Dear XXXXXXXX,
It is very evident by your e-mails how frustrated, angry, irritated...well, let's just say, you're not in a very good place when it comes to Barker Lake. I assure you I feel and share the same anxiety about our lake and surrounding habitat.
First and foremost, I want you to know that your e-mails today are the first I've received from you. I've always responded, as quickly as possible, to my neighbors concerns when I'm made aware of an issue.
With that being said, let me try to address your questions.
"What's going on with our lake???" ... Approximately 26 years before Barker Lake was ever thought of, the Texas Legislature created the Harris/Galveston County Coastal Subsidence District. The District was created to provide for the regulation of groundwater withdrawal throughout Harris and Galveston counties for the purpose of preventing land subsidence, which leads to increased flooding. The District's enabling legislation is found in Chapter 8801 of the Special District Local Laws Code. Over the years, the HGSD has progressively established and enforced the amount of groundwater removed from the surrounding aquifers. When Barker Lake was developed, the developer drilled a water well (next to the playground area) that's sole designation was to provide water for the lake! In fact, Barker Lake was developed before the Harris County Flood Control District required such lakes to be retention ponds! What that means XXXXXXXXX, is our lake was designed from the original blue prints to maintain its level by rain and water pumped from the well! Every well must be permitted through the HGSD and we pay a yearly fee for that permit. At the time of construction, the HGSD determined that we could remove 9.8 million gallons per year from our well. If we (Barker Lake HOA) had ever gone over that amount during the year (Dec.1 thru Nov. 30) we could have been fined OVER FORTY (40) THOUSAND DOLLARS! Now, let me get you to late July 2010. Barker Lake was in the middle of all the construction around our lake. It was rough, but we all could see how beautiful it was going to be. Something that would make all of us more proud of our community! We also received a notice from the HGSD that new restrictions to groundwater withdrawals would begin with the new permitted year (Dec. 1, 2010 thru Nov. 30, 2011). The new gallon usage amount would be based on a percentage of gallons of water used thru our meters (swimming pool and sprinkler system for common grounds). To make a long story short...Barker Lake went from 9.8 million gallons to 2.2 million gallons allowed to be withdrawn from our well! I hope you're now seeing our predicament. Time marches on...let's get to Dec. 2010. My husband and I were doing a preliminary walk over with the general contractor and landscape architect. One of the many improvements implemented was an automatic float on our well pump. We were all really excited about this addition because finally, we'd be able to maintain a consistent lake level. However, the lake level appeared abnormally high (see attachments #1 & #2). With some investigation, we discovered the sensor for the float had failed. Was it from installation? Simply a part failure? We never could get a straight answer from the contractor. But, that wasn't the worse problem. That sensor failure pumped almost 2 million gallons into the lake. That's correct, almost all of our yearly well water was pumped into the lake in about 10 days. Since all the improvements were being paid for with bond money from the MUD, we went to them to have the contractor replace our water. Unfortunately, the MUD determined that we would eventually use the water anyway, so no harm done. UNBELIEVEABLE!!! But, at least we could count on our normal rainfall. No way would we have 30+ days of 100+ degree heat... or fall behind 24+ inches of rainfall! However, back in April, there was no kidding ourselves. It was obvious your HOA Board had to come up with a plan to try and maintain the lake level at that time. After meeting with our lake management and Irrigation contractors, we devised a plan to tie into our existing irrigation lines. We immediately began an aggressive schedule to combat the water loss from evaporation (which amounted to almost 3/4" per day). We actually raised the lake level about 2 1/2" and maintained it till we got our first full months water bill. Just like what everyone gets from Severn Trent, when we opened it, our jaws hit the floor! The cost was just prohibitive and our #1 job is to be the best stewards we can with the HOA's money.
Quite honestly, I haven't a clue as to what you're referring to when you mention "back and forth with this pond..." or "staying in tact for more than a second...".
Now, regarding your concerns about the fish and ducks. When Barker Lake was constructed, it was aesthetically as you see it... a lake surrounded by homes. The lake was not stocked with fish or designed for fish. However, I have no doubt that some residents took it upon themselves to "unofficially" stock our lake. There's nothing anyone can do to stop that and so we are now seeing the "circle of life" on display. Now, the ducks are a different matter. Just like the fish, nobody brought ducks to our lake. These are not domesticated ducks (even though they've been spoiled by us), they're wild migratory fowl. All the ducks have wings and know how to fly (except for one white duck with bands on his feet... someone clipped his wings in the early summer!) I am encouraged by your willingness to adopt the ducks! That's exactly what my husband and I did in June. On June 4th, one of the life guards and I were able to corral the remaining 3 ducklings from the last hatch (the hatch started with 10). I brought them to my home where Butch and I raised them for 2 1/2 months. Once we had encouraged them to fly and practice making nests, we were able to relocate them. Our original goal was to release them in our lake and it was heart breaking not being able to. XXXXXXXXX, you come across as a woman whose able to get things done. Perhaps you could volunteer to help the ducks and fish of Barker Lake.
After reading your e-mails, I immediately contacted Debbie Spaw, our representative at SCS Management. She assured me you'd hear from her tomorrow.
The final item on your e-mails I believe dealt with other communities close by and the level of their lakes. I'm not privy to what other communities do. I can only react to the "cards I'm dealt". We have spoken with the administrator of HGSD and they will review our water withdrawal for 2012 within the next 30 days. I cannot make it rain. As a lifetime resident of Houston, I know you never want a hurricane...but right now, I'd take two, because one won't fill our lake up. The MUD is what it is.
What I do know is I live in a great, but small community. Our assessment fee increased in 2011 for the first time in three years and four years ago it increased by only five dollars! Overall, that's a 5.98% increase over five years. In my opinion, and of course it's biased but, I think that deserves a pat on the back rather than a slap to the face. I "pour" in the same amount as you and our fellow neighbors XXXXXXXXX, and I do the best job I can for our community. I do this strictly on a volunteer basis because I love Barker Lake and want the best for our neighborhood. Should you or your neighbors have any suggestions about how to fix our lake situation...please let me hear from them or you, it would be greatly appreciated. If I've omitted answering any of your concerns, please feel free to contact me.
With kind regards,
Judi Ramey
President -Barker Lake HOA
