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Biologists sample Texas coast oil impact
By Jim Blassingame
Contributor
Published July 15, 2010
From the Texas Parks and Wildlife website:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are working their way down the state’s long coast line collecting environmental samples so that a baseline record is available to gauge any impact in Texas from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The effort is part of a plan developed by multiple natural resource trustee agencies in coordination with BP.
TPWD is leading specialized five-person teams of scientists who are systematically collecting data at 21 locations up and down the coast. These samples will be used to characterize beach conditions, water chemistry, benthic invertebrates (living creatures in shallow water, mud and sand), and other “indicator” factors.
The department is partnering with the other natural resource trustee agencies for Texas, including Texas General Land Office, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to complete this effort.
A NOAA contractor is accompanying each team to provide chain of custody quality control and oversee the shipping of samples, which go to contracted out-of-state laboratories for analysis.
Sampling on the upper coast began Monday. As of Thursday, samples had been collected at five locations from the Port Arthur area to West Galveston Island. The process is expected to be complete within two weeks, though higher-than-normal tides, rain and flooding associated with the tropical disturbance in the western Gulf of Mexico may delay operations.
Besides the baseline sampling, TPWD is ready to assist with logistical support for GLO and the Coast Guard in oil spill response and clean-up operations. TPWD support will come in the form of boats, logistics, and trained staff with expertise in dealing with HAZMAT situations. TPWD has already worked with partner agencies to provide information on important or sensitive Texas ecological areas, such as coastal parks and refuges.
TPWD has been monitoring the Deepwater Horizon situation since shortly after it occurred on April 20. Early on, the department began planning for possible contingencies and these plans are now being executed.
•••
Recipes are back by popular demand. Be sure and try these two – they are quick and great.
•Place three pieces of asparagus and a slice of Havarti cheese in a thin slice of ham. Sprinkle with Hi Mountain Garlic Pepper Rub and roll. Be sure and fix several. Place in a baking dish at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until cheese is melted and asparagus is crisp and tender. A tip: Parboil green onion until just wilted and use as ties to hold ham together.
•Use a small dessert dish and place one well-rounded scoop of a good vanilla ice cream. Then place two tablespoons of morning left-over coffee (cold or hot) over ice cream. This is a great after dinner dessert.
Texas Fishing Reports:
Pat Mayse Lake: With the recent rains, Pat Mayse has had some current that we usually don’t have and this is the reason fishing has been great. Current makes the fish happy and hungry. Right now on this lake it’s hard not to have fun catching fish. These fish are coming on a number of baits, which tells you they are really feeding.
Bob Sandlin: Water off color; 83–88 degrees; 0.43’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Yellow Magics and Stanley Ribbits early, later switching to jigs, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge columns. White bass are fair to good on topwaters and Little Georges. Catfish are good on prepared bait.
Caddo: Water murky; 84–89 degrees; 0.35’ high. Black bass are good on Scum Frogs, Senkos and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows and jigs. White bass are good on Little Georges. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers.
Lake Fork: Water fairly clear; 83–88 degrees; 0.33’ low. Black bass are fair to good soft plastic frogs early, later switching to jigs, Rat–L–Traps, Senkos and Texas and Carolina rigs. Night fishing for black bass good on black spinnerbaits and Texas rigged 10” black/blue Power Worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows around the bridges and over brush piles. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.
Lake Monticello: Water fairly clear; 85–92 degrees; 0.28’ high. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and chrome Rat–L–Traps.
Southeast Oklahoma
Fishing Reports
Broken Bow: Water mid 80s and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good on large plastic baits in motor oil color around rocky points and islands after dark. Catfish good on juglines and trotlines with cut bait and shad at 15-20 ft. Crappie good on minnows and jigs in deeper water around structure and standing timber.
Hugo: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 85. Crappie fair on minnows at 12-20 ft. around brush. Catfish fair to good on trotlines and juglines along the main river channel. Blue catfish fair on cut bait below the dam.
McGee Creek: Elevation 2 inches above normal, water 85 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 8-12 ft. around cedar brush, off main creek channels. Largemouth bass fair on dark colored soft plastic lures, spinnerbaits and topwater lures in shallow water early and late. Schooling largemouth bass are starting to hit some in open water early and late on topwater baits. Channel catfish fair on juglines and trotlines with live bait.
Pine Creek: Elevation below normal, water clear. Bass fair on deep running crankbaits near rocky structures. Crappie fair on minnows. Catfish good on night crawlers.
Sardis: Elevation 10 inches below normal, water 86 and murky. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and frogs off rocks. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Walleye fair on crankbaits at 10-12 ft. trolling.
Fish smart, be safe and I’ll see you on the lake.
Jim Blassingame is a Paris resident and an avid angler.
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