The increasing use of water for municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and other purposes in North Central Louisiana is a matter of great public interest; the continued uncontrolled use of groundwater from Sparta and other aquifers may create critical problems; the public welfare requires that such water be put to the highest beneficial use; and there is a need to study these matters and how to provide for the efficient administration, conservation, and orderly development of groundwater resources in the parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Richland, Sabine, Union, Webster, and Winn.

Acts 1999, No. 1228, §1.