I saw something on this event on the last airing of “State of the Gulf – America’s Sea’” on PBS. The turnout is just amazing considering the location, and if I weren’t already schedule out of state, that would be the place for me. From what I saw on the segment on the “Big Shell Beach Cleanup,” their trash collections are weighed in the tons.

From CCA Press Release -

Attention Volunteers! The 2011 Big Shell Beach Cleanup is scheduled for March 19th this year. This event just can’t happen without the help of our volunteers and your help is needed again. See you there!

16th Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup
March 19, 2011

The 16th Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup will be held Saturday, 19 March, 2011. Volunteers will meet at Malaquite Pavilion on PINS and the event will commence at 7 a.m. To reach Malaquite Pavilion just stay on S.P.I.D. through Corpus out onto N. Padre Island where it becomes Park Rd. 22. Just keep driving till you come to the entry gate of PINS. Tell the attendant you are there to volunteer for the beach cleanup and you will not be charged admission. Volunteers will gather at the Malaquite Visitor’s Center for instructions and will return to the pavilion by 2 pm. 4 wheel drive vehicles, trailers for hauling trash in and out of the work area and working volunteers are needed. Walking volunteers are welcomed and those without 4 wheel drive vehicles will be afforded transportation to and from the work area. Those unable to pick up trash but having 4 wheel drive vehicles are most welcome to aid in hauling volunteers. The event doesn’t re-schedule and will take place rain or shine. Use the map below to help coordinate where to line up, park, and get ready at the Malaquite Visitor’s Center.

Snacks, water and soft drinks will be available in the work area and refreshments will be available at Malaquite following the event courtesy of CCA Corpus Christi Chapter and Dominos Pizza. Long trousers and sturdy foot wear are recommended. Don’t pick up broken glass or flammable items. Report them to your section leaders. Volunteers will receive event t-shirts. This is a worthy event and it’s only possible because of volunteer participation. Won’t you please come and join us.

Capt. Billy (Sandifer)

Courtesy CCA Texas -

AUSTIN — Hoping to add to the pile of more than 27,500 derelict crab traps hauled from Texas bays since 2002, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials are gearing up for the 10th abandoned crab trap removal effort Feb. 18-27.
During this 10-day period, all Texas bays will be closed to crabbing with traps. Any traps left in a bay will be assumed to be abandoned and considered “litter” under state law, which allows volunteers to legally remove any traps they find. Prior to the 77th Legislature authorizing the abandoned crab trap removal program, only the trap’s owner or a Texas game warden could legally remove a crab trap. Game wardens still collect more than 2,500 illegal traps annually, but many more remain in the water to foul shrimpers’ nets, snag fishermen’s lines, accidently trap fish (called “ghost fishing”) and create an unsightly view.
This year, in celebration of the first decade of the program, two framed original TPWD stamp prints will be given to two lucky volunteers who help out with the program.
TPWD will be facilitating trap drop-off sites at several locations in each major bay system along the coast from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 19, weather permitting. Additionally, at all sites, dumpsters marked with banners will be available to receive traps for the duration of the closure. Volunteers may help out on Feb. 19 or work at their own pace anytime during the closure, but traps cannot be removed prior to Feb. 18 or after Feb. 27.

Last year, volunteers, with the aid of numerous sponsors, removed roughly 1,800 traps.

“The success of this program is a reflection of the keen sense of stewardship anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts have for the marine resources of this great state,” said Art Morris, TPWD program coordinator. “Volunteers have removed more traps from Texas waters than any other state and the results show. The waning number of traps removed each year demonstrates that this volunteer effort has had a big impact.”

The Coastal Conservation Association Texas, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Research Program, and the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Reserve are providing continued support to the crab trap removal program. Numerous other organizations and companies also are volunteering their services.

To participate, volunteers can arrange to pickup free tarps, gloves, trap hooks and additional information at their local TPWD Coastal Fisheries field stations. TPWD requests volunteers’ who remove traps record and submit information about the number they collect as well as any sightings of diamond-backed terrapins.
For more information about the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program and how you can volunteer, please contact your local TPWD Coastal Fisheries office or Art Morris at the Corpus Christi field station: (361) 825-3356.

TRAP DROP-OFF SITES
Sabine Lake – TPWD coordinator Jerry Mambretti (409) 736-9035
* Pleasure Island Marina Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site

Galveston Bay – TPWD coordinator Bill Balboa (281) 534-0110
* Jones Lake State Ramp (Fat Boys) — Facilitated & trap drop-off site
* TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab-1502 FM 517 E, Dickinson — Trap drop-off site
* Seabrook SH 146 Bridge Public Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site
* Fort Anahuac County Park Boat Ramp — Facilitated & trap drop-off site
* Chocolate Bayou State Boat Ramp- FM 2004 — Facilitated & trap drop-off site
* Pier 30 Bait and Tackle-1617 E. Hwy 332, Freeport — Trap drop-off site

MATAGORDA BAY– TPWD coordinator Leslie Hartman (361) 972-6253
* Mitchell Cut Boat (ICWW) Ramp @ Sargent — Trap drop-off site
* Matagorda Harbor @ Matagorda — Trap drop-off site
* Railroad Park @ Palacios — Trap drop-off site

SAN ANTONIO BAY – TPWD coordinator Norman Boyd (361) 983-4425
* Charlie’s Bait Stand — Facilitated & trap drop-off site
* Port O’Connor TPWD Docks — Facilitated & Trap drop-off site

ARANSAS BAY – TPWD coordinator Karen Meador (361) 729-2328
* Goose Island State Park Boat Ramp — Facilitated & trap drop-off site
* North Cove Harbor Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site

CORPUS CHRISTI BAY – TPWD coordinator Tom Wagner (361) 729-2328
* South Conn Brown Harbor Boat Ramp — Facilitated & trap drop-off site

UPPER LAGUNA MADRE – TPWD coordinator Todd Neahr (361) 825-3353
* Bluff’s Landing Marina — Trap drop-off site
* Kaufer Park Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site

LOWER LAGUNA MADRE – TPWD coordinator Mark Lingo (956) 350-4490
* Adolfe Thomae County Park @ Arroyo City — Trap drop-off site
* Port Mansfield Navigation District Ramp @ Port Mansfield — Trap drop-off site

Click here to download and share an event flier.

If anyone gets decent photographs of collecting the traps, and / or anything to do with this – please feel free to send them via “Contact” page. I will give you the e mail address if you contact me there.

News articles and stories running on local networks indicate that Oncor, a company charged with bringing wind energy from West and Northwest Texas, is open to different routes around environmentally sensitive areas of Lake Ray Roberts and the Greenbelt between Ray Roberts and Lewisville Lakes.

Apparently, real control lies with the Texas Public Utilities Commission, who will make the final decision on where the power lines run. Significant local opposition has gathered against Oncor’s preferred route close to highway 380 that crosscuts, and has always crosscut the Greenbelt and the northernmost regions of Lewisville Lake.

Oncor, publicly (on TV interviews), said the final decision is up to the PUC, but if the PUC is presented with alternatives conceived by Oncor, well, as Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”

In the long run the least favorable route will likely be abandoned for something with less environmental impact, but with a few properly placed (State) campaign donations, anything can happen. If they crosscut the Greenbelt nature area, it will have a significant temporary impact on that area, and I don’t think the hum of high wires will do much for the natural ambiance of the area either

Here are some links to local news and Oncor’s maps.

Oncor maps of proposed transmission lines.
Go to the Denton Record Chronicle for news on Oncor’s proposal.