Brazos river conservation coalition

e-newsletter

Issue # 15

February 20, 2008

In This Issue

Dan Loomis will address the March meeting

State Representative Jim Keffer addressed the February meeting

BRA happenings

BRCC website changes

Important websites and e-mail addresses

BRCC Officers

President:

Billy Teels

Vice President:

JoAnn Matthews

Corp. Secretary:

Sandy Wilkins

Temp. Recording Secretary:

Phyllis Webster

Treasurer:

Phil Delucchi

Website Address

www.brazosriverconservation.org

Newsletter Publisher:

Jack D’Amario, Chairman

Programs and Publicity Committee

jndamario@alltel.net

Dan Loomis Will Address The March 11^th

Public Meeting Of The BRCC

The Brazos River conservation Coalition will host its regular monthly public meeting at the Langdon Center Concert Hall on Mach 11^th at 7:00 PM. The guest speaker will be Dan Loomis, known locally as the largemouth bass fishing guide at Bass Schoolin Dan will discuss the degradation of Lake Granbury caused by the growing carp population, carp behavior and control.

Mr. Loomis says he retired and moved to Granbury in 2001 because working was interfering with his bass fishing. He spends six days a week on the lake and has come to know it very well.

His dedication to the lake is evidenced by his consultation work with the Watershed Protection Plan Stakeholders and Joan Glass, Kills and Spills Biologist with Texas Parks And Wildlife.

State Representative Jim Keffer Addressed

The February Meeting

Those who attended the February public meeting of the BRCC heard State Representative Jim Keffer outline the procedure for passage of legislation authorizing the extension of the John Graves Scenic Riverway through Hood County. The success of this legislation is a major goal of the BRCC. Rep. Keffer said that he believes the legislation will pass in spite of the normal hurdles that can be expected with any legislation. He discussed the action the BRCC should take to encourage support for the bill and what to do to defuse likely opposition. Trent Thomas, Rep. Keffer’s legislative assistant, assured the members that he will work closely with them and help guide them through the process.

There was a brief discussion of the progress of State desalination projects. It is felt that the pressure on North Texas rivers and groundwater resources can be alleviated by efficient and affordable production of desalinated Gulf water that can serve coastal communities that now rely on the same water sources as North Texas. Currently the process is not financially viable but progress is being made.

BRA Happenings

The Hood County News reports that the BRA will conduct studies on the water flow in several canals around Lake Granbury to determine bacteria levels. Some locations targeted for testing are those that have been trouble in the past, showing high levels of contamination suspected to be the result of failing septic systems. For more information on the tests see the page 3B report in the Wednesday, February 20 edition of the HCNews.

BRA has also inaugurated an on-line newsletter. They currently publish a very informative website. The newsletter will provide subscribers with timely information on BRA activity and other data of interest. To subscribe go to their website www.brazos.org and click on news letter.

BRCC Website Changes

The BRCC website is undergoing some changes. BRCC Hood and the BRCC had been maintaining separate websites. To ensure that there is no ambiguity about the unity of the BRCC it has been decided to use the BRCC’s original website exclusively. Phil Delucchi and the new web manager, Bradley Davis, have been busy shutting down the BRCC Hood website and transferring the content to the BRCC website. There may be a delay in getting some content posted, but Phil assures that the result will be worth any temporary interruptions. Visit the site at: www.brazosriverconservation.org.

Important Websites and E-mail Addresses

U. S. CONGRESS

Senator Kay Bailey-Hutchison Senator John Cornyn

http//Hutchison.senate.gov http//cornyn.senate.gov

(e-mail both via website)

Representative Chet Edwards

chris.kelly@mail.house.gov

TEXAS LEGISLATURE

State Senator Kip Averitt State Representative Jim Keffer

becky.dixon@senate.state.tx.us trent.thomas@house.state.tx.us

STATE INFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Brazos River Authority Texas Commission on