Now that someone has mentioned the head of the snake, everyone knows who to complain to, Thanks Chu Chu1

Since this plant is owned by more than one city, and is a municipality could a state congressman, have some influence?

OK, I hope everyone plans to call this guy on Monday. Might suggest to him to contract out the park facilities. Similiar to what CPS did at Calaveras lake at San Antonio. Explain to him also the loss of business to locals around the lake.

A letter to your state representative won't hurt either. I don't know who the district rep is, but he may not even know about all this.

Couple of random thoughts....
Weldon...that is a great quote! "if you want to be heard, climb a tree and crow like a rooster..."

There was a post yesterday about the upcomming vote on the Sportsman Act of 2012. That is supposed to expand outdoor opportunities. Here we have a popular existing facility that is going to be taken away. Kinda ironic isn't it?

I agree with you 100% ChuChu1 and I will be making some calls.

However, there is not really a lot "of business to locals around the lake" to lose. There is nothing out there, really. No offense to the citizens of Carlos, but there really aren't any local businesses that benefit from the traffic to that lake.

So, having said that, what's some other talking points for this guy?

From what I hear there were talks about offering Gibbons Creek park to TPWD to become a new state park but the state doesn't have enough money to maintain the parks we already have so that option is probably off the table.

The sad fact is that no park like Gibbons can make enough money from just fisherman to maintain facilities and security of the lake and power plant. Just look at what's become of Lake Bryan where the focus shifted to the recreational boaters and party crowd at the expense of the fishery. I suspect that Lake Bryan comes pretty close to just breaking even with the good crowds on summer weekends.

In all of these discussions you must keep in mind the primary purpose of the lake. Power Plant cooling lakes are not necessarily public domain and so access to them is granted based on issues and conditions of the times which are always changing. Most every public body of water in Texas was built with a primary purpose in mind and most often it is water conservation and/or flood control.

The recreational interests on/of those bodies of water are at the very least a distance 3rd or 4th place on the priority list of things that matter, then pile on top of the priority list the public/private property issues and funding.

That biker bar serves a great burger and the beer is cold
!

Just about every lake built was sold to the surrounding community as a recreational opportunity. That is the ONLY way they kept opposition to a minimum. Sure, that was a lie, but it worked.

PM sent

Sad news, but not surprised..

Been watching the giant wind power gen pieces trucked up Highway 6 to West Texas almost daily for past few years. Wind power must finally be getting cost effective compared with ever shrinking supplies of railroads coal cars.

And have watched the natural gas prices fall too recently.

Seems wind and natural gas have been very good news for helping everyone's electricity prices and our economy while coal is increasingly a problem to produce and burn cheaply.

I myself don't see how TMPA or the 4 city owners or a little state congressman can be blamed and it is hard too to foresee how 10, 100 or even a 1000 fisheman's complaints can influence them to change what is apparently a sound business driven change.

TMPA long term sub-leasing the lake's recreational access to Grime's County might be our best hope for keeping the lake open. Grimes being a govt entity might have less liability and not requiring a profit, be best able to minimize any financial losses of keeping access.

Gibbons Creek Power Plant and the reservoir is located within Precinct 1 with John Bertling, commissioner:

http://www.co.grimes.tx.us/ips/cms/countyoffices/commissionersCourt.html

"myself don't see how TMPA or the cities owners or a little state congressman can be blamed and it is hard too to forsee how 10, 100 or even a 1000 fisheman's complaints can influence what is a sound business driven change."

But if we stay silent they sure won't give it a thought.

True...I am just suggesting efforts also be directed at Grimes County (or any others) that cares about the Gibbon's fishery and users of the reservoir. I am too familiar with the negative opinion of us anglers/boaters by a key TMPA owner city official in charge of voting on TMPA matters.

Great idea, heard some of the administration is running for cover, keep the heat up!

True, a couple of restaurants, and a convenience store. But the truth is that not only locals enjoy this lake. People come from all over Texas at different times to enjoy this lake. If management can't staff it like it has been, then use the drop box system like many other lakes. As far a security at the plant it is nearly nonexistent, and when they are down in the coming months which is supposed to be about 50% of the time, there will only be two people at the plant, none at the lake, and no one armed. Does this sound like security? Would be fun to be hired by security to do a pain ball attack just to show how vulnerable they are. Starting Monday, let let David Godfrey know how people feel about HIS decision to reduce hours and winter shutdown.