A.  There is hereby established in the office of engineering the Louisiana Water Resources Program, the purpose of which shall be planning for the wise management of Louisiana’s water resources on a statewide basis.  This purpose shall be fulfilled through the implementation of the powers, duties, and functions of the office of engineering as described in Subsection B of this Section.

B.  The office of engineering shall be authorized to engage in the following activities:

(1)  To engage in water resources and sewerage research on a statewide basis.

(2)  To develop a data information base for water resources and sewerage for use in planning and decision-making by the office and by governmental entities through maintenance of records of water users from rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs by requiring diverters of water to provide data as to pump and pipe size used to divert waters, the area or location served, the period of time water is withdrawn, and the purpose for which the diversion is made.

(3)  To develop statewide water resources plans to assure the availability, safe use, and wise management of the state’s water resources in both the short and long terms.

(4)  To cooperate with and provide technical assistance to any governmental entity or special district with respect to the development and implementation of local and regional water projects.

(5)  To establish priorities consistent with water resources plans and with program priorities as developed in the office of environmental affairs, where applicable on an annual basis, for the award of funds to governmental entities for projects and to submit a report thereon to the governor of the state, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

(6)  To solicit from the state’s eight regional planning commissions their recommendations for funding of projects within their areas of jurisdiction.

(7)  To hold public hearings to receive input from regional planning commissions and other interested persons with respect to the development of the priority listing of projects to be recommended to the governor, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

(8)  To negotiate contracts or compacts with the federal government or with the governments of other states to obtain their assistance and cooperation for the planning and development of water resources and sewerage systems in accordance with program priorities as developed in the office of environmental affairs, where applicable.

(9)  To propose for inclusion in the priority report to the governor, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget funding for the state’s share of projects involving the participation of two or more states or the federal government.

(10)  To fulfill the state’s contractual agreements regarding projects involving federal funds.

(11)  To adopt rules and regulations for determining priorities of projects for funding so as to ensure an equitable and fair distribution of available funds.  Rules and regulations may require, at a minimum, consideration of the following factors:

(a)  The needs of the area to be served by the project and the benefit to be realized thereby as compared to the needs of other areas requesting assistance.

(b)  The relationship and consistency of the project to the state’s policy for water resources management.

(c)  The ability of the governmental entity to finance the project without capital outlay assistance.

(d)  The background of the entity with respect to past measures to limit waste and to conserve water.

(12)  To perform any other function deemed necessary, proper, or expedient in order to accomplish its responsibilities as provided by this Chapter.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 625, §1.  Acts 1987, No. 708, §1; Acts 2012, No. 753, §5.