Protect the Wildlife Living at Lake Conroe From Texas Authorities

Environment, Petitions — By Paul Preibisius on January 24, 2012 7:01 am

Target: Chairman of Texas Parks and Wildlife T. Dan Friedkin

Goal: To protect Lake Conroe from major changes proposed in light of the recent drought.

Lakes and floodplain rivers are often the hardest hit bodies of water when a drought occurs.  Lake Conroe of Montgomery and Walker Counties in Texas is unfortunately among those locales to fall under that ‘hard hit’ blanket.  This lake which stems from the West Fork of the San Jacinto River is experiencing record low water at present following severe drought conditions.

These drought conditions have left a portion of the standing timber fish habitat structure uncovered.  This in unfortunate because now the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is seeking to destroy this structure which occupies much of the north 1/3 of this reservoir without any proper data impact studies being done.

This reservoir is not only home to many species of fish, but also waterfowl and endangered species such as the American Bald Eagle.  This structure creates a shoreline habitat that many of these species have come to depend on.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s own biologist less than two years ago described it thus, “Most of the ecologically functional shoreline habitat occurs in this section of the reservoir,” meaning that the bulk of all wildlife supported within this reservoir depends heavily on this specific portion of the lake and the habitat formed by the timber fish habitat structure.

To remove it poses no benefit aside from potentially making the lake more aesthetically pleasing to people stopping by.  That said, without the wildlife supported by this structure, the volume of people coming to the reservoir would likely dry up anyway, thus defeating the only potential purpose.

The removal of standing timber tops and cutting away of them needs to be stopped before the entire structure is gone and the Lake Conroe ecosystem completely altered.  These animals need a habitat, even during drought seasons.  Protect Lake Conroe’s timber fish habitat structure.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Chairman Friedkin,

The drought besetting portions of Texas has hit the Lake Conroe reservoir especially hard.  This lake, within the west fork of the San Jacinto River crosses through both Montgomery and Walker Counties.

At peak this lake can hold a surface area of over 20,000 acres, unfortunately at present the severe drought has left many portions of this lake at record low water levels.  One by-product of these record lows is the uncovering of the standing timber fish habitat structure that occupies much of the northern 1/3 of this reservoir.

This structure is now being dismantled by the Texas Park and Wildlife department with no sufficient regard for data impact studies as to how this removal will impact the local ecology.

This is unacceptable given the sheer volume of wildlife supported by this structure.  It did not only create a habitat for fish, but in the process also fostered one for many forms of waterfowl and even endangered animals such as our American Bald Eagle.

These animals have come to rely on this habitat as Texas Parks and Wildlife’s own biologist has stated that “Most of the ecologically functional shoreline habitat occurs in this section of the reservoir”.  This isn’t a portion of the reservoir’s ecology but rather the bulk of it being tied to this very specific section of structure.

To destroy it now merely because a drought has uncovered portions of it, making the structure perhaps something of an eyesore, would wreck havoc upon Lake Conroe’s ecology and ultimately result in far more harm than is necessary for what amounts to habitat destruction for cosmetic purposes.

Please end the destruction of this structure now, before Lake Conroe’s habitat is permanently altered for the worse.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Will Go Here]