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TOLEDO BEND BI-STATE ALLIANCE
MONTHLY BUSINESS MEETING
FEBRUARY 28, 2000
The J. R. Huffman Library was open when the members arrived. Before the meeting was called to order, Co-chairman Kelly reported to the group that he had been contacted by FERC that day in regard to a meeting they wanted to hold in Texas with the SRA, the power companies and the Bi-State Alliance concerning the water level in Toledo Bend. Said meeting is to be held sometime in late March or early April. Co-chairman Kelly was very enthusiastic about the proposed meeting. I think we all were.
The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM by Larry Kelly.
J. B. Meyers led the assembly in prayer. We then introduced ourselves as there were several relatively new faces in the auditorium. Co-chairman Kelly gave a brief summary of the work carried out by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF). They have 14,000 members and one permanent employee. They have a strong position in the LA Senate and House of Representatives. He then introduced Mrs. Virginia Burkett who is an executive director of the LWF.
Mrs. Burkett told us that LWF has 35 member organizations all across the state and she proceeded to list a few of them for us. Her talk was most informative and she outlined just how the Alliance would fit in and just what we could expect in the way of support and resolution development.
After she left we approved the treasurer’s report. Mrs. Lehman told us that we have 19 member organizations and 19 individual members. Some discussion followed on who was delinquent and if they would re-up or not. Apparently, some 4 more organizations will someday pay their dues.
It was moved, seconded and carried that we pay Larry Kelly $529.71 to reimburse him for expenditures incurred with the posting of the reply to FERC.
Moved, seconded and carried that we pay our incorporation fees to the state of Louisiana for $5.00.
Co-chairman Kelly then discussed a series of water level charts that he had developed from SRA data. A copy is attached to these minutes. He also handed out copies to the group.
Larry Kelly told the assembly that a meeting with Cleco and Entergy was scheduled for tomorrow at his home.
Charles English reported on the recent activities of DETDA. Some mention was made in the DETDA newsletter about the SRA opening the Forest Service Parks on the lake.
We were told by Larry Kelly that the Form 80 - Recreation Report filed by the SRA with FERC was deficient in several areas. (I think that we already knew that!!!)
Some discussion followed concerning Frank Dutton’s e-mail re a political web site for Senator John McCain. Its use may be helpful in getting Governor Bush to respond to our lake level problem.
It was moved, seconded and carried that we each ask our member organizations for permission to join the Louisiana Wildlife Federation as a Flat Rate Affiliation Member for $125.00.
Due to an oversight, we failed to approve the minutes of the last meeting at the onset of this meeting. Moved, seconded and carried that we do so.
Bill Lewis made a presentation on the use of hydrilla herbicides in his area on the lake. The tests were successful and the cost was about $300.00 per acre. The hydrilla was killed and the fish were schooling and being caught in the newly opened area.
Larry Kelly announced that a meting is to be held in Houston on March 7, 2000 by the Senate Natural Resources Committee of Texas. We need to be represented there so we can tell the Committee that the SRA of Texas needs to be more responsive to the citizens.
Larry also reported that he had made a presentation to the SRA on minimum water flow down river from the dam. He proposed that during the Peaking Period, May 1- Sep30, the flow be reduced from 3000 cubic feet per second to one half of that amount. He pointed out that if
we get to the bottom of the power pool, the high minimum flow could drop the lake level to well below 162.2 feet.
It was moved, seconded and carried that the meeting be adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Maurice Patterson
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