Bad news in west bay!!!!!!

[WestEndAngler]

Here are the photos I took today. You can see the new discharge area they have chosen. It is a low lying area on a larger spoil bank.

Also you can see the Oyster beds covered in mud 6-8" deep!

[RedfishAssassin]

Yeah me and Coe rolled out there, and pictures dont do it justice. It's something you have to see in person....if your boat can make it and if you dont sink to your waist in muck.

But on a good note, my computer lets me on FWE again!

[kenny]

I had a nice conversation with a fellow at the GLO. We definitely got a lot of attention! He said that the GLO is sending out someone to check and make sure the contractor is following the exact scope of the project, as far as how and where the fill is being pumped.
Here's a follow-up email he sent With the project manager's name & number.

Mr. Luce:

Thank you for this afternoon's phone conversation regarding your inquiry into the ICW dredging project in West Bay. As promised, the Corps of Engineers project manager for the maintenance dredging is Alicia Rea (409-766-3995). For your reference the material placement is occurring in Placement Areas 61, 62, and 63 along the ICW. Please call or email if you have any additional questions or concerns.

[WestEndAngler]

The site shown above (not yet disposed in) should be a good site however run off from water will silt & discolor that area East of Carranchua cut hopefully not to bad.

[WestEndAngler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeugCfyZLYk

[WestEndAngler]

E-mail from Shannon Tompkins - Houston Chronicle

Thanks for sending the stuff about the dredge spoil issues in West bay.
Yep, I've been hearing about it for the past three or four days.
I've talked with several folks about the issue and figure you've also
heard much of the same things I've heard.

Yes, it's a tragedy and a disgrace. But, from what I've learned, it
doesn't look like there's a whole lot anyone can do about this as long
as they dredge operators are following the rules of the permit.
If they aren't, that's a whole other issue.

The problem appears to be the dredging permitting process, especially
the designation of dredge spoil areas. Thankfully, "open bay" disposal
of dredge spoil has for the most part been abandoned because of the
horrid environmental damage it does. But it seems some open bay disposal
continues to be allowed.

With so many competing interests in the bays and so many state and
federal and local government agencies having or claiming jurisdiction
over what happens in the bays, one hand often doesn't know what the
other is doing, it seems.

In the end, the West Bay dredge spoil disposal is a federal issue. If
the Corps OK'ed the dredging and disposal and they are following the
rules set down by the permit, there's not much that can be done to stop
it. But there certainly should be changes in any system that allows
something like this to happen.

Thanks so much for your interest and your passion in maintaining and
enhancing the health of our coastal resources. As you know, some of the
things we're doing to our coast will absolutely break your heart and
your spirit.

I'll do my best to keep up with how this plays out and, if I can, let
folk know about it.

I'd appreciate any insights, observations or information you might
offer.

Thanks,
Shannon

[RedfishAssassin]

Ok, if its a federal matter....then who do we talk to?

[Gater]

Well as a follow up to my email to TPWD game wardens, the email was forwarded from Austin to our local office. I just got off the phone with the supervising Captain at the office next to Serious Tackle in the strip mall. He called me to update me and speak with me personally, I had included my name, address and phone in the email that I sent. He was very concerned and will be sending the game warden out there to take a look. Of course he said he cant promise anything but he clarified with me that they are dumping not along the ICW but yes, actually in west bay, that seemed to make a big impact with him. Interestingly, what with all the action taken so far, I found it curious that it seemed the local TPWD office hadn't yet been informed of where the dredge material was going.

We shall see. I am very pleased to see all the action on this when speed is of the essence!

Kaylyn, the local TP&WD office in Dickinson has been aware of the situation. It was brought to their attention last week.
You are dealing with the Law Enforcement division in LaMarque. Capt. Eddie Tanuz is good people and even though they might not be able to help it's good that they are aware of what's going on. Know matter who you talk with at the TP&WD, they all seem to be just as unhappy as we are but sadly they don't have a whole lot of say. Thanks for making the calls!

Gater

[reeltime]

Ok, if its a federal matter....then who do we talk to?

Congressman,usfish and game and corp of e.

[JimG]

Horrible! Don't we have conservation organizations that we all belong to that should have seen this coming? Wasn't the very detailed disposal map published MONTHS ago? Did no one see it?

I'm not mudslinging here, but what kind of effect would we have had if we had known about this in April? Don't those organizations have people that liaison with the COE and know of their schedules and plans? I for one would have screamed at the top of my lungs to every agency I could reach. This is just one little, magical spot. We could have changed this...

I am just heartbroken. It was this little grass flat that got me fishing again... half the time I spent just staring into the gin-clear water looking at all the incredible wildlife there.

[Gater]

Ok, if its a federal matter....then who do we talk to?

We have already talked to them, plenty of us have and thats the USACE, they are the only ones that can stop it
and don't hold your breath on that happening.

Gater

[reeltime]

Gater Eddie did email me today and say they have a warden investigate it.

[Ibtsoom]

Horrible! Don't we have conservation organizations that we all belong to that should have seen this coming? Wasn't the very detailed disposal map published MONTHS ago? Did no one see it?

I'm not mudslinging here, but what kind of effect would we have had if we had known about this in April? Don't those organizations have people that liaison with the COE and know of their schedules and plans? I for one would have screamed at the top of my lungs to every agency I could reach. This is just one little, magical spot. We could have changed this...

I am just heartbroken. It was this little grass flat that got me fishing again... half the time I spent just staring into the gin-clear water looking at all the incredible wildlife there.

I posted a thread about this quite a while back http://www.fishwestend.com/forum/sho...ghlight=dredge but I didnt garner much interest. I also made calls at that time to COE and US fish and wildlife -- seems it was just too far from the occurrence to raise the feds interest at that time.

[WestEndAngler]

Mike, I do not think anyone though it would get to this point where they were dumping on healthy oyster reefs and "dormant" now dead sea grass thanks to 8" of mud covering it.

[Ibtsoom]

Yea you would have hoped common sense and environmental stewardship on the COE's part would have prevailed but unfortunately that wasnt the case.

Once all of this has setteled and we get a chance to see how bad things wind up I suggest we put an effort together to re-plant / rehabilitate this area and seek some kind of federal protection for it. That is IF there is any suitable habitat left to plant submerged grass in.