powerboats vs fisherman........showdown
11-10-2005, 05:46 PM
#1
powerboats vs fisherman.....Lake Conroe TX
Problems we are having on Lake Conroe TX
I attended, as a restrained observer, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) meeting yesterday with 50+ Bentwater Property Owners to discuss the Hydrilla Management Plan for Lake Conroe. Based upon the presentation and the questions and answers thereafter, the following are my observatons:
1) Per a TPWD August aerial survey, Lake Conroe had 868 acres of Hydrilla and 1,476 acres of native weeds, the later being “beneficial” according to TPWD. Although TPWD says the Lake drawdown has decreased this number, no mention was given to the fact that all weeds have increased since August due to the unusually hot remainder of August, all of September and October and even now in November. Furthermore, the presently exposed Hydrilla will flourish when the water returns.
2) The Plan is to place 5/fish per 868+ Hydrilla acres and protect the 1,476+ acres of “beneficial” weeds. The Bentwater POA suggest 10 fish per Hydrilla acre initially and I believe this is a minimum,
3) According to TPWD, they will try to train the White Amur to ONLY eat the Hydrilla and have the Property Owners control the 1,476+ acres of “beneficial” weeds by use of
a) Harvesters, Austalia has one for $250,000 plus labor, which will work in open water but not around docks or any area with stumps,
b) Bottom barriers of vinyl or plastic mesh can be put out while the Lake is down at a cost of between $0.14 and $1.25 /square foot, exclusive of labor, but these have to be maintained yearly during a drawdown. For an 80’ wide lot, 100’ outward, the material would cost $5,600 at the average price of $0.70/sq. foot. Hopefully, we will not have yearly drawdowns for maintenance,
c) A Hydrilla fly has been subject to experimentations for 20 years to my knowledge and has had very little success wherever tried in the U. S. Besides, we have enough flies now.
d) Apply herbicides by San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) approved licensed applicators after first receiving a TPWD permit. BESIDES USING THE GRASS CARP, FROM A REALISTIC STANDPOINT, THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE FOR CONTROL OF THESE SO-CALLED “BENEFICIAL” WEEDS AND IT IS EXPENSIVE AND WILL GIVE SPORATIC SUCCESS.
e) The Plan proposes an initial permit for a total number of fish somewhat in excess of the initial 4,340 fish. Although no number was offered of the total number to be applied for, a sufficient initial applied for number is very important as any needed increase of this initial applied for number will require an additional time delaying Hearing. The Bentwater POA suggests an initial permit for 30 fish per vegetated acre, being 26,000 fish for the 868+ Hydrilla acres. Personally, I would suggest 40,000 fish as we do not know how much Hydrilla will have increased since August, exactly how many fish per acre are needed, and another Hearing should not be needed.
f) A timeframe for the removal of the Hydrilla is not mentioned although they vaguely allude to a return to 2002/2003 levels by September 2007. The Plan needs to be VERY specific on this or we are just being pacified.
g) Although the serious Giant Salvinia problem was raised, the issue wa side stepped. GS was discovered in Lake Conre in 2000 and kept confined to a small area based upon the herbicide treatments funded in part by the Lake Conroe Association (LCA). About 2 years ago, the SJRA and TPWD switched to an experimental program using a biologiical control agent, a weevil, which has shown little or no success in the U. S. A. GS has now increased 10 fold in the last 2 years.
h) The issue of funding was also side stepped. Property Owners are expected to fund all of the Plan via contributions to the LCA or some other organization. It can not be done without a logical program with a high expectation of success. The present program appears to be designed to pacify property owners while protecting the “beneficial” weeds, therefore, creating a funding problem.
i) Although Property Owners are continually accused of wanting all vegetation out of Lake Conroe, we need to convey the fact that we only want our residential areas returned to their 2002/2003 condition.
Not discussed at the meeting, BUT AS IMPORTANT AS ALL OF THE ABOVE, is the wordage in the proposed Plan that, after the May, June/July and August surveys of Hydrilla infestation, “If Hydrilla coverage declines or remains the same additional grass carp will not be stocked at that time”. This means 868+ acres is OK according to TPWD. THIS IS NOT OK. It should be changed to read “If Hydrilla coverage declines by 50% or more or is returned to 2002/2003 levels, additional grass carp will not be stocked until the results of the next survey.
Remember, a Hearing will be held by TPWD at 6 P. M. on Tuesday, November 15th at the Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Road (FM 1484), Conroe (near the airport). This is the road just north of 336 North on the east side of I-45. The entire plan will be outlined and discussed with public comments expected, pro and con. TPWD will review the comments and approve, disapprove or modify the proposed plan.
WeURGE your attendance on Tuesday as we need to keep pressure on the authorities to solve our problem by returning Lake Conroe to its 2002/3 condition within no more than 2 years. We also need to be available to conteract any negative comments from others who love Hydrilla as it makes fishing easier.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
Here is what Texas B.A.S.S has sent to”ALL TEXAS ANGLERS”
Urgent Press Release for ALL Texas Anglers!!
Important Public Hearing you MUST attend! Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Road (FM 1484) Conroe, Texas!!!
Send Lake Conroe Homeowners a message and attend this public hearing.
-Tell TPWD not to allow grass carp to devastate habitat and native vegetation.
-Tell them anglers support TPWD management objectives for Lake Conroe.
-Tell them habitat and healthy aquatic ecosystems are just as important as property values.
-Tell every angler you know, Bring 10 members of your bass club, We need 1200 anglers
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!!! Important information will be posted shortly.
I attended, as a restrained observer, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) meeting yesterday with 50+ Bentwater Property Owners to discuss the Hydrilla Management Plan for Lake Conroe. Based upon the presentation and the questions and answers thereafter, the following are my observatons:
1) Per a TPWD August aerial survey, Lake Conroe had 868 acres of Hydrilla and 1,476 acres of native weeds, the later being “beneficial” according to TPWD. Although TPWD says the Lake drawdown has decreased this number, no mention was given to the fact that all weeds have increased since August due to the unusually hot remainder of August, all of September and October and even now in November. Furthermore, the presently exposed Hydrilla will flourish when the water returns.
2) The Plan is to place 5/fish per 868+ Hydrilla acres and protect the 1,476+ acres of “beneficial” weeds. The Bentwater POA suggest 10 fish per Hydrilla acre initially and I believe this is a minimum,
3) According to TPWD, they will try to train the White Amur to ONLY eat the Hydrilla and have the Property Owners control the 1,476+ acres of “beneficial” weeds by use of
a) Harvesters, Austalia has one for $250,000 plus labor, which will work in open water but not around docks or any area with stumps,
b) Bottom barriers of vinyl or plastic mesh can be put out while the Lake is down at a cost of between $0.14 and $1.25 /square foot, exclusive of labor, but these have to be maintained yearly during a drawdown. For an 80’ wide lot, 100’ outward, the material would cost $5,600 at the average price of $0.70/sq. foot. Hopefully, we will not have yearly drawdowns for maintenance,
c) A Hydrilla fly has been subject to experimentations for 20 years to my knowledge and has had very little success wherever tried in the U. S. Besides, we have enough flies now.
d) Apply herbicides by San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) approved licensed applicators after first receiving a TPWD permit. BESIDES USING THE GRASS CARP, FROM A REALISTIC STANDPOINT, THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE FOR CONTROL OF THESE SO-CALLED “BENEFICIAL” WEEDS AND IT IS EXPENSIVE AND WILL GIVE SPORATIC SUCCESS.
e) The Plan proposes an initial permit for a total number of fish somewhat in excess of the initial 4,340 fish. Although no number was offered of the total number to be applied for, a sufficient initial applied for number is very important as any needed increase of this initial applied for number will require an additional time delaying Hearing. The Bentwater POA suggests an initial permit for 30 fish per vegetated acre, being 26,000 fish for the 868+ Hydrilla acres. Personally, I would suggest 40,000 fish as we do not know how much Hydrilla will have increased since August, exactly how many fish per acre are needed, and another Hearing should not be needed.
f) A timeframe for the removal of the Hydrilla is not mentioned although they vaguely allude to a return to 2002/2003 levels by September 2007. The Plan needs to be VERY specific on this or we are just being pacified.
g) Although the serious Giant Salvinia problem was raised, the issue wa side stepped. GS was discovered in Lake Conre in 2000 and kept confined to a small area based upon the herbicide treatments funded in part by the Lake Conroe Association (LCA). About 2 years ago, the SJRA and TPWD switched to an experimental program using a biologiical control agent, a weevil, which has shown little or no success in the U. S. A. GS has now increased 10 fold in the last 2 years.
h) The issue of funding was also side stepped. Property Owners are expected to fund all of the Plan via contributions to the LCA or some other organization. It can not be done without a logical program with a high expectation of success. The present program appears to be designed to pacify property owners while protecting the “beneficial” weeds, therefore, creating a funding problem.
i) Although Property Owners are continually accused of wanting all vegetation out of Lake Conroe, we need to convey the fact that we only want our residential areas returned to their 2002/2003 condition.
Not discussed at the meeting, BUT AS IMPORTANT AS ALL OF THE ABOVE, is the wordage in the proposed Plan that, after the May, June/July and August surveys of Hydrilla infestation, “If Hydrilla coverage declines or remains the same additional grass carp will not be stocked at that time”. This means 868+ acres is OK according to TPWD. THIS IS NOT OK. It should be changed to read “If Hydrilla coverage declines by 50% or more or is returned to 2002/2003 levels, additional grass carp will not be stocked until the results of the next survey.
Remember, a Hearing will be held by TPWD at 6 P. M. on Tuesday, November 15th at the Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Road (FM 1484), Conroe (near the airport). This is the road just north of 336 North on the east side of I-45. The entire plan will be outlined and discussed with public comments expected, pro and con. TPWD will review the comments and approve, disapprove or modify the proposed plan.
WeURGE your attendance on Tuesday as we need to keep pressure on the authorities to solve our problem by returning Lake Conroe to its 2002/3 condition within no more than 2 years. We also need to be available to conteract any negative comments from others who love Hydrilla as it makes fishing easier.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
Here is what Texas B.A.S.S has sent to”ALL TEXAS ANGLERS”
Urgent Press Release for ALL Texas Anglers!!
Important Public Hearing you MUST attend! Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Road (FM 1484) Conroe, Texas!!!
Send Lake Conroe Homeowners a message and attend this public hearing.
-Tell TPWD not to allow grass carp to devastate habitat and native vegetation.
-Tell them anglers support TPWD management objectives for Lake Conroe.
-Tell them habitat and healthy aquatic ecosystems are just as important as property values.
-Tell every angler you know, Bring 10 members of your bass club, We need 1200 anglers
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!!! Important information will be posted shortly.
Last edited by tomtbone1993; 11-11-2005 at 10:03 AM.
11-12-2005, 02:08 AM
#4
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Re: powerboats vs fisherman........showdown
Those Bass Fisherman in lake conroe are getting to be as bad as BlowBoaters. I think all the big words may confuse the bASS masters, so there is a chance. I think possibly attacking from a safety issue, (rampant hydrilla could cause of a lot of accidental drownings), if it were up to the fishermen they would throw all their old tires and christmas trees into the lake. Dayum that pisses me off.
Kevin
Kevin
11-12-2005, 05:18 AM
#5
VIP Member
Re: powerboats vs fisherman........showdown
Just get a bunch of pool chlorine and dump it in the lake . It probably needs cleaning anyway 
Or some toxic waste ,that will help the fishies
Or some toxic waste ,that will help the fishies
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The Only Time You Have To Much Ammo Is When Your Swimming Or On Fire.
11-12-2005, 05:26 AM
#6
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Re: powerboats vs fisherman........showdown
Originally Posted by Strip Poker 388
Just get a bunch of pool chlorine and dump it in the lake . It probably needs cleaning anyway
Or some toxic waste ,that will help the fishies
Or some toxic waste ,that will help the fishies
