I received an update from the TPWD today, regarding their scheduled Native Plant Day on Lake Conroe on August 3, 2021:
Their base will be at Stow A Way Marina. For those who can make it, they're asking everyone to get there by 9:30am. TPWD and SJRA will have at least 5 boats for transporting plants. Some volunteers will also have boats there as well.
The plant "du jour" on 8/3 will be valisnera americana (eel grass). This is the native plant that our club first began to work with back in 2007. Eel Grass is highly competitive with hydrilla...which (if successful) helps with reducing the need for more grass carp stockings in the future. Two target areas are planned: 1. Hoffstetter Creek (right there at Stow A Way)...and 2. The two pockets just south of Cagle.
So far (from SCBC) we have John and Nicole Auman, and myself who will be at Stow A Way on 8/3. If you think that you can make it, please let me know. The TPWD and SJRA are trying to determine if their 5 boats (combined) will be enough...or if they will need to bring more for the planting day.
We will try to work with the TPWD/SJRA to schedule a second stocking (just SCBC members & friends) for a Saturday in either August or September. Will let everyone know if we can get that scheduled.
Lastly...as soon as TPWD finishes their vegetation survey, I will let everyone know the results. Early indications are that Conroe is doing very well with vegetation this summer.
Here's a draft that I sent to our State's Conservation Department (for them to forward to BASS Times/Bassmaster, etc):
More Native Aquatic Plants for Lake Conroe
August 3, 2021
Lake Conroe received another booster shot of native aquatic plants on August 3, 2021. A consolidated effort from a group consisting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the San Jacinto River Authority, the Texas BASS Nation (the Seven Coves Bass Club), the Texas A & M Forestry Service, the Texas State and Sam Houston State Universities Aquatic Biology Departments, the Texas Master Naturalists, and an additional 15 other volunteers from as far away as San Antonio were able to transplant over a mile of shoreline in the lake in less than 3 hours.
Eel grass, water willow, lillies, and a variety of rushes made up the list of plants that went into northeast sections of the lake. These transplants will help to filtrate the water, create buffer zones against erosion, give bass fingerlings a place to escape predation, and they will be a positive competitor against the spread of hydrilla.
Lake Conroe is seeing beneficial growth of native aquatic plants in 2021, and this groups efforts on August 3rd helped to insure that growth continues.
Thank you to John and Nicole Auman, and Terry Reich who were able to make it to help out. I spoke with both the TPWD and SJRA today about trying to get
1. Another planting day (with SCBC) on Lake Conroe
and...
2. A nursery "clean up" day at the river authority
I will post a request for "thoughts" on these two possibilities in our Members Only section. Please consider reviewing and including your thoughts in that post.
