So, Residents: Looks like another bad year for the two lakes with the vegetation taking over again, its only June and the Coontail has already large areas covering the top looking like a carpet.
And the algae is building up along the shoreline. The question is, will anything be done about it, will the club do another spray, and will you be willing to pay more money since it didn’t work last year? “Probably not”.
Will the club take the money that is put aside ever year for lake maintenance? Article XI, Section 11 says, “To pay for this service instead of wasting it on stocking the lakes with more fish.”
And speaking of restocking, something that is hard to understand, last year the “catch and release” was lifted because the club wants to cull out the smaller bass fish population. But last April they turned around and restocked the upper lake with Florida bass, if you want to reduce the smaller fish in the lake why would you spend money on putting in more smaller fish.
Instead, use the money in a positive way by continuing to chemical spray for the floating algae on lakes. And start controlling the big problem Coontail, which again has taken over both and will just get worse with the hot temp.
Coontail is a competitive plant that can develop dense subsurface mats in high nutrient waters and displace or out-compete other native vegetation. It can reach nuisance levels, causing dense mats to deplete oxygen levels that can lead to fish kills, impede recreational activities, and create mosquito habitats.
So, let’s talk about a possible cheaper alternative that may be out there. It’s just taking the time to do some research.
And I have done just that, even talking to a person from TPWD that oversees the lakes in Texas, and he recommended two solutions that would not only work, but it’s also safe for the environment and fish, along with keeping the vegetation under control. See the diagram below on doing a type of gate on each lake and adding Triploid Non-reproductive Grass Carp. Biological Control: Triploid Sterile Grass Carp (White Amur) are non-native herbivorous fish that will consume and control Coontail and other aquatic vegetation, eating any preferred aquatic plants that may be present.
These fish may be purchased and placed in a waterway from an approved hatchery “Overton Fisheries”. Unless you have a license, that you can get online from the TPWD website to place yourself.
So what do you think, Fishing Residents? Are you tired of paying those yearly club dues to see it wasted on restocking fish in the lakes, which nature does that ever year? Or would you like to see that yearly $3,000 of the Club Bylaws Article XI Section 11 be used to clean up the lake?
Mike Van Winkle, Teague
