Toledo Bend
Bi-State
Alliance

Meeting set Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at J.R. Huffman Library in Hemphill

BY JOSE CARMONA

Staff Writer

A petition has been initiated by a group of residents of both Texas and Louisiana in hopes of stopping routine power generation at Toledo Bend Reservoir.

The group, the Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance, was started in late 1997 to unite the efforts of residents and marina owners of both states who have been severely affected by the low water levels at Toledo Bend due to the routine hydroelectric power generation at the lake’s dam.

The Alliance’s main objective is to promote tourism and enhance Toledo Bend Reservoir as a recreational resource of Texas and Louisiana.

According to Larry Kelly, chairman of the Bi-State Alliance, the first step the Alliance is taking in order to accomplish their main objective is to have, through the petition, a mean sea level (msl) of 168 feet established by the Sabine River Authority (SRA)as the minimum water elevation for routine power production at Toledo Bend.

Kelly said the key here is "routine power generation." He stated that the Alliance understands and supports the fact that under the petition, there will be three reasons why power generation would be necessary when the lake’s level is at, or below 168 feet msl.

"The first reason would be to meet requirements for minimum down river flows," Kelly said. "The second reason would be when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission orders the inspection and/or the repair of the dam." The dam is inspected approximately every five years.

And the third reason, according to Kelly, would be to prevent an imminent electrical brown out. "What this means is that Toledo Bend would be the last available reserve used by the power companies to prevent a brown out," Kelly said.

The Sabine River Authorities of Texas and Louisiana are the state agencies responsible for the lake’s regulations and use, including power generation.

Currently, 162.2 msl is the minimum water level established by the SRA for power generation. This has created a serious problem to local residents and businesses that depend on Toledo Bend to make a living, since the schedule for power generation practically went unchanged during the drought, bringing the water levels to record lows.

At the present time, power is being produced using both generators at the dam from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. At the present lake level this reduces the water level approximately 1/10 of a foot a day when there is no inflow. Currently, the lake’s water level is at 165.35 feet. The normal water level is 172 feet msl.

The recent rains we had from tropical storm Frances raised the lake’s level from a record low of 163.77 msl to 165.32 msl, a gain of a foot and a half.

The power generated at the dam is considerably much cheaper to produce than power generated elsewhere. The cost of a lake-produced megawatt of electricity is about one-fifth of the starting rate for conventional power. This allows the power companies to re-sell the electricity generated at the dam, making huge profits in the process.

The two power companies that generate power from Toledo Bend are Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO) and Entergry, also of Louisiana. Both companies refused requests from SRA to cease power production schedules during this year’s drought, stating they needed the power due to high demand.

When requested by the SRA in previous drought years, both companies have ceased production of power at Toledo Bend.

The companies however, did agree to a 30 percent reduction of power production in late August and to review that reduction on a daily basis.

Kelly contends the 168 water level goal is reasonable. "The recently completed study of lake operations proves this goal can be met and the dam will produce essentially the same or better results," Kelly said. While the study indicated no fault in the way the lake has been operated, it did not indicate it couldn’t be changed.

The group is also supporting the Fisheries and Economic Impact Study commissioned by the Toledo Bend Project Joint Operations Board, which consists of two members of each state’s SRA. This study will be conducted over the next year by Dr. Ditton of Texas A&M University.

Kelly stated that when the water level at Toledo Bend drops bellow 168 feet msl, it begins to have an "immediate" adverse impact on recreation on the lake. "The problem becomes more acute the lower the water level," Kelly said.

"That impact is carried over to businesses which make their living primarily from tourist visits," Kelly said. This not only affects local marina owners, but also affects individuals who own lake-front property or reside at or near the lake, since they loose access to the lake.

Kelly maintains all this adversely impacts local governments by reducing their income from sales tax collection. This even has a negative effect on real state value, since it’s harder to sell those lake-front properties when the water level at the lake is low.

Last year, the Alliance collected 6,000 signatures for the petition in Louisiana, and since they started gathering signatures in Texas four weeks ago, they have collected over 2,000 and there’s still many more that have not been tabulated yet.

Don Isles, owner of Lowe’s Creek Marina and the one who initiated the petition in Texas, said the petition already has the support of the Hemphill City Council and the Sabine County Commissioner’s Court.

"The Sabine County Commissioner’s Court recently passed a resolution in support of the 168 feet level," Isles said. He added the Alliance is in the process of getting the support of Shelby County’s Commissioner’s Court for the 168 feet level for Toledo Bend.

Isles hopes the petition creates awareness of the situation, with a grassroots public support. He said he initiated the petition, because "individual property and marina owners didn’t have a voice." "By gathering signatures for the petition, we could see how much support we could muster," Isles said.

Isles said the Sabine County Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Texas Governor George W. Bush in relation to the 168 feet level, but they were referred by the governor’s office to the SRA’s past director, Sam Force Collins, who resigned last August 31. "The governor’s office response was very inadequate," Isles said.

During the past one and half years, the Alliance has also sent letters to Louisiana’s governor, and senators from both states, in addition to the power companies. According to Isles, the power companies "are well aware of us (the Alliance) and of our efforts."

Texas State Representatives Drew Nixon, R-Carthage, and Wayne Christian, R-Center, have both expressed they are in favor of the 168 feet msl for Toledo Bend.

Christian told The Shelby Countian that "even though Toledo Bend was built primarily for power generation, its recreational use and the businesses that go with it are equally important as well." He also contends that if the SRA doesn’t adopt the 168 level and asks the power companies to enforce it, then it would be necessary to introduce legislation to that effect.

This whole issue could escalate into a fight between the SRA, the power companies, the politicians and the taxpayers.

"The SRA contends it needs the revenues that come from power generation to pay for the bonds, but with a $30 million surplus, they can practically pay for the bonds in full." Isles said.

The SRA has a budget of $20 million a year, and records indicate they have so far a $30 million surplus.

The reservoir cost $60 million to build, and each state (Texas and Louisiana) paid half of its cost with bonds ($30 million each).

"It’s the SRA’s policies we’re trying to change, not the people," Isles said, stating they have nothing personal against the SRA officials. "There are very good, hard-working people in the SRA," Isles said.

The Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance will have a meeting on Monday, September 28^th at 6:30 p.m. at the J.R. Huffman Public Library in Hemphill to discuss the petition and other related issues. Kelly, as well as Isles, expects a large crowd at the meeting. Local marina owners are also expected to be present, showing their support.

According to Isles, Jim Wimberly, an attorney, and legal assistant Don Lindsey are expected to make a presentation during the meeting on possible legal actions against the SRA and the power companies if they don’t do something to stop the lake’s water level from going any lower.

The meeting is open to the public. For more information, you can contact Larry Kelly at (318)286-9946 or the vice-chairman , Janna Lehman at (409)625-3394.