing (and the sponsor has properly posted) the proposed schedule of fees. The District shall have authority to revoke permission and require removal of any equipment upon failure of the sponsor to comply with terms and conditions of the permit/permission or the regulations. Interference with Employees. It is a state crime to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with any official or employee of the Levee District engage in the performance of his or her duties, or on account of the performance of his or her official duties. Such actions or interference directed against an employee while carrying out these regulations are also a violation of these regulations. Authority of Levee District Police (1) Those persons who are designated police officers in accordance with R.S.38:326 are responsible for maintaining order and exercising general police power. Each such person named as a Police Officer shall be commissioned as a peace officer by the Office of State Police. These police officers shall have the right to exercise the power of arrest as peace officers according to law. (2) Failure to comply with a lawful order issued by a Levee District Police Officer shall be considered as interference with a that officer. Such interference also includes failure to provide a correct name, address or other identification upon request of the police officer. Such failure will result in criminal charges being made against the violator by the Levee District Police. Violations of Rules and Regulations. (1) Any person who violates these regulations may be punished under applicable state or federal law. Levee District Police have the authority to issue a citation or make necessary arrests for violation of these regulations, requiring the appearance of any person charged with the violation to appear before a state court or federal court within the appropriate Judicial District in which the incident occurred. (2) Any person who commits an act against any official or employee of the Levee District will be prosecuted under pertinent state laws. Federal, State and Local Laws. Except as other wise provided herein or by law or regulation, Federal, State and Local laws and ordinances shall apply on District lands and waters. This includes, but is not limited to, federal, state and local laws governing: (1) Operation and use of motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft; (2) Hunting, fishing and trapping; (3) Use of firearms or other weapons; (4) Civil disobedience and criminal acts; and (5) Littering, sanitation, pollution. These laws and ordinances are enforced by the Levee District Police and those state and local enforcement agencies established and authorized for that purpose. Purpose. The purpose of this regulation is to provide policy and guidance on the protection of desirable environmental characteristics of District resources and restoration where degradation has occurred through improper use. The following rules and regulations, published in Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, govern the public use of levees, rights of way and waterways and all the resources development projects administered by the Tensas Basin Levee District. The public is bound by these Title 38 regulations. 211 Cutting or Destroying Levees Prohibited. No unauthorized person shall willfully and maliciously cut, alter, break, or destroy in any manner any public or private levee, embankment, floodwall, floodgate, or other flood protective device within a levee district or cause to open when officially closed or cause to close when officially opened, any floodgate, stoplog structure, valve or other flood protective device made for protection from overflow or shall aid and abet any person in so doing. 212 Attempt to cut or Destroy Levees Prohibited. No person shall willfully and maliciously attempt to cut, alter, break, or destroy in any manner any public or private levee, embankment, floodwall, floodgate, or other flood protective device within a levee district or cause to open when officially closed or cause to close when officially opened, any floodgate, stoplog structure, valve or other flood protective device made for protection from overflow. 213 Riding or Hauling on Levees Prohibited. No person shall ride, drive or haul upon the public levees except where, in the judgment of the levee commissioners of a district and the Department of Public Works, ample provision has been made to guard against any damage to which the levees may thereby be exposed from wear, tear and abuse. This section shall not be construed to restrict the proper officers of the state or of any levee district or parish while in the performance of duty in inspecting, guarding, or repairing the levees. Nothing in this Section shall interfere with the crossing over any public levees, at ramps or inclines established under plans and specifications of the Department of Public Works, for the purpose of transporting any material that may be used or required in the business of the population living behind the levees. 213.1 Hunting or Discharge of Firearms, when Prohibited. A. Hunting or the discharge of firearms on roads or highways located on public levees or within one hundred feet (100') from the center line of such roads or highways is hereby prohibited except by law enforcement officers in discharge of their official duties. B. In addition to such other law enforcement officers as by law are vested with such authority, the law enforcement officers of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission are authorized to enforce the provisions of this section. 214 Interference with drainage prohibited. No person shall dump or discharge or permit to be dumped or discharged into any waters or drains of the state any trees or other objects substances or materials which might interfere with the drainage. 215 Obstruction of drainage prohibited. No person shall willfully obstruct any natural or artificial drainage canal, creek, bayou, or small river, or any public or private drainage. Each obstruction shall constitute a separate offense. Failure on the part of anyone who has felled or cut trees in such manner that the tops obstruct any drainage or has placed any other obstruction in any drainage to remove the obstruction shall constitute prima facie evidence of willful intent within the meaning of this Section. The word drainage as used in this Section means any natural drain or any artificial drain that has been used for the purposes of drainage for at least ten years. 216 Drainage of oil, salt water, etc. into natural drain prohibited. A. Except as hereinafter specifically provided or as authorized by Stream Control Commission permit, no person shall knowingly and willfully empty or drain into or permit to be drained from any pumps, reservoir, wells or oil fields into any natural stream or drain from which water is taken for irrigation purposes any oil, salt water or other noxious or poisonous substances or gases that would render the water unfit for irrigation purposes or would destroy the fish therein. B. The prohibitions of this Chapter, however, shall not prevent: The discharge of drainage of salt water, brine and chemical salts from industrial, oil or mining operations into those portions of natural streams and drains having water which has a normal salt content of more than 110 grains per gallon, to be determined by the daily average for the preceding ten years, measured at any depth not to exceed 12.5 feet or into tributaries of such streams which empty into the portions thereof which are excluded from the effect hereof; such water being hereby recognized as unfit for irrigation. 217 Drainage of water into public road prohibited. No owner or user of water from artesian wells or other artificial sources of water supply shall allow water to flow or drain on any public road or highway. 218 Diversion of natural drain prohibited. No person diverting or impeding the course of water from a natural drain shall fail to return the water to its natural course before it leaves his estate without any undue retardation of the flow of water outside of his enclosure thereby injuring an adjacent estate. 219 Obstruction of drainage channels prohibited. No person shall: (1) Obstruct drainage channels by bridging them except in accordance with plans, specifications and instructions prescribed by the levee or drainage district; (2) Construct dams, locks, or gates in drainage channels; (3) Extend fences of wire or any other material across drainage channels; (4) Establish fording places, water places or approaches for stock across drainage channels; (5) Anchor rafts, crafts, fish traps, fish cars, and other obstacles in the channel; (6) Drain into channels by natural or artificial inlets except under regulations prescribed by the district; (7) Float timber in the channels; (8) Use the channels for transportation or navigation except under authority of an agreement with the levee or drainage districts; (9) In any manner obstruct drainage channels or violate any of the rules or regulations adopted and promulgated by the levee or drainage districts for preserving and maintaining the efficiency of the drainage channels in their districts. 220 Interference with drainage of roads parallel or contiguous to public levees. 221 Rice-Flumes, dahls, or pipes in public levees prohibited. No person shall place in, through, or under any public levee rice-flume, dahl, pipe, or other conduit or, after due notification by the levee board or governing authority of the parish, shall fail to remove from the public levee any rice-flume, dahl, pipe or other conduit that may at such date exist. 222 Regulations for operation of siphons through levees. Any authority granted under the provisions of R.S.38:221 to operate a siphon over the public levees shall be subject to the following regulations: 1. The location of all siphons shall be at right angles to the axis of the public levee. 2. The levee shall at no place nor in any manner be cut into nor disturbed to fit the placing of any siphon or siphons. This siphon shall be made either to span the levee or in a practicable manner to conform to the prescribed section of the levee. 3. The intake and discharge ends of all siphons shall be located at distances not less than thirty feet on the river side nor sixty feet on the land side from the base of the levee. 4. Both the intake and discharge ends of all siphons shall be so protected as to guard against any local excavation or washout. 5. In the operation of siphons for irrigation or other purposes, no area within one hundred and fifty feet (150') of the base of any public levee on the land side shall at any time be flooded. 6. All areas subject to flooding by siphons or other wise, shall be provided, by the owners or operators, with low level ditches, located at suitable distances apart to at all times care for the proper drainage of the public levees and highways. 7. No siphon shall be placed over the levees included within the provisions of R.S. 38:221 until permission has been obtained from the board of commissioners of the levee district having jurisdiction over the levees. 223 Irrigation or flooding land near base of levee prohibited. No person shall in any manner cover with water for any purpose, on the land side of any public levee or levees, any land situated upon the Mississippi River within a distance of one hundred and fifty feet (150') from the base of any public levee. 224 Removal of siphons improperly constructed. The authorities charged with the care and preservation of the public levees shall compel the removal of all existing siphons constructed or laid otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Section and the restoration of the levees, wherever cut or altered for the insertion or passage of siphons to the shape and condition prior to insertion or passage. No person shall refuse to remove any illegally laid or shaped siphon or to allow its removal by the direction of any competent authority. 225 Obstructions on levees, waterways and rights of way therefor; removal at expense of person responsible; destroying markers prohibited. No person shall: (1) Place or cause to be placed upon or within six feet (6') of any part of the levees fronting any waterway subject to the control or surveillance of police juries, levee boards, municipal corporations, or other authorized boards or departments any object, material, or matter of any kind or character which obstructs or interferes with the safety of the levees or is an obstacle to the inspection, construction, maintenance, or repair of any levee; or place or cause to be placed any object, structure, material or matter of any kind or character upon any part of any land which the state or any agency or sub-division thereof may own or acquire by deed, lease, servitude or otherwise, and through its authorized representative, may donate, grant or otherwise convey to the United States rights of way, easements or other waterway as for the improvement or maintenance of any natural or other waterway as provided in Section 12 of Article IV of the state constitution, which obstructs or interferes with the improvement or maintenance of such waterway; (2) Tie or moor logs, rafts, boats, water craft, or floating object of any description to the levees, or, when the water is against the levees, tie or moor floating objects insecurely to mooring posts, revetments, trees or other stationary or supposed stationary objects on the foreshore where they can be driven against the levees during windstorms; (3) Portage boats, water-craft, logs, driftwood or other floating objects over the levees or dikes anywhere, under any circumstances, during the time the water is against the levees, or at any other time except at ramps or properly prepared crossings, under permits issued by the levee district for the purpose in cases where the objects are very heavy; (4) Ply the river or other leveed waterways with any power driven vessels, during flood stages at speeds inimical to the safety and integrity of the levee system or greater than necessary for steerage purposes and "slow bell" progress; (5) Use explosives to produce heavy detonations in exploring for so called salt domes or for any other purpose, within two miles of the levees or the banks of the rivers or leveed waterways during the time the water is actually against the levees or approaching more than bank full stage or within one-half mile thereof during low water stages; (6) Drill, drive, jet, or otherwise sink oil, gas or deep water wells within two hundred and fifty feet (250') of the levees; (7) Excavate wells, pumps, reservoirs, fish ponds, drainage canals or ditches, other than small seepage ditches, borrow pits, or pits for cesspools or privies, or for any other purpose nearer the levee than thirty feet (30') from its riverside toe and one hundred feet (100') from its land side toe; (8) Scrape or wear away the surface of the levee or its surfacing of sod by tobogganing, dip-netting, or any other form of abuse; (9) Break off, disturb, remove or destroy engineers' or surveyors' marker stakes, reference points or bench marks placed on or near the levees. (10) Drive or otherwise sink piles within two hundred fifty feet of the levee unless he has first received a permit or a letter of no objection from the levee district. If after forty-eight (48) hours notice by any district commissioner, levee inspector, or authorized representative of the state, agency or subdivision thereof, the object or objects, structures or other obstructions have not been removed, said objects can be removed or the menace abated and any damage repaired by the state, its agency or subdivision at interest at the expense of the owner, agent or person responsible therefor. The objects, structures or other obstructions may be attached and may be removed from said levee or land at the risk and expense of the owners or person responsible therefor to remove the menace to said or the obstacle to the improvement or maintenance of such waterway. Please observe all rules and regulations. The Levee District Police will enforce all provisions to ensure the public’s safety and the protection of natural resources. If you have any questions, please contact the Levee District Police at (318) 323-7446. The failure by anyone to abide by these rules and regulations may subject the violator to criminal charges, in addition to the loss of any privileges and the termination of any permit, authorization, or agreement granted by the District. Special Events Permits Any time there is any land or marine event on any lands or waterways under the control of the Levee District, the sponsor of the event must submit an application at least thirty days prior to the event to the Levee District for approval. There is no fee for this service. All applications should be sent to: Levee District Police, ATTENTION: Special Events, 505 District Drive, Monroe, La. 71202. Permit regulations & application are on the following page and can be downloaded to your printer. Back to the Home Page