Month: August 2015

TPWD Commission Confirms Jasper Site for New Fish Hatchery – Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted Nov. 3 to approve the Jasper County bid to host a new East Texas freshwater fish hatchery for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The commission vote completes the new hatchery site selection process, confirming a recommendation made last month by the private, nonprofit Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

More than a dozen elected officials and community leaders from across the region came to the commission meeting to express their support for the hatchery, including several communities that bid for the project but were not selected.

“I’m reminded of the Caddo and Coushatta tribes that lived long ago in deep East Texas,” said Jimmie Cooley, mayor of Woodville, which had teamed with Tyler County to submit a hatchery bid. “Those tribes knew no county lines, and we know no such boundaries with our neighbors in Jasper. We will share our resources to make this a successful project for all of East Texas.”

“Tyler County submitted a proposal and fought hard for this project,” Tyler County Judge Jerome Owens said. “We gave it a good fight, but we are here to let you know that we support the Jasper proposal and will do all we can to make it a truly regional hatchery.”

Jasper County officials welcomed the participation from Tyler County and invited neighboring counties and communities to make the hatchery a regional project.

“We know that the location of this hatchery in East Texas will be a great benefit to the citizens of the entire region and to all the people of Texas,” said Joe Folk, Jasper County Judge. Officials with the Deep East Texas Council of Governments and other communities expressed similar sentiments.

“We deeply appreciate the spirit of regional cooperation that is developing around the new hatchery project,” said Joseph Fitzsimons, TPWD Commission chairman. “There were many fine proposals by local communities, and it was a difficult decision. We fully support the concept of making this a venture that will benefit the entire region.”

The Jasper County proposal was valued at approximately $28 million over 50 years, $4 million higher than the next highest bidder. It offered the largest land area at 200 acres. And it was also the only hatchery proposal that would require minimal water pumping, and with water delivered by gravity flow during parts of the year. The site is well-suited for hatchery construction, and will be cleared at no cost to TPWD.

The Jasper County proposal will locate the new hatchery near the Sam Rayburn Reservoir dam on property owned by Temple-Inland. The site is currently a managed forest logging operation.

Other partner offerings in the Jasper County proposal include water and financial support from the Lower Neches Valley Authority, a new county road to the site with possible assistance from the Texas Department of Transportation, and additional support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The new hatchery will replace the present Jasper Fish Hatchery, which was opened in 1932 and has had no major renovation or modernization since the late 1940s. The primary funding source for the new hatchery and for improvements at other hatcheries in the TPWD system will come from a new $5 freshwater fishing stamp that was required beginning Sept.1, and from community and corporate support.

Fish hatchery production, along with fisheries management, regulations and law enforcement, helps sustain the high quality of fishing in Texas, an important part of the state economy. Freshwater anglers in Texas generated $1.49 billion in retail sales in 2001 based upon data collected by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. This angling activity generated $733 million in wages and salaries annually.

There are still major sponsorship opportunities available in connection with the new hatchery. For sponsorship details, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation at (214) 720-1478. – Lake Mohave

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Red Drum Donated to TPWD and Are Being Stocked in Lakes – Lake Mohave

ATHENS, Texas — Texas anglers received an early holiday gift: 50,000 red drum, donated by the largest commercial red drum farm in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocked the 10-14-inch fish into Lakes Braunig, Calaveras and Fairfield, and Victor.

“We are in the business of producing redfish for the retail market,” explained John Turner, managing partner of Lonestar Aquafarms, Ltd., of Palacios. “We have to produce fish of a certain size, and sometimes we have a surplus of a particular size. If the community at large can benefit from having them, I think that’s a really good deal.”

In 2002, while Turner was managing another aquaculture operation, he donated about 100,000 6-inch red drum fingerlings to TPWD.

“We really appreciate Mr. Turner’s continuing support of our programs to provide quality red drum fishing in several of our lakes,” said Phil Durocher, director of TPWD’s Inland Fisheries division. “When a commercial grower is willing to donate part of his production to the state, it is a direct benefit to the anglers who fish these lakes and a great assist to our stocking program.”

Although red drum is a saltwater species, TPWD stocks them into selected lakes to provide increased angler opportunity for this popular sportfish. Lakes stocked with red drum are power plant lakes, which have the warmer water temperature the fish need to survive.

“The fish Mr. Turner donated in 2002 did really well in the lakes,” said Todd Engeling, TPWD’s hatchery program manager. “Lakes Braunig, Calaveras and Fairfield already have redfish, and typically we stock them every year. These freshwater red drum fisheries have become very popular, and the fish stocked this week will probably be legal to catch a year from now.” All three lakes have a 20-inch minimum length requirement, no maximum size limit and a daily bag limit of three fish.

Turner said Lonestar Aquafarms sells about 25,000 pounds of fresh fish per week. “Sometimes survival is higher than expected, and we also stock our ponds to make sure we have plenty of fish. We take the risk to produce more and give them away, because that’s better than not having them.” – Lake Mohave

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Skeeter ZX 300 – Lake Mohave

Yes, forevermore, your place will be out in front. At SKEETER, we had a growth spurt with the all new 21’10″ ZX300 powered by the Yamaha VZ300 engine. This powerplant produces a class-leading 300 horsepower engine combined with the largest bass boat ever in the SKEETER lineup…with thoughtfully planned, over-sized casting decks, extra tackle and gear storage, plus a 64-gallon fuel tank for those long runs to your favorite fishing hole. WARNING! You may have to stop for water on the way to your seat. – Lake Mohave

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Lowrance M56i S/Map – Lake Mohave

High-brightness 4″ (10.2cm) diagonal Film SuperTwist LCD

Highly visible 240V x 160H pixel resolution

Amber LED backlit screen and keypad for night or low-light viewing
Transmits NMEA 0183 data

Complies with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) requirements for transmitting position, time, and date to DSC equipped VHF marine radios

Simplified keypad with Menu and Pages keys

Overlay Data feature displays GPS information over sonar screen, and sonar information over GPS screens

Space-saving case design with adjustable tilt, quick-mount/release convenience – Lake Mohave

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WBFA October 24 – Lake Mohave

The
Women’s Bass Fishing Association
And
JR’s Executive INN

PRESENTS

HARVEST MOON INVITATIONAL EVENT

OHIO/TENNESSEE RIVE, PADUCAH, KENTUCKY

Housing Headquarters
J.R.’s Executive Inn (800) 866-3636 – Lake Mohave

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Foundation Recommends Jasper County for New Hatchery – Lake Mohave

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation board has voted to recommend acceptance of the Jasper County bid to host a new East Texas freshwater fish hatchery for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The TPWD Commission must still approve the foundation recommendation at the commission’s Nov. 3 meeting.

The Jasper County proposal was valued at approximately $28 million over 50 years, more than $4 million higher than the next highest bidder. It offered the largest land area at 200 acres. And it was also the only hatchery proposal that would require almost no water pumping, because water could be delivered primarily by gravity flow at reduced cost. The site topography is flat and suitable for hatchery ponds, and it will be cleared at no cost to TPWD. Jasper County officials say a bass fishing tournament took place recently at a new pavilion near the site, attracting an estimated 18,000 visitors and competitors.

The Jasper County proposal would locate the new hatchery near the Sam Rayburn Reservoir dam on property owned by Temple-Inland. The site is currently a managed forest logging operation.

Other partner offerings in the Jasper County proposal include help to provide water and financial support from the Lower Neches Valley Authority, assistance with road construction from the Texas Department of Transportation, and additional support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Jasper County officials have stressed that they welcome participation from neighboring counties and communities to make the hatchery a truly regional project.

“The Jasper County proposal presented the best value for the anglers of Texas,” said Ed Cox, Jr., former foundation board chairman and head of the current foundation hatchery site selection committee. “The bids received from other communities were carefully considered and much appreciated and we’re going to look for ways to partner with these and other communities that realize how important fishing is to regional economies. This project will benefit all of East Texas.”

In May, the foundation received hatchery proposals from seven bidders—San Augustine County, Jasper County, the South Sulphur River Development Association, the Newton First Committee, Tyler County and the City of Woodville, the Sabine River Authority and Dow Chemical Company.

The hatchery proposals were evaluated based upon technical merit and value-added criteria by technical staff at TPWD and by two engineering companies and a CPA firm hired by the foundation. The goal of the hatchery is to provide anglers with the most value for the monies spent.

The new hatchery will replace the present Jasper Fish Hatchery, which was opened in 1932 and has had no major renovation or modernization since the late 1940s. The primary funding source for the new hatchery and for improvements at other hatcheries in the TPWD system will come from a new $5 freshwater fishing stamp that was required beginning Sept.1, and from community and corporate support.

“This approach is a great deal for the 2 million people who fish in Texas, two-thirds of whom fish freshwater,” said Robert L. Cook, TPWD executive director. “This kind of local community support will leverage the value of our new stamp funds to produce the most cost-effective possible outcome. The bottom line is that fishing in Texas will be better.”

Fish hatchery production, along with fisheries management, regulations and law enforcement, helps sustain the high quality of fishing in Texas, an important part of the state economy. Freshwater anglers in Texas generated $1.49 billion in retail sales in 2001 based on data collected by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. This angling activity generated $733 million in wages and salaries annually.

There are still major sponsorship opportunities available in connection with the new hatchery. For details, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (formerly the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas) at (214) 720-1478. – Lake Mohave

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Rains Bode Well for Budweiser ShareLunker Program – Lake Mohave

ATHENS, Texas — Just as April showers bring May flowers, summer rains may produce lots of big bass, come winter.

The 19th Budweiser ShareLunker season begins Oct. 1 and continues through April 30, and program coordinator David Campbell anticipates a good year. “Many lakes caught a lot of water this summer, and that produces more habitat for fish to spawn. Plus, when the lakes remain full for a longer period of time, the spawning areas are more accessible to anglers, and they catch more big fish,” Campbell said.

Anglers who catch largemouth bass 13 pounds or more from October through April are encouraged to enter the fish into the ShareLunker program. Offspring of the lunkers are stocked into public waters in Texas in an effort to improve the quality of fishing in the state. Anglers receive a replica of their fish by Lake Fork Taxidermy and other prizes and may donate the fish to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or have it returned to them after spawning.

Anglers wishing to enter a big bass in the program may call Campbell at (903) 681-0550 any time, day or night, to arrange to have a fish picked up. Or they may page him at (888) 784-0600 and leave a phone number including area code. TPWD personnel will attempt to retrieve the fish within 12 hours. Information about caring for fish before the TPWD pickup can be found on the ShareLunker Web site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/sharelunker.htm). Most marinas also have this information. – Lake Mohave

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Web Design and Hosting – Lake Mohave

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As a full service company, we provide ALL the services you need to implement and maintain an effective website, from beginning to end. We can suggest and create a new custom website, or analyze and enhance an existing site; Web Site Evaluation is Free. Whether your website requires e-Commerce, Online Inventory, a Shopping Cart or Database Solutions; we can design, manage and host your website, at an affordable cost.

We employ all the leading edge technology to create a website that is tailored to you and your business; whether that means incorporating Dynamic HTML or Flash Animation for moving pictures, or applying our programming expertise to integrate your product inventory or other database. We NEVER forfeit functionality. Your website’s basic design will be “search engine optimized” to provide you with top search engine position; and with our managed hosting services, your website will maintain good search engine ranking.

Websites we design and our managed hosting services, include valuable features, typically affordable only to large corporations. Since ImageBuilders specializes in web services for small and medium size companies, our rates are special too – much less; but not our product or services. We possess the knowledge and skills, and coupled with our dedication; provide you the same high quality custom design, functionality, and services, the large corporations receive. Proper website design is vital for your website to succeed – be more than just a pretty face. There are many fantastically beautiful websites out there, which will never receive exposure (never by seen by anyone searching), because the designer didn’t understand how the search engines work. Knowledge is power, and we design your website keeping the search engines in mind. Your website will have high search engine ranking, so your intended audience can easily find you. Our comprehensive website design service, also includes registering your site with all of the Web’s major search engines and links listings.

One of ImageBuilders’ unique and valuable features, is our inclusion of a database in our basic website design package, and at no additional cost. Database driven website pages (also referred to as Dynamic website pages) allow some businesses to operate more efficiently and simply, thus saving the administrative team (you), countless hours, effort, and therefore dollars.

We can build a password protected database that allows only you (the administrator/website owner) to access your database, with any web browser from anywhere in the world, and change information by clicking and typing on a website form. This lets you update information whenever you want without the expense of paying us (web designers), because it’s easy and you don’t have to know anything about programming or HTML. Price increases, changes to numerous pages, can all be accomplished DYNAMICALLY or automatically by completing a form we design for your database. This same database allows everyone else (your web customers) to search through your database for products, items, real estate listings, prices, or any search option significant to your business.

Virtually every business website is enhanced by a database driven email system. When a customer contacts you by email, a database is created, including his question or interest and email address; automatically capturing vital customer information that otherwise would be lost. This database quickly provides you with a customer list for future email promotions or contact, a powerful marketing tool. We include this feature in every website we design. In fact, if your website was not designed by ImageBuilders, and doesn’t already include this proven asset; we will include a database driven customer contact form in your website, on the house, when you become one of our Fully Managed Website Hosting clients. – Lake Mohave

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