CHAPTER 12. IMPROVEMENTS FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES

§1501. Lease of lakes, bays, and coves

            A. The register of the State Land Office, with the concurrence and approval of the governor, is hereby authorized and empowered to lease on behalf of the state any portion or part of any meandered state-owned lake, bay, cove or the bed and bottom thereof or state-owned lands reclaimed therefrom to any governing authority of a parish or municipality or any combination thereof, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Louisiana State Department of Highways for use primarily for public recreational purposes; provided, however, that said leases may only be entered into with the aforementioned municipal and parish governing authorities or any combination thereof, when the geographical territory encompassed by said governing authorities is directly adjacent to the lake, bay, cove or any part thereof or the bed and bottom thereof or lands reclaimed therefrom. In the case of leases to the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the State Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, and/or the State Department of Highways, said leases may be granted on a statewide basis subject to all conditions and requirements as provided for under the provisions of this Chapter. Subject to the approval of the register of the State Land Office, and with the concurrence of the attorney general, the political body who has been granted a lease under the provisions of this Chapter may place improvements in and on the leased property, and after obtaining approval of the register may assign or sublease such lease; provided, however, that any political body subleasing or assigning its lease as herein authorized shall supervise its sublessee or assign to insure that the terms and conditions of the original lease are observed, and provided, further, such assignment or sublease shall be only to the highest responsible bidder after advertisement in accordance with R.S. 41:1213 through 1215.1.

            B. Any lease made by the register of the State Land Office pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall be on behalf of the state of Louisiana except that, as to any lake, bay, cove and the bed and bottom thereof and land reclaimed therefrom, or part thereof, not under the jurisdiction and control of the state of Louisiana, the lease shall be made on behalf of the political body or entity having such jurisdiction and control and only at its request.

            Acts 1960, No. 583, §1. Amended by Acts 1968, No. 626, §1; Acts 1970, No. 596, §1; Acts 1972, No. 376, §1; Acts 2026, No. 571, §20B.