Lake Conroe Association
8/1/2006 Notice of Public Meeting:
UPDATE FROM LAKE CONROE ASSOCIATION
from Mike Bleier, President of Lake Conroe Association
August 1, 2006
PUBLIC MEETING:
We are happy to confirm that a public meeting sponsored by
the Lake Conroe Association (LCA) will be held on Wednesday, August 16 from
6:30PM to 8:30PM at Del Lago Resort and Conference Center.
The meeting will be held in their Theater Room which accommodates 300 –
350 people. Representatives from
Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW), San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) and LCA
will attend. Representatives from
local businesses/associations/bureaus, Montgomery County, the cities of Conroe/
Willis/Montgomery, and the State of Texas have been invited.
On behalf of the residents and businesses in and around
Lake Conroe, the LCA would like to thank and acknowledge Del Lago Resort and
Conference Center for offering the use of their facility at no charge.
Please consider Del Lago for an upcoming dinner, weekend stay, meeting or
conference in recognition of our collective appreciation.
The LCA requests that questions be submitted in advance to parmgb@aol.com
so that we can maximize the two hours allocated for the meeting.
Of course, a microphone will also be available so that attendees may ask
questions and/or present positions in person.
I will act as “moderator” for this meeting.
Representatives from TPW, SJRA and LCA will respond to your
questions.
The preliminary format of this meeting will be as follows:
· Introduction
· Brief facts on LCA and LCA Fund Raising campaign
· Brief presentation by TPW
· Questions submitted in advance….replies by TPW, SJRA or LCA as appropriate
· Questions submitted at the meeting…..replies by TPW, SJRA or LCA as appropriate. Each person desiring to present a question at the meeting will be limited to no more than one minute of “microphone time” so as to give the maximum number of attendees the opportunity to talk. If this portion of the meeting is completed prior to 8:20PM, the microphone will be opened to attendees for further presentation.
·
Closing….to adjourn promptly at 8:30PM
We hope that you are able to attend.
LCA Fund Raising Packages were delivered to local residents
this week. Our goal is to raise
$250,000 for the purpose of purchasing White Amur for 2006 and 2007.
The LCA is a 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation where your donations
should be tax deductible, and our records are independently audited every two
years. Approximately ninety-nine
percent (99%) of all monies raised historically have gone to purchase white amur
or herbicides or pay the costs of funding-raising printing and postage.
Many individuals feel strongly about having their contributions applied exclusively for the purchase of white amur (and the fund-raising printing and postage associated) and NOT for the purchase of herbicides. Should a contributor desire such, please mark the “For” portion of your check with the notation “Fish Only”.
Many residents and businesses have requested guidelines in the quantity of their donation. While ALL contributions will be greatly appreciated, our significant goal of $250,000 will require a great sacrifice of the part of our donors. Accordingly, a goal of $100 or more per household is offered for your consideration.
2006 LCA Fund Raising activities are currently planned as follows:
· LCA Fund Raising Package mailed last week
· Tee shirt sales available at Public Meeting and beyond (through limited business locations)
· Golf tournament
· Fish fry at local establishment with a silent auction
·
Christmas-related gifts being considered (cards, tee shirts
designed through local contest, stuffed and embroidered fish)
In the event that you have not received an LCA Fund Raising Package, please e-mail parmgb@aol.com to request a package be mailed to you. FYI…within two weeks, all e-mail correspondence with the LCA will be directed through the “lakeconroeassociation.com” website. Alternatively, contributions can be mailed to Lake Conroe Association, PO Box 376, Willis, Texas 77378-9998.
LCA COMMITTEES AND THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS:
Our existing Board of eleven (11) individuals cannot perform all of the responsibilities required of the LCA to adequately combat the spread of hydrilla and giant salvinia on Lake Conroe. We are in great need of not only your financial contributions but also your time. Upcoming LCA committees are being formed and need your involvement. Examples of committees in their initial stage include:
· 2007 Fund Raising Committee
· 2006 Golf Tournament Committee
· POA/HOA Communication Committee
· 2006 Fish Fry and Silent Auction Committee
· Increase County Funding for White Amur Committee
· Business Communication/Solicitation Committee
· Legislative Committee
· Grant Committee
· Finding Volunteers Committee
Should you have the time in your busy schedule to assist in any of these areas, we’d love to hear from you. Often, a few hours of your week will go a long way to helping the LCA and you collectively solve our hydrilla and giant salvinia infestation. Committee meeting dates and times are yet to be established, and are very flexible.
CONCLUSION:
Again, I was unable to keep our correspondence to less than two pages. I apologize for the ongoing length of my e-mails, but we simply have so much ground to cover in such a short time. I will endeavor to provide more concise communication in the future….I promise.
Thank you for your time and we hope to see you at the Public Meeting, participate with you in future LCA committees and soon receive your LCA tax-deductible contribution.
7/20/2006 Summary of SJRA/TPWD Meeting
DATE: July 20,
2006
TO: All interested parties for whom we have contact information
FROM: Mike Bleier, President of Lake Conroe Association (LCA)
SUBJECTS:
1. Summary of July 20 meeting between Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW), San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), LCA, Bass Fishing organizations (2) and aquatic plant management consultants
2. LCA Fund Raising Package to raise money for the purchase of White Amur
3. Brief summary of 2006 action items taken towards aquatic plant management
4. LCA action items moving forward
5. Need for a public meeting?
Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to read this correspondence and, hopefully, forward your thoughts/concerns/issues regarding these topics. The LCA desires to work with you, TPW, Bass Fishing organizations and SJRA in addressing the significant problem of hydrilla and giant salvinia infestation on Lake Conroe. As there appears to be a lack of overall information available and an abundance of misinformation available, the LCA felt this communication was appropriate to fulfill our role as a party interested in a healthy Lake Conroe and a representative of the people utilizing this beautiful lake. Please consider this to be the first of many communications the LCA will have with you. Should you desire to NOT receive such future communication, please respond as such and we will remove your e-mail address immediately. Here goes….
SUMMARY OF JULY 20 MEETING BETWEEN TPW, SJRA, LCA, BASS FISHING ORGANIZATIONS (2) AND AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS:
· TPW summarized the results of their July, 2006 hydrilla survey, and reported an estimated total of 739 infested acres. This compares to the August, 2005 hydrilla survey reporting 868 infested acres and the May, 2006 hydrilla survey reporting 473 infested acres.
· TPW broke down their estimate of 739 hydrilla infested acres as of July, 2006 as follows: Little Lake Creek = 397 acres, Caney Creek = 126 acres, Lewis Creek = 119 acres, and all other areas = 97 acres.
· At current growth rates, TPW estimated that we will have a total of 877 hydrilla infested acres in 30 days.
· TPW reported an estimated 183 acres of giant salvinia infested acres as of July, 2006 compared to an estimated 192 acres of giant salvinia infested acres as of May, 2006.
· TPW authorized the purchase and release of 9,311 additional white amur grass carp based on their July, 2006 survey; raising the total number of white amur added to Lake Conroe in 2006 to 13,641. TPW authorized the purchase and release of up to 30,000 total white amur based on their complete Hydrilla Management Plan (of which, this 13,641 have been OK’d so far….leaving 16,359 for future releases should TPW determine such releases are appropriate based on future survey results).
· With this total of 13,641 white amur added to the Lake during 2006 less an estimated mortality of 541 white amur to date, TPW estimates that we will have a net total of 13,100 white amur in Lake Conroe by August, 2006. If you take these 13,100 white amur and divide them by the estimated 877 hydrilla infested acres by August, 2006, TPW calculates an average stocking rate of 14.94 fish/infested acre.
· Both SJRA and LCA presented their desire to achieve an average stocking rate of 20 fish/acre at this time (which would have equated to approximately 17,540 fish versus the TPW decision to stock a net total of 13,100 fish). With the exponential hydrilla growth expected over the next few months, the LCA feels that this is a “reactive” approach rather than a “proactive” approach. While neither SJRA nor LCA desires to overstock white amur and destroy “beneficial” plants, both SJRA and LCA had hoped for this 20 fish/acre stocking rate. While LCA is disappointed with TPW stocking rate, today’s approval of 9,311 additional white amur is certainly a step in the right direction. And, TPW has offered to assist SJRA in every way possible to reduce the lag time between the order date and receipt date of white amur in the future.
· White amur will have a net cost of $6/fish ($8/fish cost less $2/fish paid by SJRA to TPW). It will take approximately 30 - 45 days to obtain the white amur subsequent to placing the order for these fish. This order will be placed immediately.
· The SJRA will receive $25,000 from Montgomery County (Mike Meador’s Precinct 2 Lake Conroe Park Fees) to be utilized for the purchase of white amur.
· The SJRA does not have monies available within their budget to fund all of the authorized white amur. The SJRA has an annual budget of $100,000 for aquatic plant management, and all but $10,000 has been spent during this fiscal year ending August 31, 2006 (all of which has been spent specifically on Lake Conroe) for herbicides.
· The SJRA has come to the LCA to fund any white amur purchases over the $25,000 contributed by the County. Since 9,311 fish times $6/fish comes to $55,866, and since the County will pay the first $25,000, the SJRA has asked the LCA for a contribution of the balance….or $30,866.
· The LCA reported it does not have a cash balance of $30,866 currently, and funds can only be obtained from the public through the LCA Fund Raising Package going out next week. Anticipating a positive response to its Fund Raising Package, the LCA committed to paying this $30,866 upon delivery of the white amur. Obviously, we really need your support here.
· Regarding herbicide treatments for hydrilla, the SJRA reported that it will continue herbicide applications in its two-pronged approach of both biological (white amur) and chemical (herbicides) treatments to control hydrilla.
· Regarding herbicide treatments for giant salvinia, the SJRA reported that it will continue herbicide applications in its two-pronged approach of both biological (weevils) and chemical (herbicides) treatments to control hydrilla.
· As you may be aware, the SJRA has been treating giant salvinia with insects (cyrtobagous salviniae weevil) since 2004 in hopes that this low cost, biological control will eradicate giant salvinia without extensive use of costly herbicides. Samples taken during June, 2006 by the Corps of Engineers and SJRA did not demonstrate highly successful results by these weevils. SJRA intends to release an additional 1 million weevils during 2006 to continue its efforts to eradicate giant salvinia through the use of biological controls while supplementing with herbicides.
· This meeting was held as a “closed meeting” meaning only invited participants were allowed to attend. Approximately thirty (30) Lake Conroe residents came to the offices of the SJRA to voice their concerns over overall weed infestation on Lake Conroe AND being excluded from this meeting. These taxpayers were allowed on the SJRA property without incident, but were not permitted to attend the “closed meeting”.
· SJRA reported the Lake level to be 197.28 today.
LCA FUND RAISING LETTER TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF WHITE AMUR:
· The LCA was incorporated in 1977 for the purpose of raising money to combat the infestation of hydrilla. The LCA was established as a 501( c ) (3) charitable corporation so that taxpayer donations would be tax deductible to the donor. The LCA raised in excess of $750,000 during those early years to successfully combat this new weed to our Lake.
· The LCA has contributed in excess of $196,000 since 2000 to the SJRA for the control of invasive aquatic plants.
· The LCA paid $25,980 in March, 2006 for the purchase of the 4,330 white amur introduced into Lake Conroe in March, 2006.
· The LCA has been asked by SJRA to contribute $30,866 for the purchase of 9,311 white amur to be released in approximately 30 - 45 days ($55,866 total cost less $25,000 contributed by Mike Meador’s Precinct 2 Lake Conroe Park Fees). The LCA does not have $30,866 in the bank to purchase these fish.
· The LCA does not have additional funds available for future purchases of white amur should the introduction of additional white amur be deemed appropriate by TPW.
· In the past, the SJRA has come to LCA for monies to supplement their herbicide treatments when the SJRA annual budget was exhausted. The LCA does not have these funds should a future request be made by SJRA.
· Therefore, the LCA will be mailing 3,200 Fund Raising Packages to Lake Conroe residents next week. Our mailing list is comprised of previous donors and current tax roles as provided by Montgomery County. The packages will contain a Facts Sheet and a Solicitation Letter. Should a concerned resident NOT receive a Fund Raising Package, that resident can either 1) write the LCA requesting a package be sent, or 2) send a contribution directly to Lake Conroe Association, PO Box 376, Willis, Texas 77378-9998.
· The LCA is staffed totally by volunteers, and no compensation has ever been provided to any LCA Board Member.
· The LCA Board is currently represented by Caney Creek, Bentwater, Del Lago Estates, Shelter Bay, Rancho Escondido, Point Aquarius, Harbor Town, Seven Coves, Del Lago and Walden. We currently have openings on our Board and would welcome representatives from other subdivisions/communities/POA’s who would be willing to put forth efforts on our collective behalf.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF 2006 ACTION ITEMS TAKEN TOWARDS AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT:
· In February, 2006, TPW released its Hydrilla Management Plan after receiving input through public hearings and meetings held with, among others, SJRA, LCA, Bass organizations and Bentwater POA.
· 4,200 white amur were released in Lake Conroe in March, 2006. 125 of these fish were radio-tagged to follow their feeding patterns throughout the Lake. Of those 125 radio-tagged fish, 110 were located and their whereabouts documented by TPW. These white amur were purchased with funds from the LCA.
· SJRA has an annual budget of $100,000 for aquatic plant management. SJRA is funded by water sales (approximately 67%) plus monies collected from boat dock and marina fees (approximately 33%). Primary use of these monies has been for herbicide treatments (hydrilla, giant salvinia and water hyacinth) during the past four (4) months.
· Not all shoreline has received herbicide treatments. The primary reason for spraying per SJRA has been to free access to public and private lakefront where watercraft could not otherwise be launched safely. In the event our low water level precludes a lakefront owner from launching a watercraft, herbicide treatment was most likely not applied to that area.
· In May, 2006, a hydrilla survey was performed by TPW and SJRA. This survey was completed by both aerial helicopter views and SJRA watercraft. The LCA participated in both forms of inspection. The results were discussed in a June, 2006 “closed meeting” between TPW, SJRA, LCA, Bass organizations and Bentwater POA. Public information was distributed through articles covered by The Courier.
· In June, 2006, a giant salvinia survey was performed by the Corps of Engineers and SJRA to quantify the number of infested acres of giant salvinia and review the effectiveness of the biologic control (weevil) experiment.
· In July, 2006, a hydrilla survey was performed by TPW and SJRA. The results of this survey were released today in the “closed meeting” held between TPW, SJRA, LCA, Bass organizations and an aquatic plant management consultant. We are reporting those findings to you through this correspondence.
· The SJRA holds monthly Board Meetings to discuss, among other agenda items, aquatic plant management on Lake Conroe. As a representative for the LCA, I have attended all SJRA Board Meetings during 2006 and report information back to our LCA Board. On most occasions, the LCA is asked to present information regarding observations the LCA makes directly as well as feedback we are receiving from the community.
· The LCA holds monthly Board Meetings to discuss progress on aquatic plant management.
LCA ACTION ITEMS MOVING FORWARD:
· Continue holding telephone conversations with SJRA a minimum of two (2) times a week to gain and share information. Subsequently, distribute this information within the LCA and discuss LCA action items for the coming week.
· Hold telephone conversations with other organizations and individuals involved with this aquatic plant management issue (i.e. TPW, Bass organizations, consultants, POA’s, involved taxpayers).
· Raise monies for aquatic plant management through the LCA Fund Raising Package and contribute those monies to SJRA for herbicides and, most specifically now, the purchase of white amur.
· Complete our revision of our LakeConroeAssocation.com website to provide public access to current aquatic plant management observations and serve as a communication tool between the LCA and the public. Weekly bulletins will be written and posted by the LCA to provide the most current information on “What’s being sprayed and where?”, “What’s up with the white amur?”, “Latest reports from SJRA and TPW”, “Meeting Updates”, etc.
· Independently review the progress of programs regarding aquatic plant management implemented by TPW and SJRA.
· Several months down the road…..review funding to the SJRA from all sources (State and County) in hopes that additional funds can be obtained to supplement our Lake Conroe aquatic plant management plan. The LCA is grateful to Montgomery County/Mike Meador’s Precinct 2 Lake Conroe Park Fees for their $25,000 annual contribution to SJRA and appreciates their acknowledgement that funding is needed for aquatic plant management. Meanwhile, many lakefront owners with high property tax valuations because they live on the Lake would very much appreciate a greater portion of their property taxes to be applied for aquatic plant management. As it stands, a significant portion of aquatic plant management must be raised from the public through Fund Raising Packages issued by the LCA.
· What else? You tell us. We can’t do this without you !!
NEED FOR A PUBLIC MEETING?
· Numerous individuals, local businesses and POA’s are concerned over the “closed meetings” being held between TPW, SJRA, LCA, Bass organizations and Bentwater POA regarding the findings of hydrilla and giant salvinia surveys. As it stands today, TPW and SJRA remain firm in their stand that these meetings are most effective among a repeat group of attendees involved from the beginning of the Hydrilla Management Plan. The LCA does understand that small meetings of fifteen (15) or so individuals are often far more effective than a “complaint session” from 100 residents.
· The LCA believes that communication is the key to keeping you informed, and hopes that letters such as this and our upcoming LCA website (LakeConroeAssociation.com) will become a valuable information and communication source for you. Further, the LCA hopes that you will accept our invitation to become active within our LCA Board (currently limited to 14 Board Members) and active in your communication with us. We cannot help you if we do not hear from you. We hope that all POA’s would choose to communicate with the LCA and pass information along to your property owners. A lack of information and fear of the unknown do not contribute to happy property owners.
· The LCA has offered to sponsor a public meeting to discuss the above issues with you if you believe that you are still lacking information and are not properly represented by those attending “closed meetings” held by TPW and SJRA. If such a meeting were held, TPW and SJRA have agreed to attend. The preliminary range of dates discussed where TPW, SJRA and LCA could attend are August 15 -17. Please understand….each dollar spent on a public meeting would be dollars NOT spent on white amur purchases or hydrilla/giant salvinia spraying. The LCA would be expected to organize and fund such a public meeting. To defray as many costs as possible, we are looking for your feedback on possible meeting locations that would offer the use of their facility for one night for free.
· Please let us know your thoughts (pro and con) on the need for a public meeting.
Thank you for spending your valuable time to review this information. The LCA is committed to representing you and the collective needs of Lake Conroe so long as the public finds us to be a valuable resource for the community. Future correspondence will not be as lengthy, but we felt there was a great deal of information to cover at this crucial juncture for Lake Conroe. Please feel free to forward this to anyone with an interest. And in one big voice, PRAY FOR RAIN.
View these pages:
Grand Harbor Lake Conroe Hills Lakeside Place
Lewis Creek Area Little Lake Creek
Pelican Bay & Island Point Aquarius