Toledo Bend
Bi-State
Alliance

Hunting and Fishing Tom Behrens

Dry times at Toledo Bend?
Dropping water level driving reform efforts

TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR has its own set of low water problems, and according to the Toledo Bend BiState Alliance they are not all caused by drought.

Pool level on the massive water giant that partially separates Louisiana from Texas is set at 172 feet. According to Larry Kelly, co-chairman of the Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance, the water level was at 165.88 feet on Jan. 31.

We have boats sitting on the ground that are normally floating," Kelly said. "Boat ramps are high and dry and people cannot access the lake through normal areas."

Low water problems have been occurring at the lake since 1966, Kelly said.

Still, based upon a Visitor Attendance Report filed by the Sabine River Authority of Texas, about 1.5 million people visit Toledo Bend every year. This would seem to contradict Kelly's claim that low water conditions were hurting the fishing or business economy around the lake.

But the Toledo, Bend Bi-State Alliance questions the correctness of the above numbers.

"Our look into the report of 1.5 million visitors per year casts very serious doubt on the accuracy or the report and the criteria used to reach that figure," Kelly said.

The history of the lake is telling when trying to understand water level problems and controversy at Toledo Bend.

In the early- to mid-1950s a feasibility study, entitled the Forest and Cotton Study, was under-taken to determine whether or not to build up the area around Toledo Bend. The lake was sold to the citizens of Louisiana as a recreational and economic development project to generate hydroelectric power, conservation of water, recreation and improvement to navigation. Cost of construction was to be paid for by hydro-generation. The benefit to Texas primarily had to do with water conservation.

"However, over the years, hydropower has become, in the eyes of the Sabine River Authorities, the primary reason for the reservoir," Kelly said. "When the Power Sales Agreement was signed in 1964, what the power companies paid was based upon a fixed price. In 1985, the Power Sales Agreement was amended and the power companies began to pay for the power produced based upon Kilowatt-hour kWh). They paid at 1.88 cents per kWh and that price was paid for all power produced. The contract has since been amended raising the price what is now paid, 2.1 cents per kWh or $21.00 per megawatt-hour."

For over 20 years users of this lake -- including marinas and other businesses that rely on lake traffic to make their living - have tried to get the Sabine River Authorities to change the operation of the lake to better accommodate recreation.

In 1978, 21 local proprietors sued the Sabine River Authority in the Louisiana courts to require the SRA to operate the reservoir in accordance with the data in the 1958 Forest and Cotton Study. This suit eventually was dismissed for lack of prosecution.

The next attempt, Kelly said, was asking the governors of both states to intervene.

"Several attempts were made by Governor Mike Foster of Louisiana, working through his staff and the president of the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana Board of Commissioners, Aubrey Temple, to solve the problem with the power companies," Kelly said. "In each case, the SRA agreed with the power companies that they could not make the change without the consent and concurrence -of the power companies. (Texas) Governor (George W.) Bush did nothing except to tell us he had complete faith in his appointed board and the agency to do the right thing.

"We attempted to have a law enacted in both states to require that power be stopped when the level was taken down to 168 feet."

Kelly added, "In the last Louisiana legislative session, the bill passed the full Senate, but was killed in the House. We have contacted the power companies (Entergy & Cleco) and asked them to publicly state they would not object if routine power production was halted when the lake level reached 168 feet."

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a preliminary ruling on this matter stating that the SRAs were operating -in accordance with their license.

Still, concerns about the effect of Toledo Bend's water levels remain.

"Bass generally spawn in March, usually the first full moon," said Dr. Bill Miller, who in 1983 urged the state of Louisiana to stock Florida strain bass in state lakes.

"The fish won't spawn during falling water," Miller said. "The fish know that the water is coming down and won't lay their eggs. You are going to cut down on the spawning activity. If the water does come up, it will probably muddy it up and the silt will kill some fish. Also when you decrease the amount of water in an area, you increase the amount of predation, you increase the possibility of disease and parasites. As the number of fish in a particular area increases, you can create all kinds of aquatic health problems.

This one problem is not going to be easily solved. There are too many economic factors involved on both sides of the issue to come up with a quick fix. However, it is a problem that needs to be addressed quickly before a valuable fishery is seriously injured.

Texas anglers can voice their opinions, or request more information by contacting Larry Kelly at 318-286-9946. His e-mail address is kellyle@worldnetla.net.

Tom Behrens is a freelance out-doors writer and journalism instructor who teaches at Faith West Academy in Katy. Questions or comments can be sent via e-mail to doglover29@juno.com