Big Thicket Reporter - 2005/04/04

REP. BRADY VISITS BIG THICKET

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-8th District) brought his staff to area counties to get acquainted with county/city officials. The stop in Hardin County on January 10 was followed by visits to Tyler and other counties.

The Big Thicket National Preserve played host with a reception at the Visitor Center followed by a tour. Hardin County hosted a dinner for the group at the Crazy Horse in Kountze. County Judge Billy Caraway commented: "This has got to be a first … I don't ever remember a congressman bringing his entire staff to our county to meet with our business leaders and community."

FUNDING NEWS

The President's budget contains $8,000,000 LWCF money for land acquisition in Big Thicket for lands authorized in the 1993 Addition Act. Thank the President, and ask Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Representative Kevin Brady to do everything possible to keep the appropriation in the budget as it moves through committees.

• senator@hutchison.senate.gov; fax 202-224-5922
• rep.brady@mail.house.gov; fax 202-225-5524

FASTRILL RESERVOIR

At a public meeting in Dallas, an engineering firm, consultant to Dallas Water Utilities, recommended that DWU adopt the Fastrill Reservoir (formerly known as Weches) on the Upper Neches as a water source for Dallas demands in 2040.

When contacted, the consultant (Ed Motley of Chiang, Patel and Yerby) indicated that he was not aware of plans to establish the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge and that USF&W is currently drafting an environmental assessment for the project. FWS has been conducting public meetings to familiarize area residents with the project.

The Region C Water Planning Group twice last year (July and August) put Fastrill (Weches) on a list of potential new reservoirs NOT to be given further consideration. No one, including DWU, suggested that Fastrill be considered further. Reasons given by RCWPG for stopping further consideration were “distance from Region C” and “permitting difficulties”.

The site overlaps with the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge site, planned for up to 26,000 acres and an additional 8,000-10,000 acres of floodplains. The site is also in the debris field of the wreckage of the space shuttle Columbia. The refuge site is under consideration as a memorial to this national tragedy.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have rated all or most of the 25,000 acres within the refuge boundary as Priority 1 bottomland hardwood forest habitat.

A number of citizen groups have formed the Neches River Protection Initiative to seek designation of the Neches as a National Scenic River from Lake Palestine to B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir and possibly farther downriver. The next step is to have Congress approve a study of the river. Should it be added to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, it would be only the second in the state of Texas - after the Rio Grande.

Additional reservoirs on the Neches would impact the Big Thicket National Preserve, two wilderness areas, and other significant downstream resources.

MOLPUS PROTECTS "LIVING LEGACY" SITE

BTA members reported in December that blue paint on trees marked harvest lines through the middle of Cow Creek Sandyland and Bogs. On Dec. 7, a group met with Steve Marietta of Molpus Timberlands Management and two of his foresters. BTA asked for protection for all of the L-P "Living Legacy Lands". The Cow Creek property is owned by Texas Timber Company.

Local naturalist Jimmy Robinson took us to the site where scarlet catchfly populations proliferate, and he showed the foresters photographs of yellow-fringed and rose pogonia orchids, pitcher plants and other flora found on the site. Rachel Emrick's eagle-eye spotted several bottle gentians. The bogs are overgrown and need prescribed burns. In behalf of Molpus, Marietta promised to move the cut line away from the bog and to protect the catchfly site. If this is a model for future cooperative efforts to protect Legacy sites, the conservation community has gained another "good neighbor."

TEMPLE-INLAND

Conservation Service Award: Gale Norton, Secretary of the Dept. of Interior, announced Feb. 2 that the Conservation Service Award this year honors Temple-Inland for its long term contributions to the management and conservation of natural resources on company lands in the southeastern U.S. The Department's highest award was presented at the 62nd Honor Awards Convocation in Washington DC.

Dale Hall of USF&W Southwest Region said: Temple-Inland has "a true conservation ethic that runs throughout their company … in their ongoing efforts to conserve and protect important sensitive natural communities, threatened and endangered species and their associated habitats. They implement sustainable forest management practices on their forest lands and adjacent private lands influenced by their management."

T-I's wildlife and conservation program include cooperation with State and Federal agencies and conservation groups to conserve Long Leaf Pine ecosystems. T-I integrates biodiversity and wildlife enhancement practices into forest operations, e.g., exceeding streamside management zone guidelines. The award reflects credit on T-I's administration and their remarkable group of conservation foresters, including Robert Wilson, Paul Stone, Stan Cook, Eric Keith, et al.

A news release posted on Temple-Inland's website says Carl Icahn and Icahn Partners Masters Fund LP have filed under Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust for clearance to each acquire more than $100 million but less than $500 million in common stock. Late-breaking news on this: Temple-Inland stock up; Icahn interest seen as good sign

CONSERVATION OUTLOOK

Land for Sale: Four years after the timberland divestitures in 2002-03 of approximately 1.5 million acres by International Paper and Louisiana-Pacific, land keeps changing hands - sometimes to third ownerships. Lands purchased by Molpus Timberlands Management, LLC (over 650,000 acres) are managed for timber production, apparently for Harvard University. Urban Sprawl: Signs multiply on area highways offering lots for sale, many of which adjoin Preserve boundaries. Newspapers carry ads, e.g.: "10-acre tracks [sic] just off Hwy. 69 app. 25 mi. North of Beaumont $1,000 down, $366/mo. … 40-100 tracks [sic] starting at $1200/acre located app. 25 mi. North of Beaumont …"

Oil & Gas: The comment period on the Big Thicket National Preserve Draft Oil and Gas Management Plan, has been extended to March 10, 2005, Contact: Linda Dansby (505) 988-6095. This and other documents can be accessed on the BTNP website.

Recent oil activity includes an EA for Famcor Oil, Inc., Roberts/Duke No. 1 Flowline, dated December 29, 2005, and the Plan of Operations for the same proposal, dated October 13, 2004. The proposal involves directionally boring a flowline across the Menard Creek Corridor Unit. A second proposal is described in an NPS scoping letter of January 25, 2005, and covers an application to directionally drill and produce the Bertrand-Nelson #1 well from a site outside the boundaries of BTNP by the Union Gas Operating Company. Conservation groups are requesting that work cease pending preparation of an EIS and evaluation of cumulative effects under NEPA as well as review and public input of the management plan.

The Sierra Club lawsuit involving oil drilling in national parks recently was amended to add plaintiffs including TCONR as well as individuals Brandt Mannchen and Maxine Johnston

Water transfer: Water Planning Group H (Houston area) met recently and indicated that strategies other than interbasin transfer would provide for needs through 2050. However, LNVA reported that they were ready to transfer water and suggested a meeting with Region I (East Texas Water Planning Group).

Water Planning Group I, comprising a 20-county region in the Neches and Sabine River watersheds, met in Nacogdoches (reported in the Silsbee Bee) and reelected David Alders of Nacogdoches as chair.

Schaumburg and Polk, engineers, predicted increased water needs for municipalities, manufacturers, and steam-electric generators will account for 95% in the next five decades with minimal increase in water demands for livestock, irrigation and mining. Gary Graham of S&P says interbasin transfers will be studied, but none are anticipated, and that Region I will continue to study possible use of reclaimed water and the continued use of groundwater. Planners will put more emphasis on water conservation with programs such as public and school education, water audits, and water conservation pricing.

Sierra asks support for Bays in Peril: Jennifer Walker and Donna Hoffman made presentations to local county commissioners and city councils asking for support of a resolution in support of freshwater inflows to Sabine Lake.

Both the Jefferson County Commissioners on Jan. 31 and Port Arthur City Council on Feb. 1 approved resolutions. Jennifer Ellis of NWF presented the resolution to the Orange City Council and County Commissioners, and both endorsed the resolution.

Friends of Wildlife Refuges Rally: "Friends in Action," specifically, Friends of National Wildlife Refuges, gathered in Washington Feb. 4-7 to advance wildlife conservation and to gather information and skills to support their refuges. John and Diana Fendly represented Friends of Anahuac NWR and Barbara Tilton and Sue Davison represented the Trinity River NWR. Such friends groups have helped secure more than $70 million in federal funding over the past three years.

There are 245 Friends groups supporting many of the 545 NWRs that conserve more than 100 million acres for wildlife. More than 40 million people visit these refuges each year.

Champion Lake Reopened - Rededication: In commemoration of Earth Day 2005, Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is "rededicating" the Champion Lake Public Use Area. Activities on Saturday, April 23 will run from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM and will include canoeing, kayaking and boating tours, bird and butterfly viewing, walking the levee trail, and dip netting in the lake for the kids.

Within the past six months, the refuge and volunteers completed a new levee, butterfly/hummingbird garden with trail, and new parking area to enhance public use opportunities along the 800-acre lake. Champion Lake is located at the end of CR 417, two miles east of FM 1409. This is approximately 10 miles south of Dayton, TX from Hwy 90 or about six miles north of I-10 at the Cove exit (FM 565). Admission is free. Call the refuge office at 936/336-9786 for more information to attend this fun afternoon of activities.

Fishing, waterfowl hunting (refuge hunt permit required), birdwatching, and a levee trail are available. Boating is permitted but you must use a 10hp or less motor.

"State of the Parks" Study: Elizabeth Meyers visited BTNP Dec. 1-2 for research on NPCA's "State of the Parks" study of Big Thicket. In addition to meeting with Preserve officials and resource persons, she toured the Lower Neches Corridor by boat with Johnny Stafford and Caroline Lanford.

NPCA historian, Jim Jenks, will be conducting a resource (natural and cultural) assessment of BigThicket, Feb. 15-17. His work involves evaluations of Preserve management of cultural resources, including archeology, historic structures, museum collections, history, ethnography, and cultural landscapes.

Black Bear Reintroduction: Nathan Garner and the Texas Parks & Wildlife folks held more Bear Reintroduction forums in Mt. Pleasant on January 24, Marshall, on Jan. 31, Texarkana on Feb. 1, Clarksville on Feb. 2, and Paris on Feb. 3.

The first 5 Town Meetings held in late November and December of 2004 in Beaumont, Lufkin, Jasper, Woodville, and Kountze went well with a total of approximately 275 people attending.

The Working Group will meet again in early spring to cover the results of these Town Meetings and discuss any other final changes to the Bear Plan.

Schmidly on Texas Natural History

On Tuesday February 1, Lamar's Center for Big Thicket Studies hosted a lecture by Dr. James Schmidly, President of the Oklahoma State University, entitled "Texas Natural History: A Century of Change." Formerly, Schmidly served as president at Texas Tech University, and also was associated with Texas A&M University, including six years as head of the department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences.

Schmidly's topic was also the title of his book. One hundred years ago, Texas was very different. A rural population was spread thinly across the eastern and central parts of the state, and vast lands in the western regions were still undisturbed. Wolves, both gray and red; black bears; black-footed ferrets; cougars; and many other species of wildlife that are now reduced or extinct were common then.

In 1905, Vernon Bailey, chief naturalist for the U.S. Biological Survey, published his comprehensive survey of the status of mammals in Texas at this time. Now, nearly one hundred years later, David Schmidly compares Bailey’s report with the status of mammals in the state today. The result is a look back at what happened to the natural environment in Texas during the twentieth century.

This lecture and book give Texans an authoritative view of how their land once looked, tells them what has happened to their wildlife heritage and suggests what they might do to protect it in the future.

Tax Breaks for Easements

(Excerpts from Joe Stephens report in Washington Post Friday, January 28, 2005; p. A12)

An influential joint congressional committee recommended yesterday that lawmakers do away with income tax breaks available to homeowners who give charitable organizations easements that restrict changes to personal residences or surrounding land.

Over the next decade, the reforms would save the U.S. Treasury $1 billion, according to a staff report released by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation.

The proposal goes well beyond previously announced plans for the reform of what are known as "historic facade easements" and "conservation easements." The recommendations are aimed at ending tax breaks originally designed to preserve historic buildings and the environment…

"The proposal eliminates the need to assess valuation, conservation benefits, and private benefits with respect to a large group of transactions that often provide questionable or limited public benefits," the report said.

The recommendations come in response to a series of investigative reports published over the past two years in The Washington Post...

... Previous articles led the Nature Conservancy, the world's largest environmental group, to make a number of reforms, including banning a variety of easement deals that the charity had conducted with its own trustees...

For an easement on open land not used as a home site, the report also recommends cutting the amount that may be deducted from 100 percent of the easement's value to 33 percent. Such easements would qualify for tax breaks only if the donor could prove that the easement's restrictions clearly benefited a specific government conservation program.

Appraisals setting the values of easements would have to be completed by appraisers who met a series of new standards, including ethics training.

Russell Vs. SHECO (Reported in Silsbee Bee, 2/2/05)

SHECO (Sam Houston Electric Cooperative) wants to build a 138-kilovolt transmission line through forested areas fronting on Lake Livingston owned by the George Russell Family of Huntsville. The power line would require clearing a 60-ft. wide swath along the 2.7 mile highway frontage.

Purchased in the 1990s to protect the area from development, Russell donated conservation easements to a land trust, the Natural Area Preservation Association. TP&W designated he tracts as part of the Prairies and Piney Woods Trail.

Texas Forest Service recognizes the property as a Special or Unique Area. Bald eagles, ospreys, pelicans, herons, and many other birds are common on the property. An environmental consultant has identified more than 600 species of plants…

"Less than one-tenth of 1 percent of Texas is protected by conservation easements," said David Bezanson, executive director of NAPA.

B.T.A. NEWS

BTA is quietly proud of its members and friends. EVERYONE deserves our thanks for the continuing support you give us, but the largesse lately has been nothing short of amazing! To wit:

Hackelman Gift of Nagle Paintings

Reported by Joyce Almaguer-Reisdorf

The Big Thicket Association was recently the proud recipient of eight watercolor paintings by the late Dr. J. Stewart Nagle, Jr., as well as a signed Kentucky warbler print by artist Ray Harm. The pieces were donated by former BTA board member Sharon Hackelman in memory of her late husband, J. Kent Hackelman. The watercolors are signed and dated from the early 70's, and depict scenes of the Big Thicket landscape that we have all come to know and love so well.

Dr. Stewart Nagle first marked his professional science career with research on NASA's Apollo-mission moon rocks. He is probably best known locally, however, for comprehensive work on citrus trees suitable for our region.

This gifted scientist was also quite the artist; in fact, he once had the privilege of displaying his Texas watercolors at the State Capital.

A volunteer consultant will appraise the paintings and print. They will then be auctioned at a special event in 2005, with proceeds to go toward the BTA Land Fund. Stay tuned for how you can purchase a special piece of regional history!

Wilhite Memorials

The Ross Wilhite Memorial Fund continues to grow as friends of Ross and Flora add their gifts. As stated in the last Reporter, Ross was a life member of BTA and a former board member of BTCA.

At the January board meeting, the board approved use of the Fund for purchases of land.

Other recent Land Fund gifts come from Warren Preuss and Dr. Pete Gunter. Warren was formerly with Dow Chemical managing the Dow Nature Refuge. He now works with the Rice University plant inventory project. Pete is former BTA president, serves on the Advisory Board, and in addition chairs TCONR's Big Thicket Task Force.

Drury Appointed Conservation Committee Chair

Dr. Bruce R. Drury, Professor of Political Science, Lamar University, accepted appointment by President Ellen Buchanan to serve as Chair of the Conservation / Legislation Committee.

Note to Members: The post office box is full of dues envelopes for 2005, and it's rewarding to see the familiar names - faithful friends of Big Thicket. Another reward is seeing the names of NPCA members who joined within the last two years - new and valued friends. To view BTA's annual report for 2004 and a to take a look backward at our 40-year history check the web (www.btatx.org) under "About."

EAST TEXAS MISCELLANY

Alabama-Coushatta Observe Sesquicentennial: The Tribe has scheduled its annual Pow-Wow and Sesquicentennial celebration Feb. 17-19 at the Reservation's ballpark located 16 miles from either Woodville or Livingston. Vendors will offer arts and crafts and food, including Indian Tacos. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children.

The first night events begin at 5:00 PM and features traditional dances, including the Basket, Swan, and Bear Dances. Friday evening, Gourd dances begin at 5:00 with a Grand Entry at 7:00. Saturday includes Gourd dances at 11:00 and 5:00 with Grand Entries at 1:00 and 7:00.

Hardin County Historical Commission: Harold Willis, who resigned recently as Chair of the Commission, called an Executive Committee meeting on January 27, and County Judge Billy Caraway announced the appointment of Dr. H. A. Hooks to succeed Willis. Dr. Hooks previously served as chair of the Commission and is the author of Be What You Seem To Be. Dr. Hooks presided at a meeting Feb. 10. Discussion included planning for a reenactment of the Kaiser (or Keyser) Burnout.

Landrey speaks to Tyler County Heritage Society: The Tyler County Heritage Society met Jan. 24 at the Pickett House in Heritage Village. Officers and board members were elected for 2005.

Wanda Landrey gave the Society a preview of her forthcoming book on vice and prostitution in early Jefferson County. Her other books include Boardin' in the Big Thicket and Outlaws in the Big Thicket.

DETCOG Cites Senator Hutchison: The Deep East Texas Council of Governments attracted 300 folks to its reception for legislators on Jan. 10 in Austin. DETCOG honored Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison as "Legislator of the Year," citing her work for IH-69, "her work for East Texas forests, including Big Thicket," and other services.

Hardin County Historical Commission: Harold Willis, who resigned recently as Chair of the Commission, called an Executive Committee meeting on January 27, and County Judge Billy Caraway announced the appointment of Dr. H. A. Hooks to succeed Willis. Dr. Hooks previously served as chair of the Commission and is the author of Be What You Seem To Be. Dr. Hooks presided at a meeting Feb. 10 that included discussion for planning a reenactment of the Kaiser (or Keyser) Burnout.

PRESERVE OVERVIEW

By Ann Roberts (a.k.a., Big Thicket Butterfly)

Hog Damages to Preserve: Jacqueline Lane reports in the Beaumont Enterprise 2/10/05 that BTNP has scheduled two public workshops to discuss the feral hog problem, noting that significant damage exists in several units of the Preserve. Resource Management Chief Curtis Hoagland says, "They've reached critical mass," he said based on preliminary data from Texas A & M research. Meetings will be held Feb. 23 at Lumberton High School, and Feb. 25 at Woodville High School.

Gary Calkins at TP&W said, "the animals will eat nearly anything, so it puts them in direct competition with native wildlife… to them the whole world is a buffet and they are going to sample it all." Stuart Marcus, manager of Trinity River NWR, added, "if they can catch it, they will eat it. If they can root it up, they will eat it. If they're hungry, they'll find it and they will eat it… When a hog gets to a certain weight, nothing will mess with it. It's pretty much top dog."

Personnel

Supt. Art Hutchinson announced recently the appointment of Christine (Chris) Peapenburg as his Executive Assistant. Chris has been a Federal employee for over 20 years; eight of them in the United States Air Force, Medical Administration, Yokota Air Base, Japan and Laughlin AFB, Texas; one year as Economics Assistant with the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index in Beaumont. Her past NPS experience includes 11 years at Amistad NRA included work with hunting programs, business permit administration, and protection and fire program administration.

Lisa Jameson the new Biologist for Big Thicket National Preserve began her career with the government in the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program on the Mark Twain National Forest. After graduating for Southwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Conservation, she worked for Blackhills National Forest. She then began her career with the National Park Service and has worked for the Service for twenty two years in five regions and eighteen park units, in Resource Management, Visitor Protection and Interpretation

Leslie Dubey reports that an event in Canon's Envirothon competition is scheduled April 9-11. She is recruiting volunteers to speak, judge, and perform tasks incident to the competition. For further information consult www.environthon.org. Contact BTNP volunteer coordinator Rose Ann Jordan or Leslie DuBey.

Dave McHugh deserted us merely to retire. The BTNP staff "farewelled" him after the Chrismas party at the Field Research Station on Dec.10. The new "Fire Boss" is Fulton Jeansonne. BTA honored McHugh with our Superior Achievement Award in 1996.

David McHugh, Deanna Fusco, D.W. Ivans, Krystal Tolar, et al.

Events

• Feb. 19, Old Wagon Road workday, Jack Gore Baygall Unit, BTNP. 936-262-8522
• Feb. 23, Feral Hog Workshop, Lumberton High School, 7-9:00 PM
• Feb. 25, Feral Hog Workshop, Woodville High School, 7-9:00 PM
• Feb. 26, Temple-Inland Distinctive Sites: visit a small blackland prairie, Durand oaks, ice age remnants at Dam B, Arkansas Oak, Pyramid Magnolia, and Weeping Yucca, with Conservation Forester Paul Stone
• Mar. 5, Larsen Sanctuary hike; GT Sierra, Linda Lang 409-892-3712
• Mar. 19, Mar. 19, Fulton Battise Trail workday, Big Sandy Creek Unit, BTNP. 936-262-8522
• April 9-11, Canon's Envirothon Competition. Leslie DuBey 409-246-2487
• Apr.15-17, Wilderness Pow-Wow, Boykin Springs Recreation Area, sponsored by TCONR, Sierra, BTA and other conservation groups, 936-262-8522
• April 23, Earth Day Observance, Trinity River NWR -Rededication of Champion Lake, 936-336-9786
• April 23, Birding trip, GT Sierra / Audubon groups, Rose Ann Jordan 409-892-4102

BTA BOARD MEETINGS

Members and guests welcome to attend

• April 9, Field Research Station, Saratoga
• July 9, Village Creek State Park Weekend Workshop
• Oct. 8, Big Thicket Day/General membership meeting (site pending)