TEXAS RIVERS Spring, 2000 _________________________________________________________________________ Texas Rivers Protection Association * P.O. Box 219 * Martindale, TX 78655 _________________________________________________________________________ Officers: Tom Goynes, President Martindale, 512-392-6171 e-mail: goynes@centurytel.net Michael VanWinkle, V.P. Kerrville, 210-895-2359 Leslie Redwine, Secretary San Marcos, 512-392-5182 Duane TeGrotenhuis, Treas. San Marcos, 512-353-3946 Board of Directors: Mark Andrus Angleton, 409-849-3732 David Davenport New Braunfels, 830-609-3038 Ann Derby Houston, 713-491-3973 Theodore Drake Arlington, 817-795-3406 Rich Grayson Dallas, 214-827-0144 Donna Grimes Houston, 713-728-1645 Jim Hatcher Ft. Stockton, 915-336-6700 David Reichert San Antonio, 210-545-0548 Ann Stafford Houston, 713-864-0205 Fred Zagst Kingston, 210-598-6331 It's clean-up time again! Time for meetings and elections. Time to dust off the canoe and visit old friends. Spring is just around the corner. As you can see from the enclosed information, this will be the 15th annual Great Texas River Clean-up. We began hosting this particular event back in 1986, as a Texas Sesquicentennial event. That "first" clean-up covered the entire San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers from the town of San Marcos to Seadrift (the course of the Texas Water Safari) in one day. Subsequently, we decided covering the entire 90 miles of the San Marcos River was ambitious enough. But in a larger sense, this is actually the 29th annual event; we have been hosting at least one San Marcos River clean-up per year since 1972. Almost 30 years of river clean-ups! It's hard to believe the amount of trash that we, as a group remove from the river every year. The big pile that we amass at Spencer's is fairly easy to estimate - probably in the two to three ton range. But there are other piles, other dumpsters, other drop off points along the ninety miles of river, so we can easily accumulate in the area of 6 to 8 tons of trash. It may sound impossible, but consider: 8 tons x 2000 pounds per ton = 16000 pounds of trash ÷ 300 volunteers = 53 pounds of trash per volunteer. Now consider how heavy some of the trash is that you pick up, especially the tires and refrigerators, and voila, 8 tons of fun! So lets say, to be on the safe side, that we have only averaged 5 tons of trash per year since 1972. That will probably be a low figure, but it still comes to almost 150 tons of garbage! Some folks have asked me how I manage to host the same event and lead the same organization year after year. I've got a several reasons: 1) my God energizes me ; 2) my wife and daughter support me; and 3) the people who volunteer along beside me, and who continue to volunteer year after year, inspire me. As long as God keeps telling me to continue, and my family agrees, and you folks keep showing up, there will be San Marcos River Clean-ups, and TRPA meetings, and battles against water hustlers and so forth. So, if all this has inspired you, why don't you consider what you can do to help the cause? We need a few good men and women to serve on the TRPA board. It's a two year term, and we usually only get together in the flesh a couple of times each year (we decide issues by e-mail whenever we can). The election will take place at the annual meeting at Pecan Park on Sunday morning, March 5th, starting at 10 a.m. You can either mail in your ballot or bring it with you that morning. We have several openings on the board, and we also have a couple of board members who will give up their seat if someone wants it. So, make plans to attend the Clean-up on March 4th, and the meeting on the 5th. Your presence will inspire someone. Annual Meeting March 5 On Sunday, March 5 at 10 a.m. the TRPA will hold it's annual general meeting. We will meet in Pecan Park campground if the weather permits; if it doesn't we'll meet in the home of Tom and Paula Goynes (which also happens to be the campground office). We will elect officers and board members and discuss ongoing river issues and the future direction of the organization. Everyone is welcome to attend. We hope to adjourn by noon. To get to Pecan Park Campground: coming from Interstate 35 in San Marcos, get on Highway 80 and head toward Luling for 1.8 miles. Take a right on county road 101. Go 100 yards on 101 and then take a left on county road 102. Go 1/2 mile on 102 and then take a right on Pecan Park road. Our road will be asphalt for a little ways then it will turn to gravel. Keep going straight until you come to the white house on the right (our treasurer Duane TeGrotenhuis lives there). Follow the arrow to the left, then go through the gate and down the hill. If the weather is bad we will meet at the Goynes home; it's at the end of the gravel road, past Duane's place. For more info call Tom Goynes at 512-392-6171. Financial Statement 1999 Beginning balance, 1/1/99 $18,896.14 contributions received to date 6062.45 interest received to date 317.49 Subtotal $25,276.08 Expenses: Newsletter 336.47 Postage 364.14 Printing 58.00 Lawyer Fees 1000.00 Total Expenses 1758.61 Ending Balance 12/31/99 $23,517.47 The San Marcos River Dams The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has agreed to fund emergency repairs to Spring Lake Dam on the San Marcos River. While the expense to taxpayers of these emergency repairs is only $200,000 (compared to the estimated price of ten million dollars to rebuild the dam) TRPA continues to oppose this expenditure because there is no reason for this dam to exist in the first place. Nonetheless, one official with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&W) has determined that the small dams on the river are somehow beneficial to the endangered species therein. Other officials disagree, insisting that these dams harm endangered species. TRPA will continue the battle to have these structures removed. Fish Hatchery Settlement On December 13, 1999, the TRPA, along with the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF), the Sierra Club, and several individuals agreed to a settlement regarding the wastewater permit proceedings for the A. E. Woods Fish Hatchery. The hatchery is located on the San Marcos River and is operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TP&WD). TRPA had initiated the permit process several years ago with a letter to the TP&WD asking that they apply for a wastewater permit. At that time, TP&WD discharged waste from the hatchery with virtually no treatment. After the permit process was initiated, TP&WD agreed to construct a 3 million dollar facility to treat their wastewater. This action went a long way toward a settlement, but TRPA, SMRF and the Sierra club decided to continue the permit hearing process until it could be determined that the new facility would actually afford the river adequate protection. We have decided that the facility will do a good job of treating the effluent, especially considering the other conditions of the settlement: 1) TP&WD has agreed to reduce pumping (they use river water to raise fish) and reduce discharge when the river drops below 65 cfs. They have further agreed that for river flows of 60 cfs and below, they will divert no more than 0.5 million gallons per day (MGD) out of the river and discharge will be zero. During these periods they will reuse their effluent. 2) They have also agreed to begin reusing their effluent during normal flows with an initial goal of 10% to 15% reuse for the next 5 years. It is our hope that once the new treatment plant goes online, it will be possible for TP&WD to achieve a much higher percentage of reuse. 3) They have agreed to a limit of 10 mg per liter of total suspended solids. We had hoped to get that figure down to 5 mg/l, but it was the belief of the experts and lawyers for both the Sierra Club and the San Marcos River Foundation that it would have been very hard to win those extra 5 mg/l during the hearing. Consider how far we have come with this case. Five years ago, when all of this started, the TP&WD was operating this hatchery without any permit at all. At times their suspended solids exceeded 100 mg/liter! Now, they are about to complete construction of a state-of-the-art treatment facility, and they have agreed to protect the river during low flow conditions, to reuse water whenever possible, and to continue studying their effluent once the new plant goes on line to see if any more needs to be done to help the river. Who says it's not important to write letters? We are hoping that this settlement will usher in a new period of cooperation with the TP&WD. It's been long overdue. THE 15TH ANNUAL GREAT TEXAS RIVER CLEAN-UP March 4, 2000 On Saturday, March 4, 2000, folks from all over Texas will be participating in the world's longest river clean-up. We will be picking up trash along the entire length of the San Marcos River (approximately 90 miles). BANK CREWS Everyone is urged to help. If you are unable to participate in the water, we need volunteers to work the banks of the river, especially at parks and highway crossings. Bring some trash bags (we will supply as many as possible) and perhaps a flounder gig to snag some goodies. Scuba divers and snorkelers are also urged to participate. RECREATIONAL PADDLERS We are asking recreational paddlers and canoe clubs to accept the challenge and volunteer for a section of river. If your group or club has not already been assigned a section, be sure to contact Tom Goynes and tell him what stretch you would like. The upper sections of the San Marcos River, particularly just downstream of the City of San Marcos, will require the most attention, and the short mileages set for these sections reflect this. Furthermore, the river becomes less accessible and more hazardous as one goes downstream. For that reason, novice boaters should volunteer for either sections 1 or 2 and more experienced boaters for the other sections. SAFARI TEAMS AND CANOE RACING ENTHUSIASTS The lower river, from Luling to Gonzales, has several long sections with few bridge crossings and for that reason, we are asking canoe racers and especially teams that have competed in the Texas Water Safari in the past to volunteer for sections 9 - 11. CAMPOUT AND GET-TO-GETHER Everyone participating in this event is invited to camp free at either Shady Grove Campground/ Spencer Canoes or at Pecan Park Retreat for the weekend. Starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening there will be a free barbecue provided by the San Marcos River Foundation at Shady Grove/Spencer Canoes. It should be noted that the party will terminate by midnight to allow the rest of the workers some time to sleep. SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE On Sunday morning at 8 a.m., there will be a non-denominational Christian worship service at Pecan Park. Duane TeGrotenhuis will lead the group in song and Tom Goynes will lead a short Bible study. Everyone is welcome. TRPA MEETING On Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at Pecan Park, the Texas Rivers Protection Association will hold its annual meeting. Everyone is invited to attend. WHAT YOU CAN DO First of all, mark March 4th on your calender. Secondly, look over the enclosed river section listing, and choose a stretch that you can help cover. Next, call me at 512-392-6171, and I will put you in contact with the group leader of the section you have chosen. Each leader will be able to help arrange shuttles and will be given logistical info regarding trash deposit locations as the clean-up nears. MEETING TIMES AND SHUTTLES A group meeting will be held for everyone working sections 3 through 7 at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning at Spencer Canoes. Groups working sections 8 - 11 will arrange their shuttles as early as possible Saturday morning and try to put in the river by 9:00 a.m. Persons working sections 1 and 2 will meet at City Park in San Marcos at 10:00 a.m. LET'S DO IT Communities along the river are being urged to help in any way they can. If you can offer any service, such as trash hauling, shuttle driving, trash bags or food donations - anything - please give us a call. Together we can clean-up the whole river and make a strong statement to the public about our love for free flowing streams. Please help us out, Tom Goynes (coordinator) 512-392-6171 Statewide Sponsors: Texas Rivers Protection Association; Texas River Recreation Association; Texas Canoe Racing Association Local Sponsors: San Marcos River Foundation; Green Guys Recycling; Pecan Park Retreat; Spencer Canoes : 512-357-6113; TG Canoe Livery: 512-353-3946 RIVER SECTION LISTINGS 1 San Marcos City Park to Thompson's Island (2 miles) Tom Goynes: 512-392-6171 2 Thompson's Island to Pecan Park Retreat (3.5 miles) Mike Spencer: 512-357-6113 3 Pecan Park Retreat to Spencer Canoes (6 mi.) Houston Canoe Club: Paula Dittrick: 713-721-5851 4 Spencer Canoes to Staples - Hwy 1977 (5 miles) Jeff Pine: 512-433-2870 5 Staples to Fentress - Hwy 20 (9 miles) Austin Paddling Club, Debi Paxton: 512-630-8573 6 Fentress to Stairtown (7miles) Bayou City Whitewater Club 7 Stairtown to Luling - Hwy 90 (6.5miles) 8 Luling 90 to Luling City Park (6 mi.) Alamo City Rivermen David Reichert: 210-545-0548 9 Luling City Park to Palmetto State Park (14.4 mi.) Texas Canoe Racing Association 10 Palmetto State Park to Gonzales Hwy 90A (14.8 miles) Texas Canoe Racing Association 11 Gonzales 90A to Gonzales 183 (10 mi.) TCRA contact, Ginger Turner: 512-459-5742 Texas Rivers Protection Association Election, 2000 Officers and board members of the TRPA serve two year terms. Our by-laws state: "Election of the officers and other members of the board shall be conducted by mail prior to the annual meeting in such a manner as the Board of Directors shall determine." This ballot contains a list of the current officers and board members who have agreed to serve another term. It also contains blank spaces for all offices and board positions, allowing write-ins for some or all positions. Immediately prior to the annual meeting on Sunday morning, March 5, at 10 a.m. (at the pavilion at Pecan Park), members present will discuss additional nominations or changes since this ballot was sent out. Members present will fill in their ballots and these ballots will be counted along with those ballots which have been received in the mail. Counting will be done by a committee selected from persons present at that time. Once the election is over, the annual meeting will begin. If you intend to be at the meeting on Sunday March 5, please bring this ballot with you. If you cannot attend but wish to vote in this election, please fill in this ballot and return it. Make sure that your dues are paid, and that the back side of this page either has your mailing label affixed or the application filled out. Your vote will be private, but we need to verify that everyone voting is a paid member, so we will look at the labels first, then all the ballots will be turned over the votes privately counted. Officers: [ˆ ] check here or write in candidate President: [ ] Tom Goynes (Martindale) _______________ Vice President (open position) _______________ Secretary [ ] Leslie Redwine (San Marcos) _______________ Treasurer [ ] Duane TeGrotenhuis (Martindale) _______________ Board of Directors: [ ] Mark Andrus (Angleton) _______________ [ ] David Davenport (New Braunfels) _______________ [ ] Ann Derby (Houston) _______________ [ ] John Dunn (Austin) _______________ [ ] Rich Grayson (Dallas) _______________ [ ] Jim Hatcher (Ft. Stockton) _______________ [ ] David Reichert (San Antonio) _______________ [ ] Ann Stafford (Houston) _______________ [ ] Michael VanWinkle (Kerrville) _______________ [ ] Fred Zagst (Kingston) _______________ (open position) _______________ Return to: TRPA Ballot P.O. Box 219 Martindale, TX 78655 Texas Rivers Protection Association Membership Application To join or renew your membership, fill out the information below and include a check for your dues. Name ______________________ Hm Phone ________________ Wk Phone ________________ Street ______________________ City ___________________ State __________ Zip _______ E-mail ________________________ Fax # ____________________ ____ ˆ if late faxes are OK Regular Membership: $10 _____ Protector: $25 ______ Guardian: $50 ______ Ranger: $100 ____ Is this a renewal? ________ Check if new address _________ All members receive notices and newsletters and get to vote at general meetings. Protectors also receive a cloisonne pin with our emblem. Guardians receive the pin and either a logo cap or logo t-shirt. Rangers receive all three. Guardians need to indicate their choice (cap or t-shirt) and Rangers and guardians wanting t-shirts should indicate their size (M, L, XL, Or XXL) Protectors, Guardians, and Rangers Please send the following: Protector ___ Cloisonne Pin Guardian ___ Pin and ___ cap or ___ t-shirt size __ M __ L __ XL __ XXL Ranger ___ Pin and ___ cap and ___ t-shirt size __ M __ L __ XL __ XXL Check here if you do not wish to receive any merchandise _____