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Toledo Bend BI-State Alliance
Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2001
The meeting was called to order by Maurice Patterson.
Introductions were conducted.
Minutes as presented on the Web Site were approved.
The treasurer was absent and no report was given.
Regional Water Planning report was given by Bill Heugel.
The final report from the committee has been submitted to the state. The next meeting is scheduled for April. The committee would like to work on several items before the next planning session starts in October. One of the key items is the quality of the data received from the water companies.
DEDA report was given by Charles English.
Redistricting will change the influence of the rural communities. At the December meeting the State politicians attended and discussed redistricting and education. The State politicians view our interests as low at this time.
Dean Albright reported that the LA Wildlife Federation will be having their annual convention at the Cypress Bend Resort. Toledo Bend lake Association and South Toledo Bend Association will be host. The meeting is scheduled for March 2 through 4 2001. All interested parties may attend the meeting. The Federation has adopted a resolution in support of the lake level project.
SRALA meeting report
The SRALA board of directors voted to include the lake level project as one of their 10 top issues. They will be hiring an attorney to review the Power Sales Agreement in order to get an unbiased opinion. Larry Kelly will be allowed to present our views on the power sales agreement to him.
SRA TX meeting report
The SRATX met on 14 DEC. 2000. Larry Kelly was allowed to give a presentation at the meeting. Some of the board was of the opinion that the TBBSA did not want them to sell water below the 168 level. The TBBSA has never indicated that they could not sell water below that level. The TBBSA has been interested in having routine generation stopped at the 168 level.
A major discussion was conducted relating the water that is used for generation to gallons. The value of the water for sale is much higher than the money received from the generation. Even the 600M gallons previously requested by Houston is small compared to the water used generating. Larry Kelly will prepare a report which documents the various relationships of acre feet and generation and gallons.
LA legislature
The LA legislature is planning to implement a Senate Bill 1 which will place controls on the water in LA. They are planning these controls because their aquifers are being lowered.
FERC meeting
The FERC meeting with the stakeholders was held on Dec 5, 2000. Two letters were read into the meeting minutes, One from Ron Lewis opposing the 168 level if it would cause downstream flooding. The other From the Shelby County Judge Doc Watson who was in favor of continuing the way the lake has been operated. John Hertzel of Entergy stated that he did not think the TBBSA could negotiate in good faith if they continued to pursue legislative solutions to the lake level. Larry Kelly stated at the TBBSA meeting that we would not pursue legislative action if we received similar promises of good faith from the power companies and the SRA by not negotiating contracts prior to completing the FERC meetings.
The next meeting of FERC and the Stakeholders will be closed and is scheduled for Feb 6, 2001.Three people from the TBBSA will be attending.
Larry Kelly & Bill McCarty met with the Newton County judge to explain our position. Larry felt after the meeting he had a much better view of the situation.
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Hatchery proposed for Sabine River location.
The TP&W is proposing to place a hatchery below the dam on the SRA land. They require 50+ Acres and will shut down the Jasper facility. The SRA is supportive of the effort and all that is needed is the property from the SRA. It is possible that a set quantity of the fish from the hatchery will be dedicated to be used in the Sabine River system.
The SRA of LA proposed to the SRATX the setting up of a buoy system which would be consistent throughout the lake. The SRATX tabled the proposal. The cost associated with this project had not been well defined.
SRA Joint Board
The operating guide rule curve was discussed in executive session.
Larry Kelly stressed the need for changing the attitudes of the County Officials if we are to get Wayne Christians support.
Larry Kelly is trying to get a joint meeting with Rep. Wayne Christian and Senator Todd Staples.
At the next meeting scheduled for January 25, 2001, of the SRALA, the attorney from Baton Rouge who is proposed to review the Power Sales Agreement is scheduled to be there.
Larry Kelly suggested that the members of the TBBSA write letters expressing their concerns about the Buoy System to the Joint Board and send copies to Jerry Clark of the SRATX.
There were no bills to be paid.
A motion was made seconded and passed to approve the expenditures for Larry Kelly to attend the Wildlife Federation meetings.
A motion was made seconded and passed that the meeting be adjourned.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2001 at 6:30 PM at the J. R. Huffman Public Library in Hemphill, TX..
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