Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited five men for failing to comply with scenic river regulations on Aug. 22 in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Agents cited Joe Baggett, 36, Dylan Boyd, 21, Kevin Rothman, 35, Micah Boyd, 46, and Dustin Boyd, 25, all of Denham Springs for riding vehicles in the Comite River just south of Zachary.
Agents have received several complaints over the summer of people riding vehicles in this scenic river and have increased their patrol efforts in the area. Agents found Bagget in a Suzuki Samauri and the four other men in some sort of all-terrain vehicle riding down the Comite River around 12:45 p.m.
Scenic river regulations prohibit the use of a motor vehicle or other wheeled or tracked vehicle on a designated system stream, except for permitted uses and direct crossings by immediately adjacent landowners, lessees, and persons who have written permission from the landowner for non-commercial activities that do not significantly degrade the ecological integrity of the stream.
Violators of the scenic river rules face a $250 to $500 fine and up to six months of jail time.
Agents involved in the case are Lt. Will Roberts, Sgt. Carl Armstrong, Agent Max Wilkinson and Agent Hunter Pearson.
The Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act of 1970 provides LDWF the authority to regulate those activities that may directly and significantly degrade the ecological integrity of a natural and scenic river. The Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System for the purpose of preserving, protecting, developing, reclaiming, and enhancing the wilderness qualities, scenic beauties, and ecological regimes of certain free-flowing Louisiana streams. Today, there are approximately 3,000 miles of designated Natural and Scenic Rivers in the state.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.