Toledo Bend
lake needs rain after drawdown Jim Pratt, the Executive Director of the Louisiana Sabine River Authority (SRA) told the Piney Woods Journal, "The repairs to the dam were made in a timely manner. All we need to bring the lake back to normal level is a lot of rain." "However, when that rain will get here is anyone's guess," said Pratt, who has been the Executive Director of SRA since 2004. "Long range weather forecast says that in April, which is usually a good month for rain will have higher than average temperatures but lower amounts of rain." The lake was drawn down to the 165-foot above mean sea level in August to do the repair work on the dam. However, due to our current drought, the lake as of December 20 at 7 a.m. was at 163.59 level with a flow of 204 Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS). The last time Toledo Bend Lake was this low in this decade was in 2006. "The Shreveport Weather Service has reported that most of the Toledo Bend Lake drainage area has about an 18-inch rain deficit for 2010," Pratt, who was Deputy Director of SRA from 1997 to 2004 pointed out. "I always keep an eye on the Longview, Texas area to give me an idea if we are getting enough rain to make a difference in the lake," Pratt explained. "That area in East Texas is right in the heart of the Lake's drainage basin. So far we have not experienced any difficulties because of the low level of the lake," noted Pratt, who holds a B.S. degree in Wildlife management from Arkansas State University. "We are still meeting our environmental impact target of enough flow downstream. Also, we are keeping the water level in the canals at the necessary level to provide surface water for several areas to relieve the demand on the Chicot Aquifer. We are running our generating units at the demand a few times a week." The Sabine River Diversion System (SRD) consists of 35 miles of open unlined channel canals, 4.5 miles of underground pipeline, 3 pumping stations and 5 automatic control gates. The purpose of the SRD is to supply surface water for agricultural, municipal, and industrial needs in southwest Louisiana. "We are not required to generate electricity at the dam except between May and August when the summer heat kicks up the demand for electricity for the provider," said Pratt, an active duty member of the United States Marine Corp from 1975-1979. "We are able at this lake level to meet all our water obligations including water for the drilling in the Haynesville Shale. In fact, the water being used to frac the gas wells is negligible to the water level of Toledo Bend Lake. It takes about 200 acre feet of water to frac a well, so 100 wells is only going to consume 20,000 acre feet, elaborated Pratt, who holds a MBA degree from Centenary College. "We lose 40,000 acre feet of water each August just to evaporation." The mission statement of the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana, consistent with Louisiana Revised Statue 38:2321, et.seg, and with article 48 of the Federal Power Commission License Project 2305, is to provide for "economic utilization and preservation of the waters of the Sabine River and its tributaries by promoting economic development, irrigation, navigation, improved water supply, drainage, public recreation, and hydroelectric power for the citizens of Louisiana." The concept for Toledo Bend lake originated in 1949 under the administration of former Governor Earl K. Long. Toledo Bend Lake became a reality under Governor Jimmie Davis when it begin to fill with water in 1963. The Sabine River Authority Board included Bobby Williams, Ned Goodeau II, Larry Kelly and Robert D. Conyers of Sabine parish, Darrell Cupit, Carlton and Gibson of Calcasieu parish, Thurman Nash and C. A. Burgess of Vernon parish, Sidney Vidrine and Estella Scott of Beauregard parish and Norman Arbuckle and Kermit Valentine of DeSoto parish. The State of Texas also has its own Sabine River Authority to govern the activities on the west side of Toledo Bend Lake. "There has been a lot of talk over the years about selling large quantities of water to some of the major cities in Texas," Pratt noted. "However, to date nothing has materialized." "We are very concerned about the drought, but like everyone else, we don't have a crystal ball as to see when the rains will come," Pratt added. "We will just continue on our plan of action to maintain the lake and all our recreation areas to the best of our abilities, and be extremely happy when the rains do come." |