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Home My WebLink About(7)BAYS IN PERIL For More Information Palaoios Beacon Palacios,TX Circ. 1661 From Page: 1 12/15/2004 91476 7(;6iificil resolution urges state action to 'save' Matagorda Bay ~ After being told that Matagorda Bay is one of five major bays on the Texas coast "at risk" of pos- s[ble serious damage from inacl- e~.uate freshwater flow, the Pala- cios City Council is calling on the Sfate Legislature to take protec- tix'e action. ; A resolution calling on law- n~fikers to make protecting fresh- v~ter inflows a priority action item a~,.~their upcoming session, was u~ni~ously passed at the c6~ncil s Dec. 6 meeting. Under the state's current water permitting rules, Susan Kaderka, director of the National Wildlife Ffederation's (NWF) Natural Re- source Center in Austin, told the council there was no guarantee that any freshwater would reach Matagorda Bay at sometime in the Water demands by cities, river authorities, farmers, industries and o~her holding state water permits upstream could claim all of up- e~Pecially in times of drought, she said, referring to an extensive study the N3HF has compiled. The study points out that fresh- water inflow into the bays is a must for survival of the ecosys- tems. Inflows are essential to the nourishment of fish, shrimp, oys- ters and birds. For coastal communities, such as Palacios, she said that's a seri- ous concern on economies that depend on healthy hays, healthy fish and wildlife populations to support commercial and recre- ational fishing, as well as other nature-related activities and tour- i. LaTla, · ::;;Along with Matagorda Bay, the N~WF survey includes Galveston Bay, San Antonio Bay, Corpus Christi Bay and Sabine Lake on the "in danger" list. In other activity at the Dec. 6 meeting: * Mayor John Connor said an appropriate proclamation will be prepared for presentation to Churl deVilliers, when the deaf sailor returns to Palacios from his record- setting solo sailing trip around the world. Villiers is on schedule to sail back into Palacios this coming weekend (Dec. 18- t 9). o City Administrator Charles Winfield showed photos of drain- age ditches and other problem causes for flooding in Bethany Park, which was built before it became a part of the city. Winfield said Bethany Park is in Drainage District #3 and that the city and drainage district "were talking" about a partnership effort to cor- rect the problems. o Although the council has yet to establish regular meeting dates in accordance to the Home Rule Charter, which says only that regu- lar meetings will be "at least once monthly," council approved "re- scheduling regular meetings" that fall on the following holidays in 2005: Jan. 3. Jan. 17, Feb. 21, July 4 and Sept. 5, to the next day (Tuesday). Apparently the present first and third Monday schedule will be continued as regular dates. ~ A request by Family Heritage Life Insurance to make apresenta- tion to the city council was ap. proved. City Administrator Win- field said he had been advised by the city attomey that the insurance company could meet with city employees, as long as the meeting was off city property. (See CITY, Page Palacios Beacon Palacios,TX Circ. 1661 From Page: 2 12/15/2004 91476 (Continued Fram Page One) · Winfield said the city attor- ney was working on a proposed contract that Palac~os Commun Medical Center (PCMC), in ex- change for receiving water, sewer and garbage service, PCMC would provide various types of medical service to employees of the city's water, sewer and animal control departments, plus jail inmates. · Bills totaling $129,912.95 were approved for payment. Port Lavaca Wave Port Lavaca,TX Circ. 3576 From Page: 1 12/25/2004 91426 County supports environmental plan commissioners endorse freshwater . resplution . . By CHARLYN FINN asked commissioners court to con- sider passing a resolution urging Texas Legislators tO develop and enact legislation to pro. ct the fresh- water needs of Texas bays in upcoming I6~"~si~n Con'tmissloners court did not have. an action item on the agenda to approve the resolution then so it acted on the request on the Dec. 23 meeting. Aanording m Johns, five major Texas bays are endangered during drought situations, "Five of Texas seven major bays including San Antonio and Matagorda Bays received a danger ranking in ~ NWF study, which means their shrimp, c-mb, oyster and fish populations could decline dra- maticaily in the future unless the state takes action." Johns ssi& tohns said Sabine Lake, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay and Corpus Christi Bay are most at risk and received "danger" rank- ings in the Bays in Petil study Johns cited Bays in Peril, a new National W~kllife Federation mpon that documents how Texas. growing water demands and its century-old water permiffing process threaten vital freshwater inflows to Texas bays· Johns, from the Texas office of the National Wildlife Federation. · spoke on behaif of the Tex~s Living Waters Project~ a collaborative effort of Environmental Defense, the National Wildlife Federation and the Lone Star Chapter of the Calhoun County Commissioners expressed support favoring devel- oping and enacting legislation to protect Texas freshwater inflows in a resolution going to Texas leaders in Austin. "We respec~alAy urge Gov. Rick Perry, Liont. Gov. David Dewhurst, Sen. Ken Armbrister and Rep. Gene Scanman to develop and enact legis- lation to protect freshwater inflows," the resolution says. According to the resolution, freshwater inflows to the Lavac~datagurda and San Antonio Bay systems are important to com- memial and recreational fishermen, bird watchers and other citizens liv- ing and working in Calhoun County and surrounding The resolution says sport and commercial fishing and other tourism industries can he harmed by the failure to ensure that sufficient freshwater flows reach the Lavec~Matagorda and San Antonio Bay systems. The resolution follows a presenta- tion made at a commissioners court meeting two weeks ago by Norman Johns, representing the Texas Sierra Club. John~ is the primary Living Waters Project and the National Wildlife Federation. Fie author of Bays in Peril. Commissioners' Court of Galveston County RESOLUTION: Freshwater Inflows On this the 1st day of November 2004, the Commissioners' Court of Galveston Coumy, Texas convened in a regularly scheduled meeting with the following members thereof present: James D. Yarbrough County Judge; Eddie Barr, Commissioner, Precinct No. 1; Eddie Janek, Commissioner, Precinct No. 2; Stephen D. Holmes, Commissioner, Precinct No. 3; Kenneth Clark, Commissioner, Precinct No. 4; and Mary Ann Daigle~ County Clerk' when the following proceedings, arnong others, were had, to-wit: Whereas, Galveston County has one of the most bountiful waters in the United States. Its bays, wetlands, wildlife sanctuaries and off-shore waters are a major econorrdc and environmental asset and a major tourist destination; and Whereas, the Galveston Cdunty area is an international birding destination because of its wintering migrating passerines, its shorebffds, waterfowl, raptors and others, approaching 500 species on record; and Whereas, the sport and co .mmercial:fishing industries and bird watching help support a variety of businesses in the Galveston County, including hotels and restaurants, tour guide operators, marinas and boat dealers, fishing equipment and supply outlets, and bait dealers and fish houses; and Whereas~ these same waters are being threatened by massive and under-regulated inflows of fresh waters and rapidly diminishing the abihty of salt-water species to flourish and regenerate. Preserving our natural resources by helping to ensure that sufficient freshwater flows will help protect recreational opportunities, the environment and laud values. In addition, economic studies indicate' that protecting our waters is cost-effective and consistent with overall economic development, commercial and recreational fishermen and the tourist industry; and Whereas, in light of the foregoing, it is believed to be important for our governing body to speak out strongly in favor of the Texas Legislature taking steps to protect freshwater inflows. Now~ therefore~ be it Ordered that the Commissioners~ Court of Galveston County, Texas does hereby most respectfully urge State Senators Mike Jackson and Kyle Janek and State Representatives Craig Eiland and Larry Taylor to develop legislation to protect freshwater inflows. Be it Further Ordered that a copy of this Resolution shall be spread upon the minutes of the Commissioners' Court and that a copy be made for each of the County's representatives in the Texas Legislature. Upon ;notion duly made and seconded, the above Resolution was nnanimously passed on t~;fhe 1st day of November 2004. Mary An le, Couni County of Galveston, Texas County of Galveston Eddie Bart, Comm., Pct. #1 Stephen D. Holmes~ Co~m., Pct. #3 Kenneth Clark, Comm. Pct. #4 ARANSAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS~ COURT ~SOLU~ON #02.16 BP.¥ Al%rD 2S~fLrAIKY/]XZFLOWS ~, ~ ~ Co~u~ ~ea i~ ~ ~ermSonal bird~g destination because of ~ ~¢ ~ ~d conm~ial protect ~hwat ~Ow, T~FOT~, BE IT ~SOL~D by ~: ~4S~ CO DPN~ COSt. sIOUX' CO~T We r~pect~y '~ge S~loz Osc~ P~% C~i~on~ ~ -- Rudy E. Nav~