Access to Elmer’s Island expanded

• By JOE MACALUSO
• Advocate Outdoors writer
• Published: Jul 2, 2009 - Page: 8C

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A day after announcing the sportsmen of the state would have road access to Elmer’s Island for the first time since 2001, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries secretary Robert Barham said Wednesday that the island will be open every weekend “until further notice.”

Barham’s original message was the island and its beaches would be open only Friday through Sunday for the Fourth of July weekend.

Weekends include Friday through Sunday.

The reopening of the road off La. 1 near Grand Isle to the island’s beaches came after the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development worked with the LDWF to strengthen culverts and improve the roadway.

Barham confirmed Tuesday  the Elmer family has not agreed to a price for the sale of the land to the state. He said the LDWF and the state used Louisiana’s “quick take” law to gain access to the road and begin improvements.

Daily boat access to the beach was approved in late 2008, when it was determined the state owned the island’s beaches.

The gate will be opened for public use one-half hour before sunrise Friday and will be for day-use only. After making sure all users are off the island, the gate will be locked at one-half hour after sunset daily. Wednesday’s announcement confirmed this pattern will be set for succeeding weekends.

Other stipulations include:

n Anyone 16 and older must have a valid Louisiana fishing or hunting license or Wild Louisiana Stamp;

n No overnight use, and no camping, fishing nor recreational items can be left on the island overnight;

n Trash must be removed from the island;

n Vehicle parking is allowed on the beach for day-use activities with a speed limit of 5 mph  on the access road from La. 1 and on the beach;

n These limitations come with an advisory that LDWF-issued 2008-2009 recreational licenses expired June 30, and new 2009-2010 licenses will be needed to access the island and to fish for the Fourth of July weekend.