Casitas Closure

[John Barron]

There are things in the works so to make threats of law suits and other crap won't help. As soon as we can, we will get information out to everyone. There is a group already in place working on it. This group was put together prior to last night's meeting in case this happened. If you want to help you can contact me by pm or e-mail

John Barron

[KMAC]

I already know the outcome of the meeting last night,but how did it go ? Were the concerns of the lake users (Bass fishermen) heard out ? Was it a done deal from the get go ?

[Marty]

John, I’m not disagreeing with you about keeping our heads but intimidation is a way of negotiation!

It may be so that the board members are protected by the water district but that does not preclude a citizen from file a law suit. We all have the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Some of you were at the water district board meeting to start the process but they were ignored. The steps are numerous: 1. contact you the city government, 2. Contact your State representatives, even the Governor. 3. Send in Op Ed’s to your local paper. 5. Get the local businesses that are effected by this closing to do the same. 6. Come up with your own process to prevent the spread of quagga or zebra mussel. 7. List persons in government (DFG) that are on your side. 8. File law suits. When filing your law suit list everyone and their bothers.

The first thing is to get a judge to stop the closing! As for the law suits, It does not matter if you even get to court – What matters is you squeak loudly and the more of you guys squeaking the better. You don’t just want one person filing but the more the merrier.

Use the same methods that the environmental nuts use! You can’t wait for someone else to do this for you – you all need to do for yourself.

One last thing and this is just my belief – This closing is not about the quagga or zebra mussel but the means to have the closer. This problem is not new and other locations have overcome the quagga or zebra mussel without closer to boats.

[Pred]

marty believe me I tried to tell them. They got mad because its easier to kiss the boots of the water board... look what happened.

Heck a landowner even mentioned the "pretty boy boats" by name.

I feel bad for you guys, but if you fired back, you would have had a chance.

[John Barron]

First off yes they did hear our concerns. We put on a presentation including Terry Foreman from Fish and Game, Lane Gergerly Sure Life Industries Scientist, Larry Elshere, Ron Cervenka and myself plus all the anglers against closure and some citizens for closure. They had to by law.

Unfortunately the outcome felt predetermined. The way one of the boards members crucified Terry Foreman it was pretty obvious what the decision was going to be. That same board member was going around after the meeting boasting and this is a quote "I guess we got there attention didn't we"

Right now the only thing that may help is contacting the Governor’s office as well as Congressmen and the local Supervisor.

Marty you can certainly file a law suit but it would be a waste of money. You have that right though. I'm not telling you not to I am saying with the "eminent danger" declaration it helps protect the water district from law suits and lowers their legal exposure.

Your list has already been discussed and one of the things being worked on is a plan to protect the lake and get it back open. You're not going to stop the lake from closing because it is already closed. If some one had filed an injunction ex parte this morning you might have had a chance to keep it open until the court could hear the case.

I think we presented a good case but the board had already decided to close the lake before the meeting.

DFG is working on a plan even as we speak top get the lake open again.

jb

[mark poulson]

John,
I, and a lot of other people out here, saw fit to put our faith and trust in you, Ron, and all the rest of the people who spoke up.
In any organization, 10% of the people do 90% of the work, and you guys certainly did that, for sure.
If you say to hang in there, that things are afoot, I see no reason not to take heart in that, and be patient.
I know you have as much invested, literally, as anyone in keeping Casitas, and the rest of the lakes, open to outside boating and fishing.
If anyone has a right to be pissed, it has to be guys like you who have money invested in the future of tournament fishing at Casitas.
If you say hold fire, there's some more stuff going on behind the scenes, that's good news, and enough to give me hope.
I didn't go to the meeting because, besides being sick as a dog and having my boat and trailer totaled, I knew I wouldn't have anything to contribute that others who were already attending were much more qualified to say, and more articulate, too.
I know from testifying as an expert witness in construction disputes, having an official title, and having facts and figures to back up your position, is the best way to prevail. Passion and rhetoric count for nothing when this kind of deal comes up.
Sounds like you guys had your ducks (experts) in a row, and gave as good an argument as was possible.
The water board voted with their financial and political interests foremost.
To "protect" the drinking water of their customers.
I thought from the start that, from a strictly water use point of view, closing the lake made perfect sense. No chance of contamination, no chance of costly expenditures for mussel abatement/cleanup.
But I also thought that the financial interests of the local businesses might provide enough pressure that the board might have to consider alternatives. I still think that.
I think that Tuesday's meeting was pro forma, that they had already decided to close the lake, and the meeting was just for show.
Now that they've voted to close the lake, they can say they did everything they could to protect the water supply.
But I think the water people also know what they did won't stand, because it just isn't fair.
When a compromise, alternative solution is finally worked out, they can say they did their duty by the initial vote, and hold the moral high ground, so they don't lose their "holy environmentalist" standing with the watercress sandwich crowd. And they can get reelected.
Lets hope that the old expression, "Money talks, and bullsh#t walks" is true, and that there is enough money involved in keeping the lake open that it prevails.
I'm just glad people like you are still involved, and willing to keep up the fight.
Thanks.

[Ron C]

...No chance of contamination, no chance of costly expenditures for mussel abatement/cleanup.

Not so. We provided scientific evidence that contamination is possible via waterfowl and other wildlife.

According to Larry Elshere, at a meeting several weeks ago, Russ Baggerly asked if we could prove 100% that quagga mussels could not be transported by boat. Although remote (especially with the "Clean and Dry" inspections), the answer is obviously no.

Baggerly was asked by one of his fellow Board members: "What happens if we close the lake and it still gets contaminated?" Baggerly said nothing. This guy as an absolute tool and needs to be voted out of office.

[mark poulson]

Glad to see that the bird contamination issue has been addressed.
Thanks again Ron.
I think the three stooges are interested in furthering their political futures. They don't give a damn about the water, one way or another, except as a stepping stone to higher elected office, and a bigger spot at the public trough.