Grand Lakers United Enterprise Member’s Report
November
6, 2006
It’s a sad commentary, but due to our apathy we have allowed a group made up of some Grand lakers, others with interest from afar and several members of state agencies to think they are planning the future of Grand Lake for the silent majority. As the shoreline management plan stakeholder committee meetings wind down and the year comes to a quick close, it’s time for us to make some choices. We can stand by and let a very few loud mouth self proclaimed experts dictate the future of Grand Lake or we can stand up, change our course and become a force in the process.
As many of you know, I’ve been attending the GRDA board and assets committee meetings and the SMP stakeholder committee meetings since May. From the start, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to see those who would shut down the economic engine of northeastern Oklahoma had done a much better organizational job than those of us who thought Grand Lake was pretty cool the way it was.
I’ve spent the last four months questioning the makeup of these committees asking why people, whose idea of a good time is litigation against the GRDA, are serving on multiple committees. I’ve collected example after example of people who were willing to serve, but were told the committees were capped out. But when I questioned why some were serving on multiple committees, the reason given was lack of participation. The further I go, the behinder I get!
The time has come to recognize that without litigation we will have no impact on these committees or their recommendations. And it’s important we keep in mind that the body of their work is just that… a recommendation. It represents the input of thirty people give or take. Some of the thirty, who were originally selected, have dropped out due to frustration with the process. So what are our options?
It’s my opinion we would be best served and have a better chance for success if we work within the system as opposed to trying change, reschedule, start over or disrupt it. Since we didn’t step forward to insure these committees were a fair representation of all Grand Lakers, our next best bet is during the public comment period. That officially will occur in January when the authority plans on hosting meetings in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and as many as three here at the lake. GLUE plans on being a presence at each of these meeting and to provide some alternative proposals for GRDA consideration.
But we’re not the only ones starting to worry about the final outcome. At the urging of Representative Doug Cox, there are some unsanctioned public meetings this week. The first one is scheduled for Wednesday night at the Cleora School, while the second one will be at the Grove Community Center on Thursday evening. Both meetings will convene at 6:00pm with Grand Lake Association Executive Director Deb Wolek presiding over the discussion of the latest shoreline management plan draft.
Cari Williams is providing a summary of each section of the proposed plan for distribution at the meetings. These summaries would be a great way to gain an understanding of the plan, analyze it and send your comments in to GRDA. I’ll e-mail the summaries out to you tomorrow. That way even if you can’t attend one of the meetings you will be better informed. Feel free to forward this info to any person who may have an interest.
Below you’ll find the latest language for the Vegetation Management Plan which will likely affect us all. This will give you some idea as where this process is headed.
I’ll be at the Cleora
meeting on Wednesday night and will file a report. Let me hear from you!!
Before conducting any vegetation management activities (including trimming trees and removing brush) a vegetation management plan (VMP) must be submitted and approved prior to the issuance of a permit from the Office of Ecosystems Management. The process to obtain a permit is described below. VMP’s will be approved and permitted only to adjacent property owners whose existing permits, if any, with GRDA are in good standing.
Shoreline vegetation on project lands acts as a buffer to stabilize shorelines, prevent erosion, and protects water quality by filtering and trapping organic and chemical pollutants and can provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife.
Permits: Vegetation Management Plans (VMP’s).
Except for the mowing and weed eating (nylon line only) of lawns established and existing before June 1, 2005, all vegetation management activities performed by private or commercial entities on publicly-owned (i.e. GRDA) lands, must apply for a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) permit and obtain written permission from the Office of Ecosystems Management before conducting such activities. Permits for VMP’s requesting to remove vegetation in areas identified as wetlands per the National Wetland Inventory maps will not be considered for permitting. Special circumstances such as the presence of wetland indicators as determined by the Office of Ecosystems Management may result in a requirement for on- or off-site mitigation and/or an alternative vegetation management plan. Applications for submittal of Vegetation Management Plans are available at the GRDA Office of Ecosystems Management, located at the west end of Pensacola Dam in Langley, Oklahoma, by mail at P.O. Box 70, Langley, Oklahoma 74350, by calling 918-782-9594 or on the GRDA website at www.GRDA.com.
The removal of vegetation within the Project boundary is not allowed except upon receipt of a permitted VMP obtained from the Office of Ecosystems Management. Except in special circumstances (i.e. presence of wetland indicators; shoreline stabilization or other factors), a permit may be issued for the removal of vegetation less than or equal to 3 inches in diameter. GRDA may also allow removal of specified understory plants (poison ivy, salt cedar, eastern red cedar and other exotic noxious plants identified by OAC 300:35-27-4: GRDA vegetation management lake rules) identified in the VMP. Note: Use of herbicides on Project lands is expressly prohibited (OAC item c(1) in 300:35-27-4 (c) (1): GRDA vegetation management lake rules) except by a certified state licensed applicator.
Floating debris, drift wood, litter, and trash may also be removed from GRDA lands and water at any time without prior GRDA approval or receipt of a permit, provided the method of removal does not involve heavy machinery (i.e. bobcats, tractors, bulldozers, skidders, excavators, etc.) or other mechanical means which have the potential to disturb the shoreline through movement of soil, rocks, or existing live vegetation.
A VMP permit for hazardous trees may be issued by the Office of Ecosystems management. GRDA allows the removal of hazardous trees after consultation, permit application and approval, only in cases where the trees are dead and dangerous, damaged and dangerous, diseased and dangerous, or otherwise present a public safety or property hazard. If a tree is dead and dangerous, or poses a hazard to the safety of the public or property, an adjacent property owner may apply for a permit to remove the tree. Dead or dangerous trees or limbs must be confirmed by and marked in advance by the GRDA Office of Ecosystems Management. After consultation with GRDA staff, and upon receipt of a permit application, GRDA will issue a permit authorizing removal of the tree. The applicant is financially responsible for removal.
Pruning is defined as any trimming or cutting of branches or limbs or other vegetation (on Project lands) designed to enhance the view of the lake. Adjacent property owners may apply for VMP permit for pruning by contacting the Office of Ecosystems Management. Except in special circumstances VMP’s approved by the Office of Ecosystems Management typically permit limited removal of limbs from living trees and shrubs greater than 3 inches in diameter and up to one-third of the plant height of shrubs and non-woody vegetation within the designated shoreline area to enhance the view of the lake. Pruning does not permit removal of trees greater than 3 inches in diameter or complete clearing of any area. After consultation with GRDA staff, application for and receipt of a valid permit, and the identification of the area and nature of the pruning activity, a permittee may clear and maintain the specified area according to the permitted VMP.
Vegetation may be cleared to create and maintain access corridors between GRDA land and adjacent property. The corridor may not exceed 20 feet in width. Corridors must consist of natural materials such as native grass, wood chips, or gravel/crushed rock. Placement of such must not involve earth moving or soil disturbance. When reviewing proposed path layouts provided in the VMP, GRDA will focus on minimizing ground disturbance and vegetation removal. The path may extend from the common boundary between GRDA and the adjacent landowner to the waters edge.
Any landscaping such as planting trees and shrubs, or adding or removing other features which may require removal of existing understory plants prior to landscaping requires a VMP permit obtained from the Office of Ecosystem Management.
GRDA prohibits the introduction or planting of invasive plant species designated by OAC 300:35-27-4: GRDA vegetation management lake rules. Upon request, GRDA’s Office of Ecosystem management will provide a list of invasive species.
A Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) permit may require written approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and other state and local agencies. All activities shall be performed in strict accordance with the specifications approved by GRDA.
Any activity allowed by the VMP permit must be initiated within one year of issuance of the permit. Failure to do so will result in the expiration of the permit.
Any person that violates the provisions of the VMP may be required to pay all costs related to the repair, restoration and reclamation of GRDA lands and waters associated with the violation.