Anyone who cares about the Atchafalaya Basin and its future should plan to attend public hearings on a proposed annual project plan for 2010.

The first meeting was last week when more than 24 people showed up at the Iberville Parish Council chambers in Plaquemine. They heard and discussed proposed projects in the draft Atchafalaya Basin Annual Plan.

Two other hearings are scheduled this week. One is set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Henderson Rec Building in Henderson and the other is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Morgan City Auditorium.

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“This is exactly the kind of public response we were hoping for in creating the planning process. A program that has both a scientific base and the interest of the stakeholders (us) has the strongest chance of success for the long term,” said state Rep. Karen St. Germain, chair of the state Atchafalaya Basin Legislative Oversight Committee and vice-chair of the state House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

An earlier round of public meetings to solicit ideas for water management and water quality projects drew almost 50 suggestions from the public.

A Delaware resident won the 2010 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition sponsored by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. His painting will be the image used on the LDWF hunting permit more commonly known as the Louisiana Duck Stamp.

Richard Clifton of Milford, Del., topped a 17-person field and was recognized at the Nov. 5 meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Clifton’s painting depicted a pair of pintails flying over the water as a duck hunter is arranging his decoys from a pirogue.

Clifton has painted 25 duck stamps from various states, the 1996 Australian Duck Stamp and the 2007-08 Federal Duck Stamp.

Runner-up was Kip Richmond of North Carolina and the third-place winner was Tony Bernard of Lafayette.

The entries were judged by a distinguished panel: Luke Laborde, R.C. Davis, E.J. Deubler and Dr. Clint Jeske.

Calendars with photos are nice gifts to give before the new year. One with an interesting touch is the 2010 BoatU.S. Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Program Wall Calendar, which has 12 months of photos �” submitted by boaters �” showing kids making an effort to be safe on the water by wearing life jackets provided by the Foundation’s no-cost Kid’s Life Jacket Loaner Program. The calendar is available in three sizes starting at $18.95. A portion of the revenue goes back to the Foundation to support the much-needed program, said LJLP Program Manager Alanna Keating.

The program lends more than 90,000 life jackets each year at more than 500 locations around the U.S. To date, three youngsters’ lives have been saved because of the PFDs.

“Everyone needs a calendar and boaters will love the photos of these cute kids on the water,” Keating said recently. “However, it will also help show children and parents that wearing a life jacket is cool.”

To order your calendar, go to:

www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/nauticalstore.

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.