Group fights for public access to the swamps

The Louisiana Crawfish Producers Association – West, an organization whose main objective is to help keep the public informed of their right to the navigable waterways, will hold its annual meeting in the Elementary School gym here at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.
The organization’s membership consists not only of commercial crawfish fishermen but also sport fishermen, trappers, hunters, photographers, kayakers, bird watchers, and others who use the navigable waterways of the Basin.
Originally one of two groups formed to oversee the interests of crawfishermen (one on the east side and one on the west, hence the name), LCPA-West has evolved into a watchdog for public access to the Basin.
Much of the Atchafalaya Basin is privately owned, a lot of it in large tracts held by the heirs of planters and timber barons. But the swamps and waterways of the Basin have traditionally provided a livelihood for fishermen, hunters and trappers.
Tension between large landholders and the fishermen has been exacerbated by changes in the topography wrought by the spillway levees and the ravages of oil and gas production. Natural lakes have filled in and natural waterways blocked. Swamp is giving way to woods at an accelerated pace.
LCPA-West has won lawsuits against landholders attempting to claim public lakes and the organization continues to shine the spotlight on the problem of encroaching land claims by informing the public.
Anyone interested in public access to the Basin is welcome to join. everyone’s support. You can download an application at www.lcpa-west.com. For more information via email query LCPAWEST@hotmail.com.