John,

We appreciate both your work and and communicating what is happening on here. Seems like several of us will be looking into Friends of Reservoirs projects. Has there been any impact from the Lake Livingston project? I was excited to see that water willow was being planted a few years back but haven’t been to the lake in years.

I’m interested to hear your feedback on the overstocking of carp in Conroe and Austin, as well. We’re these driven by the River Authorities or P&W?

Won't need to spray for a while with these temps hopefully. Unfortunately the hydrilla will probably take a hit somewhat

My Dad got that project going on Livingston, he has moved out of state a few years ago, and I have participated in several plantings sessions. I have heard mixed results on the water willow on Livingston, but I also do hope it is helping.

No project will have a 100% success rate, but I'm glad he was able to get the project going. Hopefully enough willow beds took root to start to spread across the lake some. He's done more than 99.5% of us have done, tell him thank you for us!

John, have you or anyone in your department, considered the possibility of some of your contractors, using a non approved chemicals in their spraying?? I am in no way saying that they do, or have done this. The reason for this question is 2 parts. 1. From what you wrote, I would not think, that the chemicals used, would kill buck brush and willow trees, nor do I believe, that the massive amounts of decimated buck brush and willows is a natural occurrence. 2. A credible person, alleges that he witnessed a spraying contractor at a boat launch @ Toledo Bend, with large containers of Roundup. Now that may or may not be the same thing as the chemicals that you noted, I don't know, but I'm sure that you do. I'm not trying to start a argument, just asking a legitimate question. Thank you.

I will email John next week and ask about the plans for spraying after this weather. I'm sure they have a ton of stuff going on now. No telling how the hatcheries handled this and whatever else they deal with. Hopefully we wont see any spraying the rest of the year. The problem with that is the industry has been created based on year around spraying and I wonder if they would risk the companies leaving without having any spraying to do. That's part of the reason I think theres more spraying than needs to be done.

so the take away i got from the memo is they are using glyphosphate (roundup) as one of the "control" agents. spraying a known carcinogen directly into the water supply.
any one else see away to win here?