CADDO LAKE NEWS
NEWSLETTER OF THE GREATER CADDO LAKE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS MARCH/
APRIL 2009
www.caddolakenews.org
CADDO VEGETATION CONTROL WRAP UP FOR 2008
First GCLA then CVND have been spraying water hyacinth and giant
salvinia for the last several years. GCLA started with a paddle
wheel boat and small spray rig that was geared towards water
hyacinth control... salvinia had not reared its ugly head at that
time. But with the discovery of salvinia molesta in Jeems Bayou, we
immediately knew we were in for a long, hard fight. Many volunteers
spent hour upon hour on the lake picking up and disposing of the
salvinia, but the monster just kept coming. CVND starting spraying
with two small rigs and in April of 2008 received a surplus airboat
from Texas Parks and Wildlife. This boat was fitted with the latest
spray equipment, had a new engine installed and operators were
hired. On May 26, 2008 the spraying started. The airboat can spray
up to 65 acres a day compared to 2-4 acres a day with the small
rigs! Operators sprayed steadily until late November 2008. During
that time the operators were spraying both hyacinth and salvinia.
The numbers are quite impressive;
511 hours on airboat since May 26, 2008
2880 total acres sprayed consisting of:
1855 acres of water hyacinth and 1025 acres of giant salvinia
sprayed
62% reduction in the amount of water hyacinth observed on the lake.
(from the TPWD annual survey in August 2008 as compared to the same
survey in 2007)
Areas of the lake that had been virtually unusable in 2007 are now
open. Places like Turtle Shell, Hog Wallow, and Stumpy Slough have
all been sprayed and the majority of water hyacinth has been killed.
The north shore folks from Holland’s Camp to the back of Ames Spring
also received some much needed relief from the water hyacinth that
had left them without access to the lake for years. Although free of
hyacinth, the salvinia has really come on in these areas. CVND plans
to continue spraying both plants this year, starting as early in the
spring as possible and spraying until the last possible day in early
winter.
Agreement Between Caddo Lake Coalition & City of Marshall
Ends Long Running Dispute Over Water Permit Change
December 11, 2008, the Marshall City Commissioners voted unanimously
to approve a settlement agreement that resolved all issues between
the city and the Caddo Lake Coalition that were pending before the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality following a seven-year
legal battle that went all the way to the State Supreme Court.
The Caddo Lake Coalition consists of The GCLA of Texas, the City of
Uncertain, the Caddo Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the Caddo Lake
Institute.
Under the terms of the agreement, Marshall is withdrawing its
application to amend its long-established permit to withdraw water
from Big Cypress for municipal purposes to allow the city to sell
raw water for industrial use. The amendment was the principal issue
in contention between the city and the coalition. Marshall contended
it needed the flexibility to provide untreated water to attract
economic development. The Coalition believed that approval of the
change to the permit could result in dramatic increases in
withdrawals, reducing Big Cypress flows into the lake during
critical dry periods. It was the coalition’s position that the city
had other, more appropriate ways to provide untreated water to any
customers who required it.
Resolution of the permit issue was made possible when the city
recently secured the availability of industrial raw water from Lake
of the Pines through the Northeast TX Municipal Water District and
received approval from TCEQ, without objection from coalition
members, to distribute the water in the Sabine Basin as well as the
Cypress Basin.
The city and the coalition also reached an agreement that resolves
the question of whether water being discharged from the city’s
wastewater treatment plant is required to be returned to the Cypress
Basin.
The coalition was represented in negotiations by GCLA of Texas
President Doug Parker, Uncertain Mayor Sam Canup, Caddo Chamber
President Terry Coleman, and Caddo Lake Institute President Rick
Lowerre.
Lowerre also praised City Commission Chairman William “Buddy” Power,
the other commissioners, City Attorney Todd Fitts, and city staff
for their hard work and determination to make this settlement
possible.
"This is a landmark agreement, one that shows that it is possible to
find ways to meet all of the needs for water in the region," Lowerre
said. "This agreement proves that, when people with different
perspectives and goals work together, they can find solutions that
balance their needs."
CVND RECEIVES $40,000 USFWS GRANT FOR INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL
For the second consecutive year, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
has provided the Cypress Valley Navigation District (CVND) with a
grant of $40,000 for use in the ongoing battle against invasive
aquatic plants on Caddo Lake. The first grant, provided in late
2007, was used for various activities, including spray equipment,
labor and chemicals. The current grant provided in late 2008, will
be used principally for labor and chemical expenses. The grant is a
result of efforts by Mark Williams, Refuge Manager for the Caddo
Lake Wildlife Refuge. Mark's continued support and involvement in
lake and refuge activities include providing direct contact with the
USFWS for support of local needs.
Matching funds of equal amounts are required for receiving these
type grants. These funds are managed by the Northeast Texas
Municipal Water District (NETMWD). They include other donations and
local volunteer efforts for the control of these plants. These
local efforts are provided by many local organizations and
individuals, and are consolidated and managed by NETMWD for matching
funds purposes. The Caddo Lake Watershed Protection Program
Coordinator, Lee Thomas, manages these funds.
CVND continues to be the primary organization for fighting invasive
plants, including water hyacinths and more importantly, giant
salvinia. Giant salvinia, first discovered on the Louisiana side of
Caddo Lake in June, 2006, infests many areas on the Texas side, with
acreage estimates now over 1,000 acres. Giant salvinia, labeled the
"world's worst aquatic plant," doubles in size in a week to ten
days, is cold resistant, and crowds out all forms of life, both
flora and fauna. This floating fern is a world-wide problem which
has no permanent solution. Caddo Lake has been described as the
perfect incubator for giant salvinia. It threatens the survival of
Caddo Lake, as well as all the tourism, sports activities and
economy of the lake and surrounding communities.
"As grant funds become available, continued development of matching
funds is a necessity," says CVND Chairman, Ken Shaw. "Donations of
time and money are both critical to being able to match and receive
grants like this grant from the USFWS.”
MEMBERSHIP AND ANNUAL DUES
Your board of directors recently voted to change our yearly April to
April membership and annual dues to August to August. Current
members will have their membership extended through August 2009 at
no cost . New and old members who pay their dues between now and
August 2009 will have their membership extended through August 2010.
The
mission of the Greater Caddo Lake Association, ( GCLA ) is to help
preserve and keep safe one of nature's true wonders, Caddo Lake. If
you would like to become a member of the GCLA click on the,
