State Land to LDWF

[Smalls]

Just read on another forum that Bobby Jindal has proposed selling a little over 3,000 acres that the state owns for $2 million--to the LDWF. Since his proposed budget has a $1.3 billion shortfall, Jindal has proposed moving lands that are adjacent to WMAs and other LDWF-run lands in exchange for $2 million from the Conservation Fund. This fund is already being raided for an additional $21 million from the Artificial Reef Fund.

Sounds to me like Conservation is taking a hit at the expense of Jindal's budget. That $2 million could have done a lot of good on our public lands. With more and more timber companies seeing the dollar signs by leasing to private entities instead of the state, that money could have meant saving a few WMAs in the near future.

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by Smalls

Just read on another forum that Bobby Jindal has proposed selling a little over 3,000 acres that the state owns for $2 million--to the LDWF. Since his proposed budget has a $1.3 billion shortfall, Jindal has proposed moving lands that are adjacent to WMAs and other LDWF-run lands in exchange for $2 million from the Conservation Fund. This fund is already being raided for an additional $21 million from the Artificial Reef Fund.

Sounds to me like Conservation is taking a hit at the expense of Jindal's budget. That $2 million could have done a lot of good on our public lands. With more and more timber companies seeing the dollar signs by leasing to private entities instead of the state, that money could have meant saving a few WMAs in the near future.

Link?

Nevermind, I saw it. Interesting hmm

[Smalls]

Yeah, would have provided the link, but then the thread would have been deleted. Interesting indeed. I'm not very keen on it. People talk about LDWF's money issues all the time. Well this is just plain ridiculous. No reason for the state to be plundering money from other dedicated pots because they don't know how to budget properly. That money is in that fund for a reason, and that is not the reason.

[flounder_smacker]

You can buy state land right now pretty cheap. For the last two years they have been letting go 100acres or less.

[Smalls]

Update on this: Louisiana Senate voted to advance the proposed budget, but excluded the land sale and the raid of the Reef Fund. They are also working on adding further protections to the Reef Fund so that future raiding is prevented.

[Duck Butter]

There is a state entity known as State Lands, and there is also of course the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries. When you look at land ownership on a map, occasionally you run across the owner as 'state lands'. These parcels vary in size, and they are scattered throughout the state. Some of them are little parcels that are surrounded by private land, but others are adjacent to water bodies or LDWF owned land so they are essentially public land that can be legally hunted by anyone with a state hunting license. The ones surrounded by private land are inaccessible to the public because you would have to cross through private land. State Lands owns these parcels. LDWF has a conservation fund with money available for conservation and acquiring property. Well, since LDWF has 'extra' money not being used now (just as the Rigs to Reefs did), the gov't wants/needs this money and they decided to sell these properties owned by State Lands to LDWF
They are both state agencies Jindal is slick

[Sightwindow]

Why is it that the Art Reef money never seems to be spent. You can't raid what isn't available.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by sightwindow

why is it that the art reef money never seems to be spent. You can't raid what isn't available.

permitting