Lake Conroe Celebrates 50 years in 2023!
LCA President’s Update – April 4, 2023
As of today, the Lake is at 200.9’ msl – just short of normal pool. There has not been a Seasonal Lake Lowering Program (SLLP) release since May of 2021 – almost two years of normal and rational water management as a result of the 2022 SLLP compromise agreement led by the LCA on behalf of the Lake Conroe area residents.
The details of the framework of the new 2023 SLLP compromise can be found on the LCA website at lcatx.org. This revised agreement was reached in February and just recently confirmed by the City of Houston (CoH) and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA). As in 2022 LCA representatives met with CoH and SJRA representatives to review the 2022 program and attempt to improve it. The 2023 SLLP now considers several factors before an SLLP release would be requested by the CoH. While the 2023 SLLP still allows for 6” of reduced lake level in April and May it is now worded as “The decision of when, how, and whether to initiate diversions will be guided by climate conditions, weather patterns, and available water supply.” The LCA believes this will result in fewer or zero releases (as in 2022) and eliminate past wasteful practices of releases triggered only by a calendar date and a target level.
Hydrilla Status – I want to again thank everyone who donated to the LCA enabling us to provide $75,000 to be used for spraying Hydrilla in 2022. A Hydrilla only survey will be done this May and then both the 2023 spraying plans and Grass Carp stocking plans will be updated to reduce the levels found in the survey or maintain them if the Hydrilla levels are found to be significantly reduced from 2022 levels.
The LCA Annual General Meeting was held on Friday January 20th and we had good attendance and excellent voting by proxy by the LCA voting membership. In addition to the existing Board being reelected we had nominations of four new Board members and all were invited to join the LCA Board. Please welcome Johnny Kopecky, John McReynolds, Bruce Oseland, and Geoff Roberts to the LCA Board. By late April we will have updated the existing Board bios and added those for our newest members. It is great to have such deep experience and commitment.
One of the projects driven by our newest Board members is “to raise the profile of the LCA” resulting in a new brochure seeking to educate existing and potential new LCA members about the LCA and creating an LCA Member decal for member’s boats, jet skis, truck, or car. These will be going out in the mail soon – see the lcatx.org website for additional information.
Kevin Lacy – LCA President