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BI State Alliance
Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2000
The meeting was opened by Larry Kelly
Minutes of the last meeting were approved as presented on the Web site.
The Treasurers report was read. A motion was made seconded and approved to accept the report as read.
Detda Report was presented by Charles English
they have completed a 12 County trend brochure.
Donahoue has requested an expansion. There was a question of polluting on Rayburn due to the plant located in Lufkin. The TNRCC has approved the expansion.
A bass virus has been blamed for fish kills in 6 southern states. The virus is most deadly when the fish have been stressed due to fishing pressure. Fisherman have been requested to wash and dry and disinfect their boats to prevent further transfer of the virus.
The I-69 study has been approved. The Environmental impact study has also been approved.
Bill Heugel had no report on the Water Planning group.
Old Business
Larry Kelly reported on the meeting with the Energy Companies.
Cleco and Entergy representatives as well as BI State Alliance representatives attended the meeting. The Energy company people were taken on a two hour boat tour to show them the impact of the low water. The expressed genuine concern and indicated that they would not take water from the lake if it did not come up. Mr. Dreyer a VP was the Entergy representative and Mr. Williams was from Cleco. They expressed commitment to solve the Sabine river issues. They took pictures. Williams also had submitted an article to FERC about the drought. The BI State Alliance asked them to make public statements about the drought and the impact to the lake use. They also indicated they would be willing to renegotiate the contract with the SRA.
Eleven people from the BI State Alliance attended a board meeting at the SRA. A short presentation was given and the BI State Alliance handed out a portion of the FERC response which had been submitted earlier. Also some graphs showing the trend in lake level from 1969 to the present.
There was a meeting of the Texas Natural resources committee. No one from the BI State Alliance attended the session. One of the agenda items was the status of the River Authorities. It was stressed that we need to attend one of these meetings to present our views. At the last session of the Texas legislature the status of the River Authorities was changed. They are no longer considered state agencies.
There are some special sessions of the Louisiana Legislature. We will attempt to get the lake level project consider at one of these.
The FERC meeting is scheduled for May 11. Both SRAs will attend as well as the BI State Alliance. The BI State Alliance will have 5 people in attendance. Including a representative from the Huxley area.
Larry Kelly again asked the we write letters to FERC and send copies to our state senators and representatives. At the present time only 20 people have written.
Larry Kelly presented a series of slides showing the water levels and the apparent changes in the operation of the lake from the time the contract was renegotiated in 1985.
Larry Kelly discussed the Louisiana Wild life Federation and that they adopted the lake level resolution at their last meeting. They will be very influential in the next legislature. A motion was made seconded and passed that we join the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. The fee is $125.00.
Since Senator Nixon will not be running for the next session of the Texas Legislature it the importance of presenting our case to the present candidates was stressed. We will attempt to have them come to one of our meetings.
New Business
A motion was made seconded and passed that the new members requesting representation on the BI State Alliance be approved.
It was suggested that we contact new land owners and some of the deer hunter organizations for support on our project.
Jana is to contact Senator Bernsen and Charles English is to try and contact Representative Lewis to get them to write to FERC.
There were no bills to pay.
The next meeting is April 24th.
A motion was made seconded and passed that we adjourn.
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