Read the dissenting view. The time for prescription is over for both points of reference. First, when the state declared it was a lake and the state claimed ownership. I think that was in 1890 something. Second, in 1973 when the diversion canal was was completed. It has been well past 30 years since both of those events. Crooks didn’t own the land he has in 1973 either. The justices did some mental gymnastics to justify their ruling.

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Posted by AlxTgr

Kyre Banorg

Member since Oct 2003

81894 posts

Posted on 2/7/20 at 8:46 am to Catahoula20LSU

Statement from Mike Johnson, a local State Rep:

quote:
Large crowd at this month’s “Catahoula Lake Game and Fish Preserve Commission” meeting tonight in Jena.
I am working with our Attorney General and other members of our Legislature to preserve the public’s continued access and use of the Lake by whatever means possible. I delivered a statement to the Commission this evening from Attorney General Jeff Landry confirming that commitment.

The statement reads as follows:
Last Wednesday, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued a ruling that saves Louisiana taxpayers from a nearly $67 million judgment for the construction and operation of a federally-funded lock and dam on Catahoula Lake. This brings the total State savings on this case to date to nearly $89 million. This decision also struck down a nearly twenty-year-old ruling from the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal allowing for such suits, thus substantially minimizing the chances of similar suits on other lakes in Louisiana in the future.
What remains unclear or outstanding in this case are questions regarding the extent of public access to Catahoula Lake and some mineral royalties previously paid to the State. However, it is important to bear in mind that, even with the current ruling, between the State of Louisiana and the United States, public ownership of large swaths of Catahoula Lake continues. Indeed, under the recent ruling, nearly half of the Lake is owned by one of these two public entities. This reality ensures continued public access to at least roughly half of the Lake forever.
Nonetheless, the relevant State agencies, under the leadership of Attorney General Jeff Landry, have determined that it is appropriate to seek reconsideration of these outstanding issues at the Louisiana Supreme Court. The deadline to file an application for rehearing is Wednesday, February 12, 2020. During the pendency of this request for rehearing, the status quo for access to and use of all of Catahoula Lake will be maintained. Because of the briefing periods allowed for such requests, even if denied, it is expected that this status quo will continue for a month or more.
Attorney General Jeff Landry is also currently working with stakeholders to evaluate all legal options available should the Court deny the application for rehearing, including mechanisms to maintain public accessibility of the entire Lake in the future. These efforts also include considering possible legislative changes and corrections to existing law that would support and protect Louisiana’s reputation as a “Sportsmen’s Paradise.”
It is too early to speculate about potential outcomes beyond the submission of the request for rehearing to the Louisiana Supreme Court, but various contingency plans are being made for multiple potential outcomes to protect the rights of sportsmen to both access and harvest from our State’s bountiful waters, especially those of Catahoula Lake.
Office of Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry