HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[The Trout Scout]

Save Cedar Bayou Kickoff Meeting

Save Cedar Bayou, Inc. has announced a Kickoff Meeting.

SAT, OCT 30, (10am-12noon)
Goose Island State Park Pavilion

Presentations will be made by representatives of Save Cedar Bayou, Inc. and Project Sponsors.

The Project Sponsors are the General Land Office, TP&W, US Corp of Engineers, CCA, SEA, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries, Aransas County Commissioners Court, RFA Texas and the local Wal-Mart here in Rockport.

The Public is invited to attend and become informed of the importance and the progress of getting the Cedar Bayou Pass re-opened and maintaining it for the benefit of our future generations of anglers that will follow our footprints in the sand.

Among other things, this meeting will give the public information on the 1st of 5 phases required to complete the 1st Task

There are three “Tasks” to completing the fruition of opening Cedar Bayou.

The First Task has five phases, the first of which is the Hydrology Study.

The Second Task is the Project Design.

The Third Task is the Construction/ Dredging of the pass.

For all the SaltH20 anglers out there that have a great desire for a more in depth knowledge of how the Rockport Bay System works from the surf to San Antonio Bay to Copano Bay to Corpus Christi Bay, then you don’t want to miss this meeting.

The information conveyed at this meeting will be of great benefit to all those who desire more knowledge about the Coastal Bends fishing and birding environment.
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Capt. Rex

"In its deepest self, fishing is the most solitary sport, for at its best it is all betweeen you and the fish." .....Arnold Gingrich.

[The Trout Scout]

This was the most impressive of all the “Save Cedar Bayou” meetings I’ve attended over the past two years.

It started with Coffee and cake and ended with Bar-B-Q and sodas.

In between was a meeting with some of the most impressive display of data, graphs and computer user generated animations showing how computer users can track the flow of fluids and sediments from both wind and wave action from the surf throughout the bays. The type of data and information that would any mariner would have a great desire to know about Cedar Bayou and the Rockport Bay System.

In attendance were all Save Cedar Bayou, Inc. officers led by Lynn Edwards, President, and individuals representing the Save Cedar Bayou sponsors, CCA Texas: Jeff Blaha; GLO: Dennis Rocha; TP&W: Ed Hagan; Dept. of Interior: Tom Stein, Aransas Co. Comm. Court: Oscar Pina; Coast & Harbor Engineers, Vladimir, President, Hugo and Josh, Engineers; Galveston Corps. of Engineers: Jeff Waters and representatives of Coastal Bend Bay’s and Estuaries and SEA.

A professional slide show from a computer generated presentation that included how Coast & Harbor Engineers can now track water flow as well the flow of sediments that follow the currents. Vladimir, the President of C&HE, has 36 years experience and is world renowned for his accomplishments of these type projects all over the globe. The bays that Cedar Bayou affect and that are to be studied will be from the surf at Cedar Bayou, and all areas between that point to Redfish Bay to Copano Bay to San Antonio Bay.

Wind and wave graphs were also presented showing that Cedar Bayou sanding problem is most influenced by wave action from winds pushing sand into the gut. A design for the fish pass to function correctly needs to include a design that allows for enough force to push water though the bayou and into the surf. Vladimir acknowledged that the system has been “tweaked” in a way that has led to Cedar Bayou sanding in, so she needs some “tweaking” to make her function correctly. Therefore, some tweaking may need to be done in various areas of the Rockport Bay System in the years following the reopening of the pass.

One of the most impressive parts of the presentation by Hugo was a slide show from a computer user generated animation of the water and sediment flows. The one that was shown was from a study of Rollover Pass showing the flow and displacement of sediments over time. I look forward to seeing the one on Cedar Bayou that will be generated after this study is done that’s for sure.

The importance of the delta that once existed in front of the Cedar Bayou fish pass was also discussed. There was a delta in front of Cedar Bayou before 1979 when it was sanded in to prevent oil from invading the Rockport Bay System during the Ixtox Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The timetable for the completion of the different phases and tasks was presented in graph form with various dates for completions of studies. One is due on November 30, 2004 and some are due in Feb/March 2005 with a final analysis due by September 2005. At that point the permitting process can take from 6 months to a year to accomplish, meanwhile a final design will be completed. Actual dredging and to complete the design could take from 2 to 6 months. So this would take the project into 2006 for completion.

The permitting timetable could be made to happen more expediently if the Texas Legislature has a positive influence over that matter.

Anglers that attended this meeting from the general public represented professional fishing guides to recreational anglers that ranged from the ages of 9 years old to past 70 years old, from kayak anglers to powerboat anglers. All were in favor of seeing the completion of the reopening and the restoration of this fish pass.

Now that’s what I call a consensus for helping save Cedar Bayou.
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Capt. Rex

"In its deepest self, fishing is the most solitary sport, for at its best it is all betweeen you and the fish." .....Arnold Gingrich.

[tyler]

Great to get the details for those of us who were not able to attend.

Thanks again Captain Rex!

Tyler

[heavyduty]

Is there a webpage to view any of this info. I am really interested in it and was not able to be at the meeting. Thanks for the report.

[The Trout Scout]

My pleasure Tyler. Thanks for providing a board where we can keep up with things that are important to the coastal bends bays and fishing.

heavyduty: new information will be charted and graphed the next few months. If it can be obtained and posted, I'll look into that and get back to you. Good question.

Here is some background, information and pics on Cedar Bayou and why the Save Cedar Bayou Meeting was assembled.

Here is an aerial photo of what Cedar Bayou looked like in 1968.


Here is an aerial photo of what Cedar Bayou looked like in Fall 2002.


At this time, through October 2004, there is some water flowing through the bayou but it less than 1 ft. in most areas from the final turn to the surf with small gut of 3 - 4 ft. +/- deep depending on tide phase, 20 ft. wide coming in from the surf about 50 ft. or so.

When Cedar Bayou is open and fuctioning correctly, as it was before 1979, or or opened temporarily by minimal dredging efforts, like in 1986 and 1995, the fishing in the surrounding bay's in the Rockport Bay System can be nothing short of oustanding.

The meeting was about the reopening and restoration of Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough. The water and fish that flow through this Texas State Statute designated “Fish Pass” is of great importance all the bay’s in the Rockport Bay System. When this Fish Pass is open it has a most significant and immediate impact on the Rockport Bay System’s ecosystems and marine resources. Redfish, flounder, drum and to some degree speckled trout, ( trout, red and drum are a member of the croaker family ), require a journey from the bays to the gulf and to some, back in the bays to complete their life cycles. Finfish and shrimp also follow that tide and seasonal pattern. Therefore having a Fish Pass closed not only destroys the ecosystem it also hinders bays from being stocked with game fish and baitfish from the Gulf of Mexico.

Cedar Bayou has been completely or partially closed for more than two years due to unauthorized misplacement of dredged spoil material in front of Vinson’s Slough, natural silting, compounded by inadequate past dredging, lack of maintenance, and a deliberate and unnatural loss of hydrology.

Cedar Bayou was bulldozed closed in 1979 to protect the area from the Ixtoc 1 Oil Spill. Vinson Slough was never “properly” reopened by the hand of man. It reopened itself naturally, but spoils from subsequent dredgings of Cedar Bayou in 1986 and 1995, were placed in the mouth of Vinson Slough completely blocking the historical water exchange between this estuary, the Bays and the Gulf.

This blockage has had a negative impact on the fish and wildlife in hundreds of square miles of our bays and estuaries. The Rockport Bay System is losing valuable wetlands and tidal marshes fed by Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough, and the endangered Whooping Crane habitats are in decline as a direct result.

The reopening of these areas will result in an immediate and dramatic improvement to the environment of the fish and wildlife, and will help restore the natural healthy ecology of the area.

The first phase of the plan is to complete the hydrology report to determine the nature and extent of dredging necessary to reopen these areas. That report could be available as early as November 30, 2004.

The Texas Parks And Wildlife Department (T.P.W.D.) currently holds an active dredging permit that is valid until December 31, 2005. They are hesitant to use that permit for this project due to the possibility of lawsuits by property owners similar to those experienced in a previous project at Rollover Pass.

Although T.P.W.D. is required by law to protect our wetlands, there is currently no State funding allocated for this project. Currently, there are ways being explored to assist overcoming this hurdle.

The funding of this project to date has been a combination of contributions from the various sponsored named, other businesses, and individuals interested in restoring the ecosystem. Federal matching funds which are available for such projects.

Pending the results of the hydrology and other reports to determine the amount of dredging necessary, an exact cost estimate cannot be made at this time.

Save Cedar Bayou, Inc. and its sponsors will be holding additional meetings in the future to keep the general public updated with new information.

I’ll keep you anglers posted as the news rolls off the press.
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Capt. Rex

"In its deepest self, fishing is the most solitary sport, for at its best it is all betweeen you and the fish." .....Arnold Gingrich.

[Alfish]

I fished CB from the gulf about a month back, like you say very shallow right now, but still fish holding there. I'm looking forward to the completion of the project.

BTW, nice talking with you friday. Sunday was a blow out so I didn't stop by. I did stop by Ace Tackle when I got back in town for some RP rattlers, I'll put them to use soon I hope.

Al

[Guest]

Wow!!, AlFish......it's good to hear from you because you sure have dedicated a lot of your time and organized others to travel here and help out the coastal bends beach cleanup projects, even from the heart of Texas - Austin, over the last 10 years.

There are a lot of coastal bend anglers that owe your heart of Texas volunteers that you've rounded up over the years a TON of Thanks!!

It sure was good to hear from you telephonically last Friday evening and to also see that you are a part of this web site.

C.C. Fishing Anglers, last time I saw Alfish, he was looking for a limit of reds and that's what he found;...well.... along with a couple of trout.



Deal is; this year,...I could have booked a trip with AlFish on 10-30-04, but both my heart and my mind would have been at the Save Cedar Bayou Meeting, so Al and I discussed it telephonically and we agreed to reschedule that charter for another day.

Thanks Alfish. I appreciate your understanding on this matter.

BTW AlFish, The Rockport Rattler XMAX is being used with significent success over hydrilla on fresh water lakes in your neck of the woods just like it being used over shallow grassbeds and potholes around Redfish Bay, backside of Hog Isle. over grassbeds and the skinny water NE of Estes Flats and Yucca Cut on the inside of Traylor Isle. in my neck o' the woods.

Now that the colder weather is here the Norton Sand Eels will be the ticket on the Rockport Rattler jigs during periods of colder weather patterns.

Have Fun with your RR'ers Al, and tell Ace at I said "Hey there" next time ya see him at Jenson's Tackle in Austin and I'll see ya soon my friend.

[rio nueces]

Rex, thanks for keeping everyone informed on the issues. I was in attendance at the first meeting at Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries when all of these groups decided to come together to support the study. I would like to think that I had some influence on CCA. It really does represent a great collective effort for all of the local conservation groups.

I will give you a call the next time I'm in Rockport. We need to get back out on the water. Your old friend, Jeff.

[The Trout Scout]

Wow!!, AlFish......it's good to hear from you because you sure have dedicated a lot of your time and organized others to travel here from Austin and help out the coastal bends beach cleanup projects, even from miles away..the heart of Texas - Austin, over the last 10 years.

There are a lot of coastal bend anglers that owe your heart of Texas volunteers that you've rounded up over the years a TON of Thanks, Al!!

It sure was good to hear from you telephonically last Friday evening and to also see that you are a part of this web site.

C.C. Fishing Anglers, last time I saw Alfish, he was looking for a limit of reds and that's what he found in the back part of Copano Bay;...well.... along with a couple of trout.



Deal is; this year,...I could have booked a trip with AlFish on 10-30-04, but both my heart and my mind would have been at the Save Cedar Bayou Meeting, so Al and I discussed it telephonically Friday evening and we agreed to reschedule that charter for another day.

Thanks Alfish. I appreciate your understanding on this matter.

BTW AlFish, The Rockport Rattler XMAX is being used with significent success over hydrilla on fresh water lakes in your neck of the woods just like it being used over shallow grassbeds and potholes around Redfish Bay, backside of Hog Isle. over grassbeds and the skinny water NE of Estes Flats and Yucca Cut on the inside of Traylor Isle. in my neck o' the woods,..also NE of California Hole on that shallow shell over there.

Now that the colder weather is here the Norton Sand Eels will be the ticket on the Rockport Rattler jigs during periods of colder weather patterns.

Have Fun with your RR'ers Al, and tell Ace at I said "Hey there" next time ya see him at Jenson's Tackle in Austin and I'll see ya soon my friend.

*********************************

Looks like Rio Nueces knows who the last guest was...LOL!!!

Thanks Jeff....I look forward to seeing you again my friend, no matter what bay system we choose to fish.

It was a good feeling last Saturday as I was sitting elbow to elbow next to Jeff Blaha who represented Texas CCA. I tip my hat to CCA. I have no doubt that the words you spoke were true and helped Texas CCA Chapters from Austin to Houston belly up to the table.

Little victories count over time.

A sincere "Thank You" for all you've done to help save Cedar Bayou, rio nueces. No doubt you've done your best to save Cedar Bayou when you had the chance.

Now "Let's Go" catching my friend.....
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Capt. Rex

"In its deepest self, fishing is the most solitary sport, for at its best it is all betweeen you and the fish." .....Arnold Gingrich.

[cjlandry]

It's neat reading these posts. People who are really dedicated to the waters that they love.

Thanks to all of you for your work in these areas. If it weren't for CCA and other groups around here, I wouldn't have anything to do since I moved here this year.

Seriously, I feel privileged to count you as a friend, Rex. I hope I can help out with some of your conservation efforts in the future.
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Chad Landry

"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"