 The Greater Caddo Lake Association of Texas |
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Look Below for the latest Newsletter!
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CADDO LAKE NEWSNEWSLETTER OF THE GREATER CADDO LAKE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS February 2010www.caddolakenews.org
GCLA Board Officers: PRESIDENT Doug Parker VICEPRES. Sam Canup SECRETARY Jack Welch TREASURER Judith Johnson DIRECTORS: Sam Canup, Brandon Cullum, Jack Canson, Terry Echols , Dan Fulghum, Judy Johnson, Gary Kempf, Doug Parker,Ken Shaw, Sara Smith, Robert Speight, Jr., Tom Walker, Patti Webb, Jack Welch, John Winn
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2009 was a remarkable year!
Around the lake, we usually welcome rain. However, lately even the locals are starting to holler “calf rope”. The lake is back below flood levels and most folks are back in their homes – some being out of their homes for 30 days or more. That’s a long time to wait for clean socks! As this is being written, the lake is still above normal levels and the water has risen again, slightly. And it is still raining!!
The long awaited opening of the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge was held in September with well deserved fanfare. Now the real work begins! We hope that you will be supportive of the Friends of Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge already has an automobile self guided tour as well as a horseback/walking trail (watch where you step). Stop out and enjoy the Refuge.
Giant Salvinia continues to be the major issue at the lake and it is not going away soon. See the article from Ken Shaw.
Doug It Rained, Then Rained Some More
By John Winn
Unless you were off in some distant desert, you probably felt like you needed to grow fins and breathe through gills in the month of October around Caddo. October turned out to be one of our wettest on record with rainfall totals reaching over 20 inches in some areas. With an already wetter than normal summer before the October deluge, it turned out to be more than the banks of Caddo could hold. Residents and business owners found themselves putting stuff up and moving things out as the water continued to rise. There is a significant economic impact for the businesses and a difficulty for the residents during these flood events. Most people take it in stride and do what they have to do. It’s the price you pay to live on the lake. There were several houses flooded and I even heard tell of one person watching a pike chase a bass in his living room! At one café here on Caddo you were served breakfast by someone wading through water wearing rubber boots, and at another restaurant you had to walk a plank to gain access to the sausage and eggs. But no one seemed to mind the inconvenience. One day during the flood, as I paddled past a neighbor’s house in my pirogue (down the road) he came out to say hi and he told me something that really summed it all up in just a few words. He said the difference between a flood and an adventure is attitude!
It’s hard to imagine that in 2005 and 2006 we were so dry we reached “exceptional drought status” and in some areas around us the annual rainfall total in those years was barely more than this last October.
On October 19th the water crested on Pine Island Pond at 176.4 feet above sea level and a few days later it crested at Mooringsport at 175.2. With continuing rain and an extraordinary amount of water held by Lake O’ the Pines, the water levels are still above average at this time.
Shady Glade Cafe
Donna Selman, chef and pie baker extraordinaire has donated $317 toward salvinia eradication. Donna has earmarked $1 for every Caddo breakfast she serves to go toward the elimination of salvinia on Caddo Lake. As soon as she gets cleaned up after the flood, stop by for breakfast and support a worthy cause. Thanks, Donna!
Funding for Salvinia Control
GCLA has recently donated over $4,000 to the Cypress Valley Navigation District in support of their invasive species spraying program. This donation was made possible by GCLA member donations specified for Salvinia control.
GIANT SALVINIA BATTLE CONTINUES
Since the discovery of Giant Salvinia, originally in Jeems Bayou in 2006, the battle against invasive plants, especially Giant Salvinia, has continued to be the main activity for the Cypress Valley Navigation District (CVND). This has been with the support of many agencies and organizations. Both Giant Salvinia and Water Hyacinths have been an issue for residents and visitors to Caddo Lake, interrupting water activities, affecting the health of the lake, and impacting business and tourism.
Though CVND has been actively spraying, the acreage of Giant Salvinia continues to increase dramatically. In 2007, Texas Parks and Wildlife estimated the acreage of Giant Salvinia in Texas to be less than 100 acres. In 2008, that estimate increased to over 1200 acres. This year, Texas Park and Wildlife (TPWD) estimates the acreage to be in excess of 3,000 acres. Water Hyacinths has decreased in acreage, significantly, but has received less attention due the seriousness of Giant Salvinia.
CVND spraying efforts have been impacted by many factors, some positive, some negative. A second spray boat was added early this year. CVND acquired and outfitted, under the guidance of TPWD, a Go-Devil powered by a Pro Drive motor. It is equipped with the same spray equipment as their airboat and after some adjustments has the capability of spraying 40 - 50 acres per day under optimum conditions. This is similar to the airboat. The acres sprayed this year have been significantly impacted by weather and flooding. Extensive amounts of rainy and windy weather have reduced the days available for spraying, sometimes to a few days per month. Giant Salvinia however has continued its growth. The flooding events have kept the spray boats off of the lake. But, the flooding has washed significant amounts of both plants over the spillway into the Red River. In the Cypress Breaks, the plants have been held in place by the Cypress trees, in spite of the strong currents.
Strong support from many sources has continued to help CVND continue its operations. The Texas Legislature has approved funding in the amount of $100,000 for CVND to use in the invasive species battle for each of the next two years. This funding was guided through the legislature by Senator Eltife and his staff, with the support of Representatives Bryan Hughes and Stephen Frost. Also, Harrison County Judge Richard Anderson and Caddo Lake Institute President Rick Lowerre were very involved in the approval of this funding. This funding was lower than the $120,000 approved in the two preceding years, but TPWD, the managing agency of the funding, added an additional $20,000 for each year, maintaining the $120,000 amount.
Additionally, GCLA has contributed $4,000 plus which were funds received by donations specifically designated for control of Giant Salvinia.
Giant Salvinia continues to be a major threat to Caddo Lake, as well as other bodies of water in the United States. Your support and the support of our governments and research institutes are vital to finding a solution to this worldwide problem.
Check your Membership
Please check the mailing label to see when your GCLA membership will expire. If it has expired, or will do so soon, please send us your renewal. We need your support to protect the lake we love. (That would be Caddo!)
Let’s make it Easy
We would like to encourage you to renew your membership for more than one year. We can handle any number of years and it will save you time and postage.
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The
mission of the Greater Caddo Lake Association, ( GCLA ) is to help
preserve and keep safe one of nature's true wonders, Caddo Lake. If
you would like to become a member of the GCLA click on the,
