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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes April 27, 2009
Maurice Patterson called the meeting to order and gave the opening prayer.
Glen Provost presented the flag and joined Maurice in leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Maurice said the latest newsletter has been sent out. He had a few copies available for those who may not have received one. Vicky Ostrom volunteered to make more copies. The newsletter contains an article by Maurice about the Giant Salvinia, the efforts Louisiana has used to contain its growth and the lack of efforts by Texas.
Minutes of the January 26, 2009 TBBSA Meeting were accepted as written.
In the absence of Janna Lehman, Maurice gave the Treasurer's Report. There is a balance of $7,201.27 total funds available. The only purchase made was for advertising on towels in the amount of $360. There are about 15 towels available tonight for $5 each.
Old Business:
TEXAS FOREST COUNTRY: The TBBSA Board of Directors decided to continue membership in the Texas Forest Country Bass Circuit in order to keep our name in front of the public. The cost was $250. No one attended the banquet this year.
SALVINIA BROCHURES: Maurice obtained information on the Salvinia Brochures. Ten thousand brochures can be obtained for one thousand dollars. He did nothing about ordering any at this time because he discovered a brochure was provided with the boat registrations this year.
CELL TOWERS: No new information.
NEWSLETTER: A TBBSA Newsletter is published just before the next meeting which will be July 27th. If anyone wants to contribute articles or comments to the newsletter, please send them to Maurice or Janna Lehman..
REGION I WATER PLANNING BOARD: Bill Heugel, TBBSA representative, was not present.
SABINE RIVER AUTHORITY MEETING: In the absence of Bill Heugel, Mona Davis of the Toledo Bend Lake Association was asked to report on the TX-SRA Meeting held on April 16th in Marshall. Several weeks prior to attending the TX-SRA meeting, Mona said some of the board members of the TBLA were so concerned about the amount of Salvinia in Toledo Bend they went to Baton Rouge to talk with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Louisiana is contracting with a company to use a boom to try to corral the Salvinia, but has to get it in a large area to harvest it for removal. Mona said the amounts of Salvinia needed for the boom to work just 'floored' her.
On April 16th, Mona, her husband Frank Davis, Bill Heugel, and Richard Pesson traveled to Marshall to attend the TX-SRA Board Meeting. Before the meeting began, Mona met a couple of the SRA Board members from Orange in the coffee shop and they wondered why she was attending the meeting. She informed them she wanted to talk about the Giant Salvinia problem in Toledo Bend Lake. Their solution to the problem was lowering the lake level to 162 feet.
She said Bill Heugel spoke at the meeting as well, and did a very good job. She gave the board members 2-page articles on a study of Giant Salvinia done by someone from LSU as well as someone from Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. She continued to give examples of how the Salvinia multiplies, and if left undisturbed could completely cover Toledo Bend within 34 weeks. One of the dangers pointed out in the 2-page article on Salvinia is it causes 'silting' and slows down the flow of the water, eventually causing fish kills. The board didn't have an answer to the question about what might happen if the Salvinia floats down to the generators, gets chopped up and sent downstream. Mona says what she learned from going to the meeting is that there is a great deal of apathy on the part of the board members who do not live on the lake.
Maurice thanked Mona for the report. He noted that about 75% of the water used by surrounding counties comes out of Toledo Bend Lake, and if something happens to the lake, all these counties are not going to have any water. In answer to the question 'What are we going to do?', Maurice said we are going to have to put pressure on our elected officials. Write letters, call, e-mail our officials. Glen Provost said we need to convince our neighbors this is a problem and get them here to our meetings. More discussion followed. Maurice will get an article to the paper. It was suggested pictures be sent out via the web to all the members. Tom Trussell suggested sending articles to the Center newspaper and other papers around the lake.
Another guest, '2-K' Lloyd spoke about the Salvinia problem in Housen Bay where he lives. He has not been able to use the lake since November of 2004. He has been to the SRA, and the TPWD and has offered to use an airboat to spray but won't be given chemicals. More discussion followed. Glen Provost suggested an article in the Sabine Reporter about the possibility of the lake level being dropped to 162 to fight the Salvinia might get the attention of people. Mona Davis said Louisiana has the same Salvinia problems as Texas. Any influence with our legislators should be pursued. Mona reviewed all the efforts used on the Louisiana side of the lake in getting the lake level issue passed and suggested doing that for the Salvinia problem. Glen Provost said we must somehow get the SRA and TPWD to make the Salvinia problem their top issue.
Maurice asked everyone to write letters, write articles for the Opinion Page of the Sabine Reporter, and talk to neighbors. He will take care of putting it on the ToledoChronicle.com, and he thanked Stephanie of the Sabine Reporter for coming to report our concerns.
New Business: None
Next Meeting Date: July 27, 2009 @ 6:30 P.M.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:45 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Betty Griffin, Secretary
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