Posted 3:15 am Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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Bill Could Preserve East Texas Section Of Neches River
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate brings a section of East Texas' Neches River closer to a designation that would preserve the river's character, river proponents announced late Monday afternoon.
Staff Writer
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate brings a section of East Texas' Neches River closer to a designation that would preserve the river's character, river proponents announced late Monday afternoon.
The bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, is called the Upper Neches Wild and Scenic River Study Act. If passed, it would allow the study of the eligibility of a 225-mile section of the river for designation as a National Wild and Scenic River, according to a news release. That section goes from the Lake Palestine dam in Anderson and Cherokee counties to the B.A. Steinhagen Lake in Jasper and Tyler counties.
Dr. Michael Banks, with Friends of the Neches River, has said the study, if approved, would evaluate the merits of the river to see whether the designation should be considered. Congress would later have to pass another bill to give the river its designation, a cause supported by proponents and Sen. Hutchison.
“The Neches River is one of Texas' most beautiful, free-flowing rivers and provides a vital habitat for fish and other aquatic animals,” Sen. Hutchison said in a news release. “Its location in the heart of the Central Flyway makes it a crucial path for migrating ducks, geese, and songbirds. A Wild and Scenic River designation would help preserve all these attributes.”
“The Neches River is one of Texas' most beautiful, free-flowing rivers and provides a vital habitat for fish and other aquatic animals,” Sen. Hutchison said in a news release. “Its location in the heart of the Central Flyway makes it a crucial path for migrating ducks, geese, and songbirds. A Wild and Scenic River designation would help preserve all these attributes.”
Richard Donovan, author of “Paddling the Wild Neches,” applauded the senator in the release, saying “The Neches River is a tremendous asset for Texans” and that the introduced bill is “the first step toward protecting its value for our children and our children's children.”
According to a news release, about 200 U.S. rivers have a wild and scenic designation, including a section of the Rio Grande River that borders Big Bend National Park.
And if a section of the Neches River was designated, the designation would prevent dams from being built and flooding huge portions of the river, Texas Conservation Alliance Executive Director Janice Bezanson said. However, she said people still could hunt and fish, and it would not change how private landowners can use their property.
According to a news release, about 200 U.S. rivers have a wild and scenic designation, including a section of the Rio Grande River that borders Big Bend National Park.
And if a section of the Neches River was designated, the designation would prevent dams from being built and flooding huge portions of the river, Texas Conservation Alliance Executive Director Janice Bezanson said. However, she said people still could hunt and fish, and it would not change how private landowners can use their property.
The Neches River National Wildlife Refuge, an area in Anderson and Cherokee counties, downstream from Lake Palestine, was threatened in recent years when the city of Dallas planned to build a reservoir in the same area.
After a lengthy court battle that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the refuge was upheld.
Besides preventing dams, the designation also would be good for tourism because groups from all over the country visit places on the Neches, and it would make locals more aware of the resource they have, Ms. Bezanson said.
“We're wildly excited. (The bill) is a huge step forward in protecting the Neches River,” she said.
After a lengthy court battle that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the refuge was upheld.
Besides preventing dams, the designation also would be good for tourism because groups from all over the country visit places on the Neches, and it would make locals more aware of the resource they have, Ms. Bezanson said.
“We're wildly excited. (The bill) is a huge step forward in protecting the Neches River,” she said.
