Pursuant to its goals to maintain Lake D’Arbonne as a premier lake and to facilitate its use and enjoyment by all citizens, the Lake Commission has adopted various ordinances regulating use of the Lake. These regulations are summarized below.
Boat Launching
There are thirteen (13) boat launching facilities available for public use at Lake D’Arbonne:
No person is allowed to use any boat launching facility, whether publicly or privately owned, for any purpose other than the launching of a boat.
All watercraft shall be placed into the water and removed from the water at the ramp.
No fishing is permitted within 50 feet from the ramp at any boat launching facility.
No overnight camping is permitted anywhere on any boat launching facility.
No fires of any kind are allowed on any boat launching facility.
No person is allowed on any boat launching facility from sunset to sunrise except individuals loading and unloading boats and gaining access to vehicles lawfully parked on the boat launching facility parking area.
No littering, dumping, or depositing refuse is allowed in or around any boat launching facility.
No horses are allowed on any boat launching facility.
Only licensed motor vehicles are allowed on any boat launching facility. Vehicles should not be driven at a greater rate of speed than shown on posted speed limit signs at the boat launching facility. Parking of vehicles is restricted to hard road surfaces and designated parking areas.
No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed on any boat launching facility. Loud, unnecessary noises or music or improper conduct are not permitted, also.
No firearms shall be discharged on any boat launching facility.
No swimming is allowed from any boat launching facility.
Willful injury or destruction of, or attempt to injure or destroy, any kind of public structure is prohibited at any boat launching facility.
A violation is considered a misdemeanor and carries a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in the parish jail for no more than 30 days, or both.
Watercraft Speeds
All watercraft must reduce to idle speed within 50 feet of all state highway bridges over the Lake.
A violation is considered a misdemeanor and carries a fine not to exceed $500.
Yo-Yos
There is a maximum of 50 yo-yos per person.
Each yo-yo must be tagged with the name, address and telephone number of the owner/user.
Each yo-yo must be re-baited at least once every 24 hours and all fish must be immediately removed.
When not being used (defined as not being checked once every 24 hours), yo-yos shall be removed from the Lake.
No yo-yos shall be attached to any metallic object.
A violation represents a Class I Wildlife Violation.
Trotlines
All trotlines must be marked, tagged, and dated, with the owner/user’s name, address, telephone number, and date of placement.
Each trotline must be marked on each end with a floating object that is readily visible.
Each person shall be allowed to set three trotlines with a maximum of 50 hooks per trotline.
All trotlines must be removed from the Lake when not in use.
All trotlines shall have an eight cotton leader on each end to ensure that if the trotline is left unattended, the cotton leader will deteriorate and the line will sink.
All trotlines must be attended daily.
A violation represents a Class I Wildlife Violation.
Duck Blinds/ Firearms
No duck blind or other structure is allowed to be constructed less than 1,000 feet from any dwelling located on or near the shoreline of the Lake.
No person is allowed to engage in hunting activities or discharge any firearm less than 1,000 feet from any dwelling located on or near the shoreline of the Lake.
A violation is considered a misdemeanor and carries a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in the parish jail for no more than 30 days, or both.
Metallic Objects
The placing of metallic objects in the Lake is strongly discouraged, other than a metallic object for a user’s temporary use, such as a boat, motor or recreational equipment.
The use of any types of metallic rods, stakes, pipes, poles, tubing, rebar, or similar objects in the Lake is prohibited except in the following situations:
In connection with signs, markers, or other objects placed with the permission of the State of Louisiana;
In connection with docks, piers, boathouses, or other structures permanently attached to the shore/bank of the Lake;
In connection with floating docks or other structures clearly marked to be visible to persons using the Lake;
In connection with duck blinds constructed on or prior to September 1, 2003, if the duck blind is actually used for waterfowl hunting each season and is clearly marked;
In connection with floating duck blinds constructed after September 1, 2003, (no metal objects should be driven into the Lakebed), if the duck blind is actually used for waterfowl hunting each season and is clearly marked;
In connection with the mounting of a light, birdhouse, slide, swing, or similar object in close proximity to a dwelling located on the shore or bank of the Lake.
The placing of any cable, wire, rope or similar apparatus above the surface of the Lake that is used to support, hang, or attach markers, signs, yo-yos, mechanical trigger devices, trotlines, hooks, or any other device is prohibited.
A violation is considered a misdemeanor and carries a fine not to exceed $500.
Piers/ Boathouses
Each pier, dock, boathouse, barge or other structures extending into the Lake should not extend more than 100 feet or 25% of cove width, whichever is less, perpendicular from the 80 foot mean sea level contour line of the Lake, unless written approval is obtained from the Lake Commissioners Board.
This applies to all such existing piers and structures which are materially enlarged or altered after July 1, 2004, and applies to all new structures constructed after July 1, 2004.
Commercial piers or structures are exempt from this ordinance, although such commercial piers or structures may otherwise be regulated by the Board.
The following guidelines are recommended on the Lake:
Each pier or dock extending into the Lake may contain a porch, deck, or similar structure, provided that the same shall not be used for living quarters, and may contain a boat house or boat slips.
Posts and material touching water should be treated wood. Flooring and handrails should be treated wood (minimum 2” x 6”).
All pier wiring should be placed in conduit.
All floating piers, docks, boathouses, barges, and/or other structures must be securely attached or moored in an approved manner at all times and anchored properly in order to prevent them from becoming unmoored and floating away during periods of high water.
Highway Rights of Way
Parking on highway rights of way is prohibited by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.