NOTE: When researching Caddo Lake, USE CAUTION. A Caddo Lake
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CaddoLakeNews.net
Includes DAILY UPDATES to bring you important news and background
information concerning Caddo Lake.
CaddoDefense.org
"A community-based wetland conservation & management group"
created to protect the ecological & cultural integrity of Caddo
Lake's wetland ecosystem."
Texas Committee on Natural Resources (TCONR)
"Committed to protecting native ecosystems and
promoting efficient use of natural resources in Texas."
Additional pictures from the NETFO/BSG field trip to Caddo Lake.
Birds of
Caddo Lake
Information on Caddo Lake located on the Louisiana /
Texas Border. Including area maps, photos, checklists and bird
finding information.
NETFO
Northeast Texas Field Ornithologists - "An independent, non-profit organization formed in 1990 for the
purpose of encouraging the observation, study, appreciation and
conservation of birds and to promote the discovery and dissemination
of knowledge about birds, particularly in the Northeast Texas area."
Army tells Fish & Wildlife today (September 20, 2005) that completion of land transfer to new Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is "ON HOLD DUE TO CONGRESSIONAL INTERVENTION."
The efforts of several Marshall area businessmen with a long history of anti-Caddo Lake initiatives have succeeded in stopping the carefully developed and publicly arrived at plan to transfer the remaining 2600 acres of the former Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant to the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
The Marshall promoters have received the assistance of Congressman Louie Gohmert and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to intervene at the last minute in the transfer process. Their stated goal is to create an INDUSTRIAL PARK on the land they are trying to take from the refuge.
It seems unimaginable to most clearheaded people that anyone would even think about putting an Industrial Park in the middle of a wildlife refuge -- and 3500 FEET FROM THE SHALLOW WATERS OF CADDO LAKE.
GCLA sent an Urgent Message to its members by mail last week concerning this proposal. The Texas Committee on Natural Resources has also advised its member networks and warned of this unprecedented intervention in recent emails.
Now it has happened -- and the misguided and malcontent promoters of this unworthy scheme are one step closer to damaging the new refuge and harming Caddo Lake in irreparable ways.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT CADDO LAKE -- please take action at once and call, write and fax Senator Hutchison and Congressman Gohmert now.
You will never have the opportunity to take a more important stand to defend and protect Caddo Lake than to oppose this greedy, exploitative grab of land from public use at Caddo Lake and turn it over to the kind of industrial development you can expect from the people who are behind this scheme.
This is a classic case of elected officials ignoring scientific and professional opinion -- and overriding an open, public process -- to reward big contributors and party insiders.
We are in the process of revising the www.caddolakenews.net website. It will now include DAILY UPDATES to bring you important news and background information concerning this potentially devastating blow to Caddo Lake.
DO NOT WAIT -- your calls and letters to Senator Hutchison and Congressman Gohmert are needed immediately.
Let them know how you feel about their intervention. We are aware of more than fifty calls and letters to their offices that have not been acknowledged in any way.
Let them know they have other constituents besides their BIG CONTRIBUTORS in Marshall, Texas -- and you want them to keep their hands off Caddo Lake and the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Jack Canson <edited by webguy@birdstudygroup.org>
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To contact Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's office, you may write the following locations. |
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SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON 284 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-4304 202-224-5922 202-224-0776 (FAX) 202-224-5903 (TDD) Web Form: http://hutchison.senate.gov/e-mail.htm |
SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON 500 Chestnut Street Suite 1570 Abilene, Texas 79602 325-676-2839 325-676-2937 (FAX) |
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SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON 961 Federal Building 300 East 8th Street Austin, Texas 78701 512-916-5834 512-916-5839 (FAX) |
SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON LB 606 10440 N. Central Expressway Suite 1160 Dallas, Texas 75231 214-361-3500 214-361-3502 (FAX) |
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SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON 222 East Van Buren Street Suite 404 Harlingen, Texas 78550 956-425-2253 956-412-1468 (FAX) |
SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON 1919 Smith Street Suite 800 Houston, Texas 77002 713-653-3456 713-209-3459 (FAX) |
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SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON 145 Duncan Drive Suite 120 San Antonio, Texas 78226 210-340-2885 210-349-6753 (FAX) |
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To contact Congressman Louie Gohmert's office, |
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CONGRESSMAN LOUIE GOHMERT 508 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3035 (202) 225-5866 fax WebForm: http://gohmert.house.gov/contact_louie.htm |
CONGRESSMAN LOUIE GOHMERT 202 E. Pilar, Ste. 304 Nacogdoches, TX 75961 Phone: 866-535-6302 |
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CONGRESSMAN LOUIE GOHMERT 1121 ESE Loop 323 Suite 206 Tyler, TX 75701 Toll Free: 866-535-6302 Phone: 903-561-6349 Fax: 903-561-7110 |
CONGRESSMAN LOUIE GOHMERT 300 E. Shepherd Lufkin, TX 75901 Phone: 866-535-6302 |
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CONGRESSMAN LOUIE GOHMERT 102 W. Houston St. Marshall, TX 75670 Phone: 866-535-6302 |
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To contact Senator John Cornyn's office, you may write the following locations. |
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SENATOR JOHN CORNYN 517 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 Tel: 202-224-2934 Fax: 202-228-2856 Web Form: http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact/index_1.html |
SENATOR JOHN CORNYN Occidental Tower 5005 LBJ Freeway Suite 1150 Dallas, Texas 75244 Tel: 972-239-1310 Fax: 972-239-2110 |
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SENATOR JOHN CORNYN Bank One Building 100 E. Ferguson Street Suite 1004 Tyler, Texas 75702 Tel: 903-593-0902 Fax: 903-593-0920 |
SENATOR JOHN CORNYN Bank One Building 221 West Sixth Street Suite 1530 Austin, Texas 78701 Tel: 512-469-6034 Fax: 512-469-6020 |
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SENATOR JOHN CORNYN 5300 Memorial Drive Suite 980 Houston, Texas 77007 Tel: 713-572-3337 Fax: 713-572-3777 |
SENATOR JOHN CORNYN 600 Navarro Suite 210 San Antonio, Texas 78205 Tel: 210-224-7485 Fax: 210-224-8569 |
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SENATOR JOHN CORNYN 222 East Van Buren Suite 404 Harlingen, Texas 78550 Tel: 956-423-0162 Fax: 956-423-0193 |
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Saturday afternoon, August 13
The 8,500 acres of land at the former Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant at Caddo Lake has been slated to go to the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Since May 2004, 5900 acres have been transferred. There are still 2600 acres left in Army’s care that will be transferred later once the pollution is cleaned up on it, for those remaining acres is an EPA Superfund site.
Unfortunately, there is an effort by some in Marshall (MEDCO – Marshall Economic Development Corporation) who are dialoging with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congressman Louis Gohmert to have the remaining land redirected to a private entity for industrial use. Senator Hutchison is being told the community wants that industrial park, so she has written to Army and U.S. Fish & Wildlife on behalf of this idea. She does not know she is being misled.
Facts:
- The Caddo Lake community is building an ecotourism economy and wants wildlife such as Bald Eagles attracted to the area which ecotourists will want to see. There is great hope that the rare Ivory-billed Woodpecker will someday come, for the right habitat exists at Caddo. The Caddo community does NOT want the surrounding lands disturbed by industry; for Caddo Lake’s environmental uniqueness needs to be preserved. For this reason, many on Caddo wrote Senator Hutchison this week protesting the idea of an industrial park on their doorstep.
- An industrial park already exists 15 miles away at Marshall near major highways and railroads, but it is hardly used and has lots of room for growth. The fact some in Marshall want to ignore their own industrial park to have one established 15 miles away on an EPA Superfund site remotely located at Caddo does not make sense. It bespeaks Marshall has an ugly hidden agenda beneath the controversy: Water.
With the transfer of land from the Army to USFW, there is also the transfer of water rights associated with the land. What MEDCO wants is that water. Their assertion they are interested in Army’s land to establish a 2600 acre industrial park at Caddo is disingenuous, false, and misleading. So far, the news media has not picked up on this. (Maybe they shouldn’t – interesting judgment call.)
Caddo Lake is a very shallow ecosystem – technically a swamp. A short reduction in water level dramatically shrinks the surface area of the lake. Caddo needs all its water. (This year’s drought emphasizes this point.)
Tom Walker
Caddo Lake, The First Lake of Texas
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510-4304
E-mail: Hutchison.senate.gov/e-mail/htm
August 10, 2005
Honorable Senator Hutchison,
We at the Caddo Lake Chamber of Commerce and Tourism have become aware that there is a movement afoot to transfer large areas of the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant (LAAP) to a private entity for use as an industrial park. As we understand it, this bargaining has been conducted in secret, and without any local input or sharing of information. The residents and supporters of Caddo Lake have fought a long battle to save the lake and the surrounding habitat as a wildlife preserve for all Texans and future generations. If industrial development is allowed to occupy the adjoining property of the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the entire ecosystem will absolutely be impacted in a negative manner.
Furthermore, the location of this area is neither convenient nor conducive to industrial development; there is no fire protection, sanitary or waste water treatment, and the LAAP is located over 15 miles from any major highway. Nearby Marshall, Texas has such an industrial area which is not being utilized to its potential, and which is on a major interstate corridor. Marshall seeks industrial growth; Caddo Lake is an environmentally sensitive area, and one in which numerous agencies, both private and governmental, have invested time and a great deal of money to preserve. Caddo Lake is the only naturally occurring lake in Texas, and can never be replaced. Allowing the transfer of these public lands will adversely influence tourism, property values, and the general economy of this area while benefiting only a few who would seek to profit by the development of this unique area of our state. We encourage you not to allow any transfer of the remaining LAAP to any private entity for industrial development. It will devastate the area.
Caddo Lake Chamber of Commerce and Tourism,
Officers and Board Members
Jean Werneke, President
112 Mossy Brake Rd, Uncertain, Tx. 75661
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
500 Private Road 7222
Jefferson, Texas 75657-5272
903-665-8279
The Honorable Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4304
Subject: Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Land Acquisition
Dear Senator Hutchison,
I am an appointed board member of the Cypress Valley Navigation District, a board member of the Restoration Advisory Board of the former Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant, and a board member of the Greater Caddo Lake Association. I am writing you to support that *ALL* land and water rights of the former Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant be transferred to the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
A third party wants a portion of the former Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant (LAAP) to be converted to an industrial park. This is unneeded for an industrial park 15 miles away in Marshall is barely used and has more than ample room for growth. Furthermore, the portion of the LAAP in question is an EPA Superfund site, and it would not be attractive for industry for they would have to assume liability for cleanup.
The Caddo Lake community overwhelmingly wants the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge and properties adjacent it to be preserved for wildlife since we are developing an ecotourism program for our many guests from Dallas, Houston, Austin, and afar. We need all the former LAAP to be compatible to the purposes of wildlife conservation to attract Bald Eagles and other forms of wildlife that our ecotourist guests will want to see. Ecotourism on Caddo Lake is the largest attraction for tourist dollars in this immediate region.
The third party that wants an industrial park on Caddo rather than being satisfied with the one hardly used in Marshall have agendas unbecoming to discuss. Please understand Caddo Lake is unique to Texas, and the Caddo Lake community wants that uniqueness preserved for ecotourism which we could share with generations of Texans now and in the future.
Sincerely yours,
Tom Walker
(Caddo Lake resident; Marion County)
This next article is by Retired General Vernon B.
Lewis, who is a severe critic against the Caddo Lake Coalition. He
co-owns the newspaper, The Lone Star Eagle.
Lone Star Eagle
Thursday, August 11, 2005, pp. 1, 12
Room for development at the Longhorn Plant
Here is the straight story from some of those involved. For some time now a small group of Marshall businessmen have been working below the noise level with Republican leaders at State and Federal levels to get the government to cede about 2600 acres of land from the old Longhorn Ammunition Plant, now a Department of Interior wildlife preserve, to Harrision (sic) County. The County (and city of Marshall) want the land to attract future economic development. Because of its location by a railroad and easy access to I-20, the future I-69, and US 59, it would be an excellent site for a large manufacturing plant.
When the Caddo Lake Institute crowd convinced the government to transition the 8,600 acres on the plant to a protected wildlife area, carving out some leased acreage for themselves, they relegated the Karnack community to stagnation forever. So far little, if any at all, has been spent on developing the property as a wildlife area, save a few guards and a caretaker. The Department of Defense still owns some hundreds of acres because the contamination has not yet been removed. That effort, when last we heard, was on hold pending an investigation of contractor wrongdoing. It is arguable that, in its present state, the wildlife preserve will ever bring noticeable revenue to the County. The CLI envisions its headquarters there. No revenue generation there, except for those who manage the CLI, a Colorado Corporation.
On the other hand, if the land belonged to MEDCO or the County, there is likelihood that, sooner or later, they could attract a medium to large manufacturing company to the area, stimulating growth and prosperity in the eastern part of Harrison County. Success in this endeavor might even save the Karnack Independent School District – maybe even get them a new school, something the current usage of the land will never do. Both the County and Karnack could use the additional tax base it would bring.
This is another classic battle for a natural resource between environmentalists and those seeking economic growth producing jobs for residents and additional tax revenue for our schools and County needs. Because of its location, removing these 2600 acres from the reservation should have little impact on the wildlife environment. Some 95% of the land adjacent to the reservation on the south is undeveloped (much of it unfenced) and will remain that way for decades.
~ The Publishers
