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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes March 24, 2003
The meeting was called to order by Larry Kelly.
J. B. Meyers lead the group in the opening prayer.
Larry Kelly asked if there were any new members or visitors in attendance. Linda Mauer said none that she was apprised of.
Minutes of the February 24, 2003 meeting were approved and accepted as read.
Janna Lehman gave the Treasurer’s Report. Current balance is $2689.78. There are 20 organization members and 19 associate members. Total number of members represented is 5662, 4440 of these members with currently paid dues. Motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report as read. The TBBSA received a card of thanks from the Library for the donation made last month.
Old Business:
DETDA Report: Charles English, DETDA representative was not present.
East Texas Regional Water Planning Committee Report: Bill Heugel
Meetings are being held about every other month currently. At the last meeting, a presentation was made explaining how the numbers were determined for the amount of water savings expected from the various water-saving techniques, faucets and new fixtures, and the combined-cycle turbines of new power plants that should reduce the amount of water required. Each Planning Group is expected to work through the requirements to reduce the use of water. Another important issue is defining the amount of water that is actually used in order to determine a base figure for water usage. Also, of important significance is a Bill that Newton and Jasper Counties have before the legislature that would form a Ground Water Conservation District. Should that Bill be approved, the two large wells in Newton County that supply water to the south end of Sabine County would come under their management. The water company down there is talking with GM Water Company about providing water for the Six Mile area, so that could also affect the costs of supplying water. Jerry Clark of the TX-SRA Board made a long presentation about a contract that they have signed with an engineering company to look at the water requirements of the Sabine River system and the needs of the estuaries of Sabine Lake, and to get input regarding the needs of all the stake-holders of the river system. This would be similar to the Collaborative Effort, but with the SRA being in charge. This is the beginning of their process to re-license the dam. The TP&W will be producing a report defining the amount of water needed to keep the Sabine Lake area healthy, and that water cannot be sold or used otherwise. Of course, that study maybe challenged, as has been done in other river systems. The SRA has applied for water rights to the 295,000 acres of water that is not under their control, so those water rights might not be obtained by other areas. Bill feels this is a good move. A lengthy discussion followed regarding the use of water for power production, conservation and agricultural uses. Water usage and its costs will continue to increase.
New Business:
VISITOR: Linda Mauer introduced a new visitor, Mick Leach with Edward Jones Investments of Sabine County.
Lake Level: Larry Kelly
SRA-TX: A letter has been received from the President of the TX SRA saying a meeting would be scheduled in Hemphill to discuss the Lake Level Issue. No date or time has been established. Larry expects the FERC Report to be discussed. He said we need to gather the facts and information needed for our presentation. He warned that Hotel/Motel bed tax figures do not correlate with the problems of low lake levels.
LEGISLATION: TX & LA- Ron Talbert spoke with Mr. McPherson at the LA Wildlife Federation meeting about setting up a meeting with the LA PSC, the power company and the TBAC. Larry Slocum along with Ron Talbot, Don LeMeux and Larry will be attending that meeting. They hope to propose to the power company to move the Peaking Period from May though September to April through August, operating that way for about five years to see if that makes a difference in the lake level.
Sen. Smith and Rep. Salter will be prefiling on the last day the Bill for stopping routine generation of power when the lake level reaches 168 msl. The plan is to run the Bill through the House of Rep. first, and then the Senate. The Citizens Advisory Committee and the STBCA members are going to try to get members to send letters to other legislators requesting support of this Bill. Hopefully we are better prepared now than last time a similar Bill was filed. There will be no Texas Legislation for the Lake Level this year. The LA Legislative Auditor’s Report has been published on the web, concerning the issues surrounding the operation of the SRA. The Report is 65 pages in length. In closing, Larry reminded members to get friends and neighbors interested in attending the meeting in Hemphill to support our efforts to keep the Lake Level at a minimum of 168 msl under ordinary conditions. In answer to a question about the complaint filed in Louisiana, Larry said it was still under review by the District Attorney
Approval of New Members: None
Approval of Payment of Outstanding Bills: None
Next Meeting Date: April 28, 2003
Meeting Adjourned.
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