The state’s Office of Conservation has issued a final order today declaring portions of the Sparta Aquifer in north Louisiana to be critical ground water areas. The Commissioner of Conservation has made certain determinations and has spelled out the conditions to be followed as required by state law. Commissioner of Conservation James Welsh said the order does not mandate any current restrictions on new or existing water wells.

He provided notice this week of the order to the Sparta Groundwater Conservation District, which had applied for such a designation in July 2002. After many months of evaluation, study and public hearings, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Office of Conservation determined that these specific areas exhibited water level declines that threatened the sustainability of the aquifer. The issuance of Order CGWA-1-05 is posted and available on the Web athttp://dnr.louisiana.gov/CONS/gwater/cgwa_app/02-0001/finalorder.pdf.

Commissioner Welsh and Ground Water Resources Division Director Anthony Duplechin noted that any necessary future restrictions will be made on a case-by-case basis with ground water for human consumption and public health and safety as first priority. The order does require monthly reporting to the Office of Conservation on how much water is being pumped out of non-domestic water wells. It also recommends that further study be conducted to investigate salt water encroachment in the Sparta Aquifer, and that an aggressive water conservation education program be developed statewide with assistance from the Ground Water Resources Commission and the Ground Water Management Advisory Task Force.

According to Commissioner Welsh, the order names the following critical ground water areas:

• Monroe-West Monroe Critical Ground Water Area (Ouachita Parish)
  • Township 17 North, Range 3 East
  • Township 17 North, Range 4 East
  • Township 18 North, Range 3 East
  • Township 18 North, Range 4 East
• Ruston Critical Ground Water Area (Lincoln Parish)
  • Township 18 North, Range 2 West
  • Township 18 North, Range 3 West
  • Township 18 North, Range 4 West
• Jonesboro-Hodge Critical Ground Water Area (Jackson and Bienville Parishes)
  • Township 14 North, Range 3 West
  • Township 14 North, Range 4 West
  • Township 15 North, Range 3 West
  • Township 15 North, Range 4 West

Act 49 of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session authorized the Office of Conservation to manage, protect, and conserve the state’s groundwater resources.