Louisiana DWF Reopens Maurepas Swamp WMA

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 09.10.12

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) today reopened Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area. The WMA, which contains acreage in Ascension, Livingston, St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes, had been closed in advance of Hurricane Isaac’s landfall.

Due to flood water still overtopping the road, the Hope Canal boat launch access road will remain closed until the water recedes and the road can be cleared of debris and is deemed safe for vehicular traffic. Additionally, Maurepas Swamp WMA users are advised that local parishes have some waterways within and around the WMA closed at this time. WMA users are advised to consult with the respective parish Sheriff’s Office to ensure the waterways they intend to traverse are open before attempting to utilize the WMA.

LDWF sites that remain closed until further notice include the following WMAs and refuges: Elm Hall (Assumption Parish); Elmer’s Island (Jefferson Parish); and that part of Pearl River WMA north of I-10 in St. Tammany Parish. Storm impacts affecting vehicle access and debris removal are ongoing at sites still closed.

For a complete list of state WMAs and refuges, go to: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma.

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division(LDWF) is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdictionanywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety. The agency also enforces criminal laws in rural areas including DWI enforcement both on highways and waterways. Most of the Department’s Wildlife Agents also carry Federal law enforcement commissions issued from the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Department of Commerce - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These federal commissions allow these state officers to enforce federal migratory waterfowl laws and federal marine fisheries laws in state and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana. Besides their traditional role as a “game warden”, Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agents also have a number of other responsibilities, including conducting board of health inspections on some portions of the state’s commercial fishing industry. Agents are trained in and conduct numerous search and rescue operations, both in remote land areas and on the state’s waterways. Agents ensure that hunters, anglers, boaters, dealers, breeders, farmers, and transporters are in compliance with regulations governing equipment, quotas, licenses, and registrations. Agents also assist other State departments and law enforcement agencies in the coordination of educational and professional endeavors, as well as national and state emergency alerts by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness. In addition, agents perform search and rescue missions alone or in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies.