December 2004 Newsletter

We have varied the format of this the last issue for 2004 in order to give you an overview of our activities for the year.
From your PLDA President…
This has been an especially active year for PLDA. Much of our time early in the year was spent preparing for the second Public Meeting with TCEQ and NBU which was held in July. We continue to challenge the discharge of partially treated wastewater into the Guadalupe. Hundreds of you attended that meeting to support our cause and let your voices be heard—thank you!
As I write, we continue to wait to hear from TCEQ, who indicates they are still compiling their responses.
Along with the other lakes we participated in joint meetings with the GBRA, County Commissioner Judge Schaub, the Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) for Guadalupe County, the Guadalupe Sheriff’s Department and Bexar County Metro. The purpose of these meetings was to design a Flood Plan for Guadalupe County and get the new Emergency High Speed Call-Up System operational. All four lakes, McQueeney, Placid, Meadow and Dunlap, provided the names of waterfront streets to the EMC so waterfront property owners will receive telephone contact regarding flood warnings or evacuation notices during high water events.
Other GBRA meetings concerned siren notifications. Alerts were revised to sound at 10,000 CFS and again at 20,000 CFS (previously 12,000 and 24,000 CFS). KWED, 1580 AM, was involved in many of these meetings because of their very active participation during adverse weather events. We sincerely appreciate their special efforts during emergencies.
Recently, a new NOAA Weather Tower went online for Guadalupe and surrounding counties. This weather station broadcasts adverse weather advisories, watches and warnings. PLDA strongly encourages you to purchase an All Hazards Weather Radio with S.A.M.E. reception to provide you with an automatic emergency alert system. These are available for $40 from the Seguin Fire House, Highway 46, just past Court Street on the right side in Seguin. This multi-featured radio includes a back-up battery and audible alarm. Very important is that these radios can be programmed for messages specifically for your area.
PLDA strongly recommends that all waterfront property owners and all who are affected by high water events use multiple means of communication to keep themselves informed. Conditions around the four lakes and the Guadalupe River vary drastically. You must personally determine when safety precautions and even evacuation are necessary for you at your individual location. These multiple sources of information include:

TV, regular and cable - weather forecasts, news, crawl notices and warnings;
NOAA Weather Radio - weather advisories, watches and warnings;
KWED, 1580 AM - continuous coverage in emergencies;
High Speed Call - Up from the Guadalupe EMC - Labeled “Emergency Call” on your Caller ID, so don’t hang up.
Flood Sirens - steady tone (this siren rotates so listen closely) at 10,000 CFS and wailing tone (goes up and down) at 20,000 CFS;
Online weather alerts - sign up with www.EmergencyEmail.org to receive automatic
E-mail weather alerts - Flow rates for the Guadalupe - monitor on www.gbra.org and www.usgs.gov;
Communication - with neighbors and other area residents.

Don’t depend on just one source of information - use multiple sources. The worst thing you can do is call police and fire departments, GBRA and other groups which are monitoring and providing emergency services during disasters. You will tie up their telephones and manpower, slowing down their response to those who are in immediate need of emergency assistance.
Another little known fact is that many cell phone towers are not backed up by battery power. This means that if power fails in an area, cell phone reception may also be down. Have an evacuation plan in place with your family. Predetermine a meeting location should you be separated in an emergency.
GBRA recently called a meeting of all four lakes along the Guadalupe River. The purpose was to announce their planned expansion of the Lake Dunlap Wastewater Treatment Plant due to new residential development. This plant is located on the right side of Lake Dunlap just before the dam. Officials from GBRA provided an extensive presentation of their plans, specifically indicating that the phosphorus will be chemically treated down to one mg per liter. All four lakes were present at the meeting—and all unanimously thanked GBRA for the open meeting and commended GBRA for their handling of this expansion and for voluntarily treating the phosphorous. Thank you, GBRA, for doing the right thing!
I could write on and on about our other activities this year—the regular meetings with the other lakes regarding our common interests, attorney visits regarding the TCEQ/NBU issue, involvement with Preserve Lakes Across Texas (PLAT), touring the San Marcos Wastewater Treatment Plant, the great 4th of July Parade of Boats, etc. We protested the issuance of permits for a Beer and Wine License and an above-ground gasoline tank to the Cypress Station Marina on Schumanns Beach Road. Your Board of Directors has been busy, very busy, working on your behalf on matters that concern all of us.
Our next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2005, but holidays aside, our work on PLDA issues will continue. As the year comes to a close, the Board of Directors of PLDA extends to you and your family best wishes for a very Happy Holiday Season.

See you in 2005!
Kent Kottler

Reminder… GBRA has closed all four lakes to motorized and non-motorized boats until at least December 22, 2004. See the GBRA website for additional information.