§1855. Exceptions

            A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 56:1847(31), nothing contained in this Part shall be construed as repealing, superceding, nullifying, or in any manner whatsoever affecting any power, authority, or jurisdiction which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has over the West Pearl River or Bayou Channel in Pointe Coupee Parish to perform routine maintenance and dredging for navigation and flood control purposes. In addition nothing contained in this Part shall prohibit the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or the state department having authority over the scenic rivers program from entering into any contract with a private firm to dredge the West Pearl River or Bayou Channel in Pointe Coupee Parish for such purposes.

            B. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 56:1847(47) and (49), nothing contained in this Part shall be construed as repealing, superceding, nullifying, or in any manner whatsoever affecting any power, authority, or jurisdiction which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has over Bayou LaCombe and the Tchefuncte River to perform routine maintenance and dredging for navigation and flood control purposes.

            C. Nothing in this Part shall be deemed or interpreted to limit, restrict, or repeal any authority granted by law to the Department of Environmental Quality concerning water quality or the Louisiana Department of Health concerning drinking water quality.

            D. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, particularly the provisions of this Part, during the period of July 1, 1990 through July 1, 1991, the Sunset Drainage District of St. Charles Parish may excavate fill material from Petit Lac Des Allemands for the purpose of enlarging the existing levee within the jurisdiction of the said drainage district.

            E. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, particularly the provisions of this Part, the Water District No. 3 of Rapides Parish is hereby authorized to repair or replace the Big Creek Dam in Grant Parish.

            F. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 56:1847(8), nothing contained in this Part shall be construed as repealing, superseding, nullifying, or, in any manner whatsoever, affecting any power, authority, or jurisdiction which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has over the Comite River to construct the Comite River Diversion Canal and related structures, converging with the waterway near Section 10, Township 5 South, Range 1 East, of the St. Helena Meridian, for the purpose of flood control.

            G. No provision of this Part shall prohibit the construction of a hurricane protection levee and associated drainage and pumping facilities within St. Charles Parish that cross Bayou Trepagnier. To the extent necessary for the construction of such levee, those portions of Bayou Trepagnier within the right of way of the levee and to the south of the levee are not subject to the provisions of this Part.

            H. No provision of this Part shall prohibit any public waterworks district from performing essential repair and maintenance necessary to maintain normal operations at facilities located on an included river or stream, if such facilities were in operation at the time of such river or stream's inclusion into the Natural and Scenic Rivers system.

            I.(1) Notwithstanding other provisions of R.S. 56:1853, snagging operations for drainage purposes in Bayou Chinchuba may be permitted by the department. Any such permit shall be issued in accordance with the requirements and procedures provided for in R.S. 56:1849. The department shall also consider the impact that the method of snagging and the type of equipment, proposed to be used by the applicant, may have on the natural and scenic characteristics and qualities of the bayou.

            (2) No provision of this Chapter shall prohibit the construction of any bridge across the Bayou Chinchuba.

            (3) Except for the prohibition on channelization and channel realignment provided for by R.S. 56:1853, the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to those portions of Bayou Chinchuba that flow through lands subject to a conservation easement or servitude with a national or state, nonprofit membership land conservation organization which preserves the natural and scenic characteristics and qualities of the bayou in a manner consistent with the purposes and standards of this Subsection and restricts the harvesting of timber in accordance with the restrictions provided for in R.S. 56:1854.

            (4) Any water quality requirements and water degradation standards pertaining to Bayou Chinchuba which may be required by this Chapter shall not be any more stringent than those which were required for Bayou Chinchuba on January 1, 1993.

            (5) For any portion of Bayou Chinchuba in which the bayou has disbursed and lost its channel, the bayou shall be defined by the department to be no wider than the average width of the bayou that is outside of the portion that has disbursed and lost its channel. In such portions of the bayou, those waters lying outside of the areas defined by the department shall not be considered to be within a natural and scenic river for the purposes of this Chapter.

            J. Notwithstanding other provisions of R.S. 56:1853, snagging and dredging operations for drainage purposes in the Tangipahoa River, from the Interstate 12 crossing to its entrance into Lake Pontchartrain, may be permitted by the department. Any such permit shall be issued in accordance with the requirements and procedures provided for in R.S. 56:1849. The department shall also consider the impact that the method of snagging and the type of equipment, proposed to be used by the applicant, may have on the natural and scenic characteristics and qualities of the river.

            K. Notwithstanding any provisions of law or administrative rule to the contrary, no provision of this Part shall be applicable to those tracts of land located along the banks of the Tchefuncte River between Louisiana Highway No. 22 and Lake Pontchartrain which possess a commercial zoning classification granted by the appropriate local government zoning authority, nor shall the provisions of this Part be applicable to tracts of land located along the banks of such sections of the Tchefuncte River and situated between and in the same ownership as tracts of land which possess a commercial zoning classification granted by the appropriate local government zoning authority.

            L. No provision of this Part shall prohibit or require a scenic stream permit for any activity performed under an official state and federal remediation and restoration plan developed for Bayou Trepagnier, when such work is required for the removal, treatment, or isolation of contaminated sediments within or adjacent to Bayou Trepagnier.

            M.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 56:1856(B)(2), the department shall permit the construction of flood control projects on Bayou Manchac that include replacing the structures at Alligator Bayou and Frog Bayou; providing a structure for constricting the backwater flow in Bayou Manchac; constructing, elevating, or protecting the road along the south side of Bayou Manchac in the vicinity of and to the west of the Alligator and Frog Bayou water control structures; or any realignment of the lower portion of Ward Creek that flows into Bayou Manchac.

            (2) Notwithstanding other provisions of R.S. 56:1853, clearing and snagging, and dredging operations for drainage purposes, in Bayou Manchac shall be permitted by the department in accordance with the requirements and procedures provided for in R.S. 56:1849. However, beginning May 1, 2021, through August 1, 2026, no provision of this Part shall require a permit for a local government to conduct clearing and snagging and dredging operations for drainage purposes in Bayou Manchac.

            (3) No provision in this Chapter shall prohibit the construction of any bridge across Bayou Manchac.

            N. Notwithstanding any other provision of R.S. 56:1853 to the contrary, on that portion of Bayou Liberty in St. Tammany Parish which lies to the north of Interstate 12, the removal of accumulated siltation and channel realignment activities for the purpose of restoring natural sinuosity may be permitted by the department. Any such permit shall be issued in accordance with the requirements and procedures provided in R.S. 56:1849. When issuing such permit, the department shall also examine the impact that the method of such work and the type of equipment proposed to be used by the applicant may have on the natural and scenic characteristics and qualities of the bayou.

            O. Notwithstanding other provisions of R.S. 56:1853, clearing and snagging, and dredging operations conducted or contracted for by a political subdivision, the state, or federal government for drainage purposes in the Amite River, Tangipahoa River, Tickfaw River, Blind River, West Pearl River, Tchefuncte River, Bogue Falaya River, Abita River, and Comite River shall be permitted by the department in accordance with the requirements and procedures provided for in R.S. 56:1849.

            P.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, beginning August 1, 2018, through August 1, 2026, no provision of this Part shall:

            (a) Prohibit the channelization, clearing and snagging, channel realignment, reservoir construction, or dredging operations for drainage purposes in the Comite River.

            (b) Require a permit pursuant to R.S. 56:1849 for the channelization, clearing and snagging, channel realignment, reservoir construction, or dredging operations for drainage purposes in the Comite River.

            (2) During the time period provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, use of a motor vehicle or other wheeled or tracked vehicle on the Comite River shall be prohibited except for permitted uses and direct crossings by immediately adjacent landowners, lessees, or other persons who have written permission from the landowner to access adjoining tracts of land for noncommercial activities in a manner that does not directly and significantly degrade the ecological integrity of the stream. Written permission shall be in the person's possession and include the landowner's contact information.

            Acts 1988, No. 947, §1, eff. July 27, 1988; Acts 1990, No. 310, §2, eff. July 8, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 311, §2, eff. July 8, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 399, §1, eff. July 10, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 190, §1; Acts 1993, No. 437, §1, eff. June 19, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 1039, §1; Acts 1999, No. 491, §1; Acts 1999, No. 823, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1142, §3; Acts 1999, No. 1269, §4; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 54, §1; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 80, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 66, §1; Acts 2004, No. 50, §1, eff. May 21, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 453, §1; Acts 2009, No. 370, §1; Acts 2010, No. 406, §1; Acts 2017, No. 189, §1, eff. June 30, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 163, §1; Acts 2018, No. 430, §1, eff. June 30, 2018; Acts 2021, No. 368, §1.