A Terrebonne Parish man faces charges for littering in a public waterway. In a case where waterways were at risk, enforcement agents on Monday, November 17, slapped Joshua Verdin, 42, with citations for gross littering and interference with navigation after he apparently sank a vessel not just once, but twice in different locations, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The problem began when a sunken vessel, blocking a significant portion of Bayou Terrebonne and impeding the flow of lifeblood waters that weave through downtown Houma, registration tip-offs came from the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, and LDWF agents were dispatched, subsequently linking the debris to Verdin, who admitted his intentions in the willful act. Agents involved in the citation, Senior Agent Kyle Volentine and Agent Jacob Stelly, uncovered the vessel had been previously marked for removal in Bayou Grand Caillou but found its way, under Verdin's hand, sunken once more in Bayou Terrebonne; both waterways that serve the public.
The consequences for Verdin's actions could lead to a fine of up to $900 and 16 hours of community service for the gross littering offense, with an additional fine of up to $50 for the navigation interference, as outlined by LDWF's report. This incident arises against the backdrop of the Terrebonne Parish's ongoing efforts to alleviate the waterways of abandoned and derelict vessels, leveraging grants from the BoatUS Foundation, which is instrumental in the support sourced from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program grant.
The parish had recognized the presence of over 170 such neglected vessels cluttering its waters before the implementation of a remediation strategy aimed at bolstering waterway quality and enhancing the safety and ease of navigation, as evidenced by details shared by the LDWF release. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, endorsing responsible boating and spearheading national programs for the systematic removal of maritime refuse, such as derelict vessels that continue to haunt waterways, like specters of neglect.
