Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries-Annual Report 1991-1992

44 Pages·1992·2.6 MB·English

by  Department of Conservation, State of Louisiana

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF
AND
WILDLIFE FISHERIES
Annual Report
Fiscal Year 1991-92
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
—
—
L«
Contents
OFFICE OF SECRETARY
^^-^^—^-^
Enforcement Division 5
Edwin W. Edwards, Governor
Information and Education Division- 6
JoeL. Herring, Secretary
Clyde W. Kimball, Deputy Secretary Information Section
Fredrick]. Prejean, Sr., Undersecretary Education Section
L.G. Caubarreaux, Assistant Secretary Office of Management and Finance —
William "Corky"Perret, Assistant Secretary
Fiscal Section
Wildlife andFisheries Commissioners Personnel Section
JimmyJenkins, BatonRouge, Chairman Computer Section
NormanF. McCall, Cameron Administrative Services Section
WarrenI. Pol, BatonRouge
BertJones, Ruston
Office of Wildlife 9
TeeJohnMialjevich, Gretna -
Peter Vujnovich, New Orleans Fur and Refuge Division 9
JohnF. Schneider,Ponchatoula Land Management Section
Division Administrators Research Section
Hugh Bateman, Game Fur Research and Management Section
Bob Dennie, Information/Education ResourceManagement Section ——
BennieFontenot,InlandFisheries Game Division 22
KarenFoote,Fisheries Research
Tommy Prickett,Fur&Refuge Land Acquisition Program
JohnnieTarver,Habitat Conservation Forestry Section
Winton Vidrine, Enforcement Research Section
John Roussel,MarineFisheries (Acting) Upland Game Section
District Activities
RegulationsoftheU.S. DepartmentoftheInteriorstrictly
Habitat Conservation Division 29
prohibitunlawfuldiscriminationindepartmental federally
assisted programsonthebasisofrace,color, nationalorgin, Environmental Investigations Section
ageorhandicap. Any personwhobelieves heorshehas Louisiana Natural Heritage Program
beendiscriminatedagainstinanyprogram,activityor
facilityoperatedbyarecipientoffederalassistanceshould
writeto: Director,OfficeforEqual Opportunity, U.S. Office of Fisheries 31
DepartmentoftheInterior,Washington, D.C. 20240 Marine Fisheries Division 31
Shellfish Section
Mollusc Section
This publicdocumentwaspublished ata totalcostof
$ 617.60. 800 copies of this public document were pub- Finfish Section
lished in this firstprintingata costof$617.60. The total Sport Fish Restoration Program
costofallprintingsofthisdocument,includingreprints, Inland Fisheries Division 34
is$617.60. ThisdocumentwaspublishedbytheLouisiana
Department ofWildife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Fisheries Section
Baton Rouge, LA 70808 to service the state agencies in Aquatic Plant Control Section —
keepingthemcognizantofthenewrules,regulationsand Fisheries Research Division 39
activitiesunderauthorityofR.S.49.951-968. Thismaterial
wasprintedinaccordancewithstandardsforprintingby Stock Assessment Section
stateagenciesestablished pursuanttoR.S. 43.31. Environmental Monitoring
Louisiana Artificial ReefProgram
Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1991-92
A Message from the Secretary
The DepartmentofWildlifeand Fisheriesherewith submitsits
Fiscal Year 1991-92 Annual Report to theGovernorand the
LegislatureoftheStateofLouisiana.
The reportcoversthe many activities conducted by the depart-
mentin thefiscal year 1991-92 to enhance, protect, perpetuateand
properlyharvestourrenewable resources.
The importanceofthese resources to our quality oflifeand
economic well beingisincalculable. Aschiefpublic advocate and
steward, thisdepartment servestoensure that these resourcesare
availablefor theuseand enjoymentofpresentand futuregenera-
tions.
Administrative Structure Chart
OFFICE OF SECRETARY
Legal
Enforcement Office of Wildlife
Division
Fur and Refuge Habitat Conservation
Information and Education
Division Division Division
Game Division
Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board
Office of Management and Finance
Office of Fisheries
Marine Fisheries Inland Fisheries
Division Division
Fisheries Research
Division
Department ofWildlife and Fisheries
OF SECRETARY
OFFICE
The Office ofSecretary is administered by the agency's chiefadministrative officer. The Secretary
oversees all scientific operations ofthe agency as organized in the Office ofWildlife and the Office of
Fisheries. The Secretary also excercises direct supervision over the agency support operations. These include
Legal Section, the Enforcement Division, the Information and Education Division, the Seafood Promotion
and Marketing Board, and the Office ofManagement and Finance.
fishing regulations. Theseunits work with thedivision's
ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION
pilot-agentandairplane to monitorcommercial and
recreational fishing activity along Louisiana'scoastline.
TheCovertSection continues todevelopsubstan-
TheEnforcementDivision isresponsible for tial cases involving illegal saleand purchase ofgame, fish
enforcing laws enactedby the Louisiana Legislature andprotected species. Plansare toexpand the section
relative to fish and wildliferesources, boating safety whenevernew officers complete training and become
regulationsandfederal regulationspertaining to migratory available.
birdsandendangered species. Members ofthe Wildlife EnforcementDiveTeam
A majorpartofthiseffortis training. Wildlife have achieved Dive MasterCertification and now seek
EnforcementCadetsnowreceiveaminimum of21 weeks moreadvancedtraining. Additionalofficers will be added
aftraining in theWildlifeandFisheriesLaw Enforcement to theDiveTeam andequipmentacquisitions aresched-
Academy. DuringFiscal Year91-92, atotal of45 new uled.
afficers weregraduated from the academy. These are TheStatewide Strike Forcehasbeen completely
consideredamong the besttrainedconservation officers in staffed with 18 officers. They are responding toenforce-
the nation. mentproblems throughout the stateandareproving tobea
Wildlifeagentscontinue to train throughout their valuableasset to thedivision.
career. Mostofficers now carryan average ofeightdiffer- The Boating Sectionhas been involved inprojects
entcertificationsandthedivision offers training in 15 including D.W.I, detection, boating accidentand theft
specializedcourses. investigationsandboating safetytraining. Theefforts have
Fieldenforcementefforts thisyearweredirected paid off. In 1991, 31 peoplewerekilled in boatingacci-
toward allaspectsofresourceprotection with emphasis on dents inLouisiana. During 1992 the numberwasreduced to
deerandwaterfowlenforcement. Intensiveday and night 14 deaths, a45% decrease. This is avery significant
patrolsduring deerhunting seasonresultedin substantial decrease thathasattractednationwideattention. Boating
numbersofarrestsforpossession ofillegaldeerand Safety patrolsand D.W.I. Teams were instrumental in
tiuntingdeerillegally. Thedeerdecoy was usedwith great saving livesandpreventing needlessaccidentson the
success andresultedinareduction in nighthunting, state's waterways.
shooting from publichighways,and incidental poaching. Thedivision strives toprovide the latestandbest
Durunmarkedunitscontinuedtobeeffectiveagainstroad equipmentforagents. Oneofthe most importantequipment
tiunters andgaveagentsabetterthan even chanceof purchasesoccurred this yearwhen SecondChance Body
apprehendingpoachers in many situations. ArmorThreatLevel II bulletproofvests wereacquiredfor
Waterfowlenforcementremainsahigh priority. all officers. Thisaddeddegreeofprotection has life saving
Thedivision has institutedawaterfowl enforcement potential.
trainingcourse. Thisandothermeasures haveenhanced Agents oftheEnforcementDivision issuedover
effectiveness. Itisalsoapparentthatpublic education 23,000citationsduring this fiscal year. Additionally,our
concerning depleted waterfowlpopulationsand improved officers worked with otherlaw enforcementagencies to
huntercompliance have createdamuch bettersituation in providepublic safety andassistance when needed. The
Louisiana. division willcontinue to train andequipofficers toensure
TheOysterStrikeForce andSaltWaterEnforce- thebestprotection forLouisiana's naturalresources.
mentPatrolhavesuccessfully enforcedoysterand saltwater
Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1991-92
INFORMATION & EDUCATION Education Section
DIVISION Hunter Education. The HunterEducation Unit success-
fullycompletedits seventeenth yearasa majoreducation
program. Theprogram hasbeen mandatedby state law
The Information andEducation sectionsofthis since 1985 and isa federally fundedP-Rproject.
division work to inform thepublicofdepartmentresearch Certification ofstudents in HunterEducation
programs, toeducateawide range ofconstituents about reacheda new high with 627 ten-hourcoursesconducted
statewildlifeand fisheries managementprograms,and to resulting in 20,200 studentsreceiving lifetimecertification.
promote safety andethicsamong sportsmen. Seventeencourses forvolunteerinstructors wereconducted
resulting in 200 new volunteers teaching the course. Totals
Information Section todate are225,000 students graduatedand 3,200volunteers
During thisreportingperiod, Information staff trained with 1,000 volunteers remaining on theactiverolls.
werededicated to three majoroperations: the News Rangeconstruction projects werean importantpart
Service, theLouisiana ConservationistMagazine, and the ofH. E. activities for this reporting year. Thepublic range
Louisiana ConservationistTVMagazine. atNatchitoches was completedand offersshotgun,archery,
pistol and airrifle shootingopportunities.
News Service. During this fiscalyear, the Information A 100 yardbig borerifle range wasconstructed at
Section improved the costefficiency ofthe news service Woodworth in conjunction with the planning ofan environ-
while doubling itsproductivity. The service now includes mentaleducation center scheduled tobecompleted in 1993.
the single weekly mailing ofapacketofnews items; in Advanced instructor training included a statewide
addition theserviceproduces a department newsletter. workshopheldatCamp GrantWalker. One hundred and
Theseprovide information on regulatory changes,resource fifty volunteers participated in the two day training session
managementprograms andissues which effect the citizens including instructions on teaching shotgun, muzzleloading,
directly. archery, orienteering and wildlifeidentification.
The servicemanages two mailing lists which Advanced training also included five bowhunter
includeall news media outlets, outdoorwriters, public instructorcoursesand fivemuzzleloader instructorcourses.
officialsand a multitudeofotherinterested parties. Thebowhuntereducation course forstudents was
Departmentnews is made availableto the general public offered in 13 courses through the NationalField Archers
across the state in atimely manner. Association. Two hundredand sixty bowhuntereducation
students werecertifiedthrough thebasic eight-hourcourse.
Louisiana Conservationist Magazine. Thepublication Advanced studentcurriculum includeda statewide
hasa70yearhistory. In 1989, staffbegan producing the education training session including bowhunting,
magazineon a paid circulation basis. This move helped muzzleloading, shotgun, wildlife ID, orienteering and
offsetthe costofproduction and distribution ofthemaga- wildlife management. Ajuniorand senior team were
zine. As such, itis funded underan ancillarybudget selected tocompetein the NRA national competition at
attached to thedepartment. Paid subscriptionsare up to Raton, New Mexico. Thejuniorteam placed first in the
approximately 50,000. nation and the senior team placed second.
The full color magazinehas traditionally been the
primary public relationsorgan ofthe department. In Boating Education. During the 1991-92fiscal year
addition to fivebi-monthly issues, subscribers alsoreceive BoatingEducation purchased aradio-controlled model boat
asportsman's wall calendar. The popularcalendarfeatures and used itforeducational programs atdisplays and
entries on season opening dates, fishing tournaments, and children's programs.
noteworthy naturalevents inevery region ofthestate. TheBoating EducationCoordinatorattendeda
national Boating Education Seminar in Annapolis,Mary-
Louisiana Conservationist TV Magazine. The landtodiscussprogram developmentideas. The following
Information Section TV Unitcompletedproduction ofthe clinics andprograms werecompleted: 28 safety programs
third season ofhalf-hour television programs. Louisiana forindustry andcompany groups; six schoolprograms; four
Public Broadcasting aired theprograms weekly until June courses forvolunteerinstructors; seven information and
of 1992. Unfortunately, severebudgetrestriction compelled display exhibits; eightcertification courses. Atotalof 196
the suspensionofproductionofthis increasingly popular studentsand 103 volunteer instructors were certified.
program.
VHS copies ofprogramsare available through the
departmentlibrary. Also, schools andlibraries may check
the televisionprograms outfrom the central StateLibrary.
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Project WILD. ProjectWILD isavigorous, growing
WILD OFFICE OF
program. Teachers and youth leaders arerequesting
workshopsand using the activities. Comments on the MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE
workshopsurveys indicatea need formore information and
materials. The activities are aconvenient means to incorpo-
rateLouisianaDepartmentofWildlife and Fisheries TheOfficeofManagementand Finance oversees
managementpolicies into an educational format. Teachers financial and managementoperationsofthe departmentand
area ready network to distribute this information. acts toprovide general administrative services to all units
During this fiscal year,ProjectWILD successfully within Wildlife and Fisheries. The Undersecretary directs
completed thefollowing: 65 WILD workshops (31 basic, and isresponsible for functions ofthe Office ofManage-
26combined, eightaquatic) with 1,330participants mentand Finance. This person isresponsible foraccount-
enrolled; threeAdvancedWILD workshops (freshwater ing and budgetcontrol,procurementandcontract manage-
fish; furbearers, alligators,and marshes; wildlifemanage- ment, dataprocessing, managementandprogram analysis,
ment) training fifty nine participants and meeting the year's personnel management, andgrants management forthe
goal ofthreeworkshops; twoFacilitatorWorkshops departmentand all ofits offices.
training 46people andexceeding the year's goal ofone
workshopand 25 people; published and mailed three Fiscal Section
newsletters. TheFiscal Section handles all financial matters for
thedepartment. Ithas primary responsibility to see thatall
Aquatic Education. Thisreporting periodreflects such activities andprocedures are handled in compliance
accomplishments oftheAquatic Education Program now with standardaccountingpracticesand in accordance with
completing its fourth successful year. all laws andregulations. The section iscomposedofthe
The Aquatic Education Program is designed to following units: budget, accounts payable,auditing,
acquaintyoungsters andadults with thesportoffishing and payroll, sports and commercial licensing, andboatregistra-
Louisiana's aquatic environment. The following isa listof
tion.
activities theaquatic program assisted with orsponsored. The fiscal staffworks with the undersecretary in
Fishing Clinics. Youth fishing clinics were planning andanalysis functions fortheentiredepartment,
conductedatvarious locationsaround the state. These particularly in areas ofexpenditurecontrol andrevenue
clinics weresponsoredby youth,civic, sportsmen, and
collection.
churchgroups. Over4,500 youngstersattended60 fishing In fiscal year 1991-92, the departmenthad an
clinics. They were trained in casting, fish identification, annual budgetof$37,117,562.
knottying, and boating safety. The actual expenditures were totaled at
In addition to general clinics, Aquatic Education $34,566,708and spentin the followingcategories.
alsoco-sponsored the Association ofLouisiana Bass Club's
$ 22,755,647 personnel services
youth fishing tournament.
7,144,906 operatingexpenses
School Programs. The environmental science
363,176 professional services
program - WILDLouisiana — continuedtogrow. Eighty-
1,840,433 othercharges
fivenew schools haveincluded the outdoorscience 472,336 interagency transfers
program into teachingschedules. WILDLouisiana isa 1,990,210 acquisitions & repairs
program developedbyLSU SeaGrant. Itaddresses the Alsoduring this fiscal year, thedepartment
problems surrounding our wetlands andexplores red drum recordedrevenues to funds and trusts. The fiscal staffmust
(red fish) managementissues. manage these funds in accordance with legal regulations
Also, thirty-six elementary andmiddle schools under which they wereestablished.
conductedaquatic education classes fortheirstudents. In Fiscal recorded thefollowing gains tothe Conser-
Beauregard, Acadia, andEastBaton RougeParish school vationFund from thesourceslisted.
systems, 14clinics forthe adaptiveP.E. classes introduced
$ 3,767,675 royalties oil/gas
atotalof538 students to the sportoffishing. 1,376,888 royaltiesother
AdvancedWorkshops. Two advanced workshops
785,499 rentalson land
wereco-sponsoredby AquaticWILD. Theseworkshops
66,922 otherincome on land
wereconducted atRockefellerRefuge and Alexandria State 133,190 interestincome
Forest Through theseworkshopseducators wereintroduced
118J54 severance taxes
topractical managementtechniques currently implemented
16,866,524 license sales
inthe state's fisheries andwetlandresources. 575,539 miscellaneous income
(324,631) adjustment torevenue
IBiill^ililll»^HIIIIHHI^^^MH
$ 23,363,760 Total
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Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1991-92
In addition, departmentrevenuestootherfunds Computer Section
wereas follows:
TheComputerSection oversees the department's
$ 1,745,769 RockefellerRefugeFund computerresources: acentralcomputersystem which
1,589,685 RockefellerTrustFund drives localandremote networks fordepartmentoffices
383,967 Marsh Island Operating Fund throughout the state. Departmentemployeesconnectto this
433,920 Russell Sage/Marsh Island Trust system viaacombination ofterminalsandpersonal
40,444 Russell SageFund#2 computers, which givethem access to a wide variety of
204,211 Russell SageCapital ImprovementFund information processing capabilities.
392,865 SeafoodPromotion & MarketingFund Computerstaffprovide support todepartment
82,256 LAFur & AlligatorPublic Education personnel: they handleregularinquiries on computer
580,329 LA Duck StampFund hardware andsoftware and provideupdates ofvarious
726,611 WildlifeHabitatNatural HeritageTrust departmentdatabases. Inaddition, the section provides
666,206 LA AlligatorResourceFund statistical analyses andpersonal productivity tools state-
97,659 LifetimeLicenseEndowmentTrustFund wide.
973,427 ArtificialReefDevelopmentTrustFund Over thepastyear, departmentneeds have
6,662,008 Federal Financial Assistance expanded atarapidpace. The section has met theseneeds
on a fixedbudgetby utilizing new and less expensive
Personnel Section technology.
Thepersonnel officeprovides assistance toactive Administrative Services Section
employees,retirees, formeremployees and surviving
spouses ofdeceased employees. Personnel staffprovide TheAdministrative Services Section consists of
guidancerelative topersonnel matters, such as salaries, four units: Purchasing,Communications (two-way radio
insurance, retirement, and workers' compensation. They network), General Services, and Building and Grounds.
also field inquiries from potential applicantsregarding
employmentopportunities. Purchasing. The Purchasing Unitserves as thecentral-
On February 3, 1992, theWildlifeEnforcement izedentity within thedepartmentto ensure compliance
Senior Agentreallocations went into effect. In addition, the with state laws,rules andregulations concerningprocure-
GS level forWildlifeEnforcement Sergeant was raised ment Thefollowing isa summary ofpurchase orders
from 15 to 16. issued for 1991-92. Purchaseorders issuedthrough state
Thedepartment's Affirmative Action Plan for purchasing: 195; departmentpurchase orders: 86; depart-
1992-93 was completed andbecameeffective May 1, 1992. mentrelease orders: 1,689; departmentsmall purchases:
During 1992 thisdepartmentestablished an Equal Employ- 1,921. An additional 22 leases have been maintained,
mentOpportunity Coordinatorposition. Theincumbent initiated and updated.
will beresponsibleforprevention andelimination of ThePurchasing Unit worked closely with and
employmentpractices and policies inconsistent with the supportedothersections and divisions in theirendeavors:
department'sAffirmative Action Plan. National Hunting and Fishing Day, vehicle maintenance
Departmentpersonnel setup a task force and contracts, seafoodpromotions, alligator harvests, timber
began meetingwith the DepartmentofCivil Service to sales, farm leases and manageddeerhunts.
establish generic classes forbiologists and specialists.
TheComputerCenterhasbegun meeting with the Communications. The two-wayradio networkconsists
Personnel Section to create and establish aprogram to ofmaintenance, repairand upgrade of31 towers, 1,135
automatepersonnelrecords andprocedures. mobileradios,and411 portableradios. Also,47 marine
ThePersonnel Section is currently involvedin a radios are installed in vehicles, boats, andaircraft,andat
legal action filedby members ofthe Association ofFederal, wildlife managementareas,refuges, districtoffices,
State, and Municipal Employees (AFSME) relative to regional headquartersandadditional remote locations.
paymentofCompensatory Time. Microwave transmission from French Settlement
In April, 1992, open enrollmentwas heldenabling to BridgeCity to Houma is now on line via Departmentof
employees to transfer hospitalization to ahealth mainte- Transportation. This reportingperiod the numberandcost
nanceorganization ortoGroup Benefits. Assistance was ofrepairs toboth towersandradios have increased, while
given providing information on available types ofhealth thepurchase ofnew equipment has decreased. Thedepart-
insurance and completion ofnecessary forms. mentandotherstate agencies arecurrently being evaluated
In addition, April was open enrollmentfor forthepossibility ofestablishing a sharedcommunication
employees tocancel orrevisecurrentbenefits covered system. TheCommunications Unitisparticipatingon a
underthe Tax-FreeFlexible BenefitsPlan (CafeteriaPlan). statewide maintenanceconsolidation task force.
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
General Services. General Servicesconsistsofthe Building and Grounds. This unit is responsible for
mailroom, printing services and departmentoffice supply upkeep ofthe Baton Rougecomplex which consists ofover
control. The mailroom processed over400,000 pieces of 200,000 square feetunderroof. This includes housekeep-
mail (excluding inter-department mail) and completed ing, maintenanceand repairs. The department headquarters
improvements to the shipping and receiving area. The print is located on 17.7 acres. This unit handles improvements to
shopfilled over400 orders. This includedover2 million the lawn, flowerbeds, parking lots and storageareason the
duplications. Thedepartmentsupply room utilized a new tractofproperty.
computerized system to makeroutinejobs moreefficient
andcosteffective. The supply staffissues officesupplies to
all districtoffices,region headquarters and various remote
facilities.
Office of Wildlife
TheOfficeofWildlife is supervised by an Assistant Secretary whoreportsdirectly to the agency Secretary. The
Assistant Secretary oversees the operation ofthree divisions: Furand Refuge, Game,and HabitatConservation.
FUR AND REFUGE DIVISION Division. Today, the Furand Refuge Division ownsand is
directly responsible for 12.5% ofcoastal Louisiana.
Adjoining landowners depend heavily upon theexpertiseof
TheFurandRefuge Division wasestablished thedivision in the managementoftheirproperties.
concurrently with the institution ofthe Departmentof Theestuarinesystem ofcoastal Louisiana encom-
Wildlife and Fisheries in accordwith terms ofaconstitu- passesover4,500,000 acres ofthe mostproductive wildlife
tional amendmentin the 1944 General Election. The and fisheries habitat in the worldand in excess of90% of
amendmentdivided the then-existing Departmentof the fisheries inhabiting the GulfofMexico depends upon
Conservation into three independentstateagencies, oneof this system forsurvival. Thedivision has actively been
which was the DepartmentofWildlifeand Fisheries. engaged in maintenance and restoration ofcoastal Louisi-
Louisiana was among the first states to initiatea anaforoverfourdecades. Coastal landowners have
refuge system ofmanagementwith thecreation ofState observed and copied successful demonstration projects.
Wildlife Refuge in 1911. Marsh Island and Rockefeller Coastal environment has becomea household concern
refuges soon followed. Protection, theonly management nationwide.
tool in theearly years, today is incorporated withresearch The fourmajorsections oftheFurand Refuge
and development. Division are: Land Managment Section, Research Section,
Fortunately,the historic sanctuary concept, FurResearch and Management Section, ResourceManage-
whereby areas weresetaside foronly wildlifeprotection, mentSection.
didnotprevail in Louisiana. Early on, techniciansrealized
coastal marshlands were in trouble. Pioneerbiologists Land Management Section
identified marsh degradation problems: on Rockefeller Managementpractices employed on coastal
alone, an estimated 185 acres peryearofmarsh break-up refugesand wildlifemanagementareas areprimarily
wasdocumented foraperiodafter 1930. directed toward improvingwetlands forresidentand
Alteration ofnatural hydrologic regimesaffecting migratory waterfowl. Themultiple-usemanagement
Rockefeller -- theGulfIntercoastal Waterway north ofthe conceptis used whereverfeasible, sothat many other
refuge, the accesscanalconstruction on and adjacent to the aquaticbasedanimals, including furbearers, fish, gameand
Refuge, theconstruction ofHighway 82 - were major nongame birdsalsobenefit.
influences. Similarmarsh losses havesinceoccurredon all Public demand forrecreational useofrefuges and
coastal marshlands. wildlife managementareascontinues to increase. Sport
In themid-1950'sactive marsh managementbegan fishing, crabbing, hunting (WMA's) and nature study are
and hasbeen continuallyrefinedby the FurandRefuge popularactivities on refugesand wildlifemanagement
Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1991-92
areas. Commercial wildlife species are harvested on many benefitsofburningare: toreduceroughand undesirable
Furand Refuge Division properties. vegetation and to promotethe growth ofsucculentand
An extensive law enforcementprogram iscarried tendergrasses; to setback natural succession; topromote
outon all managed property. Aradarsurveillance tower thegrowth ofmoredesirablegrass species; tolessen
wasputinto serviceat StateWildlifeRefuge in May, 1992 severity and incidenceoflightning caused summer/fall
andtwoenforcementobservation towers wererefurbished wildfires.
atRockefellerRefuge. Aconsiderable amountofpersonnel andequip-
Mineral activities on allareas areclosely moni- menttime was invested in manipulating watercontrol
tored. Each activity is individuallyreviewed and must structures to achieve waterlevel and salinity management
comply with thedepartment's mineral regulations, Deeds objectives on wetland management units. Theprimary
ofDonation and variousagreementletters. objectiveis toproducedesirablevegetation depending upon
production capability ofeach managementunit The
Rockefeller Refuge. Since 1920, coastal wetlands of vegetationbecomes thebase formarsh enhancementand
southwestCameron Parishand southeastVermilionParish, enhancementoffisheries andwildlifepopulations.
known asRockefellerWildlife Refuge, havebeen usedby Environmental monitoring with structural manipu-
theFurandRefugeDivision to study and demonstrate lation to producefisheries crops, invertebrates,vegetation
management. Today, isohalinelines,orareas ofsalinity, and wildlife in selectedareas resulted in an effective
resemble those ofthelate 1940'sdue to successful manage- program which gainedpopularity with fishermen.
ment. During fiscal year 1991-92, several marshen-
Unfortunately, thousands ofacres ofcoastal hancementprojects wereplannedandcompleted,bringing
Louisiana have notexperienced success. On Rockefeller under managementover 100,000acres ofRockefeller
Refuge, structural managementis used along with marsh Refuge and surrounding Mermentau Basin. Theseincluded:
burning, furbearer trapping (wherepractical), water level completerefurbishmentoftheRockefellerEastEndWater
control, and salinitycontrol. Majorthrusts aredirected Locks; construction ofafreshwaterintroduction structure
toward wetland maintenanceand restoration forresident forthe 5,000 acreLake 5; construction ofthe Lake 5 water
and migratory waterfowl. control structure; plugging oftheoldLake 5 structure;
The technical staffatRockefeller has over 100 shaping and capping ofLake5 levee in vicinity ofDeep
years ofcombined experience in environmental monitoring Lake.
andmanagement. Multiple-use managementhas been Agendaofprojects to commence in 1992-93
developed and used wheneverfeasible, so otheraquatic- include the following: anature trail toprovidepublic
basedanimals, including furbearers, fish,and residentgame information andawareness; managementofabandoned
and non-game birdsalso benefit. Managementphases access canalsin Unit6; leveerestoration ofUnits4 and5;
includean ongoingmaintenancesupportprogram involving refurbishmentofpumping units on Rockefellerimpound-
leveerepairs, structure maintenance, and visual monitoring ments. Also,Price LakeRoad, which serves as a major
ofecological conditions. Permanentdatacollection stations access and a saltwaterbarrier, will be upgradedand
(vegetation, water level, salinity and fish) are monitored on maintained.
a scheduledbasis. Marsh management/marsh enhancementextension
Tampering with structuresby sport fishermen is activitiesareconducted on a routinebasis by biological
becoming aseriousproblem, sometimespermitting extreme staffoftheFurand Refuge Division toprovide technical
salt tides to inundatestudy areas and setting the study back expertise to landowners regardingmarsh management
months in terms oflaborious structuremanipulations and projects. MajorsouthwestLouisianaprojects involvingFur
datacollection. Heretofore, the departmentutilized a small andRefugepersonnel include: Miami Corporation Welfare
aircraftto monitorthe 84,000 acre marsh. Daily observa- Bridge Project, Miami CorporationGuillotineGate
tionsrevealed ifproblemsexisted. Corrective action was Structure and Gold King CanalPlug, Vermilion Corpora-
taken withina few hours. tionFreshwater Introduction Structure, Vermilion Corpora-
Beach erosion continues tobeathreatto the tion WestMarsh Management Unit Development,
refuge. An average of36 feetperyear werelostbetween Cameron-CreoleWatershed,CoastalWetlands Construc-
1971 and 1979 atmeasuring stations. The worstyearwas tionand RestorationPlan and CameronParish HogBayou
1985 whenRockefellerlost55 linear feetata sample Plan.
station. Overall,between 1971 and 1988, Rockefeller RockefellerRefugepersonnelhavebeen involved
experienced an average loss of40 linearfeetofbeach to the in thepermittingprocess with the Hog BayouRestoration
gulf. In 1991-92,48 feetofbeach retreatwas measuredat Project forsix years, acooperativeeffortwith Cameron
thePriceLake station. Parish andprivate landowners. Field study wasbegun in
Approximately 25% ofRockefellerRefuge 1991,even though theproject is still underthepermit
properties arecarefully control-bumedeach year. The reviewprocess. The first year's study oftheproposed Hog
10 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries