Red River Valley Association
September 2009 Newsletter
 P.O. Box 709
Shreveport, LA 71162
(318) 221-5233
Fax: (318) 425-0516
NEWSLETTER CONTENTS
 
October Waterway Awareness Trips
Wichita Falls Water Resource Conference
FY 2010 Appropriation Information
WRDA
Newsletter Archives

October Waterway Awareness Trips

Red River Waterway Awareness Trips
 
The intent of these trips is to provide information to community leaders on the features of the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway and the public ports. There will also be presentations on economic benefits, ecosystem enhancements, Coast Guard and Corps of Engineer missions.
 
The trips will depart and end from the following locations:
 
Monday, 26 October 2009 - Alexandria Regional Port
 
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 -  Natchitoches Parish Port
 
Friday, 30 October 2009 - Shreveport-Bossier Port
 
All trips will depart the dock at 8:30 a.m. and return by noon.
 
Due to the passenger limit of 250 persons, RSVP will be required. The best option is by e-mail; redriverva@hotmail.com and you will receive a 'reply' confirmation. Names must be provided for the manifest. You may also call in; (318) 221-5234.
 
* Dress is casual and flat shoes.
* Parking available at the ports.
* No children under 18 years old.
* Drinks, coffee & snacks provided.

Wichita Falls Regional Water Resource Conference

Mark your calendar for the RRVA Wichita Falls Conference
 
The conference will be on Thursday, 12 November 2009
 
It will be at the Red River Authority of Texas HQ in Wichita Falls, TX. Following is the agenda:
 
8:00  a.m.   Registration opens
9:00  a.m.   Call to Order:  Mr. C.  Wayne Dowd, President, RRVA
Welcome: Mayor Lanham Lyne, City of Wichita Falls, TX (Invited)
                  Remarks from TX State Representatives:
                        TX State Rep. David Farabee (Invited)
                        TX State Rep. Rick Hardcastle (Invited)  
9:30  a.m.    Tulsa Corps of Engineer District, Project Update
10:00  a.m.   NRCS Update, Texas and Oklahoma
11:00  a.m.   OK Water Resource Board Update
11:30  a.m.   Summary Report: Water Quality in Red River Basin
                         Red River Authority of Texas
12:00  noon   Lunch - RRVA Board Meeting
                         Tours of Red River Authority Facility
1:15  p.m.     Economic Benefit Opportunities for Red River -  Shreveport to Denison Dam  -  Mr. John M. Stone
1:45  p.m.     WCWID #2 Conservation Implementation Plan
                         Alan Plummer Associates, Inc.
2:15  p.m.      Reverse Osmosis Process and Results
                         City of Wichita Falls
2:45  p.m.      Gage Monitoring for Chloride Control and Municipalities  -  USGS                   
3:30 p.m.       Adjourn

NOTE: Registration and agenda information can be found on the RRVA web site:                                          www.rrva.org
FY 2010 Appropriation Information
 
There is an effort for the House and Senate Subcommittees on Energy & Water Development to start the conference process the week of 14 September. This is in an attempt to pass the appropriation bills by 1 October - the start of FY 2010.
 
All information on the FY 2010 Appropriation markups for the US House and Senate can be found on our web site: www.rrva.org
 
There are separate files for Civil Works and NRCS.
 
Contact the RRVA office if you have any questions. 

Water Resource Development Act (WRDA)

WRDA is typically authorized every two years, therefore it is time for Congress to develop WRDA for the 111th Congress. This gets it back on track to pass during the election year. 
 
Any projects submitted to the 110th Congress will have to be resubmitted and it is recommended that you contact your local Corps of Engineer District regarding any potential requests.
 
Currently we have 7 items for the next WRDA Bill for the Red River Valley.
 
1. Navigation into SW Arkansas - Request using the same criteria used in LA.
2. Red River Index to Denison Dam - Have this reach designated as 'non-separable' from the other navigation project stretch.
3. Red River Below Denison (Levees) - Allow for PL 84-99 repair assistance until a levee system has been rehabilitated for Arkansas levees.
4. Waurika Lake, OK - Allow for the local sponsor (Waurika Lake Master Conservancy District) to make a discounted lump sum payment for their share.
5. Waurika Lake, OK - Allow the WLMCD to purchase the remaining 73% of the water rights at a reduced rate.
6. Red River, Atchafalaya Bayou Boeuf Levee District, LA - Have a number of non-federal levees be incorporated into the federal system as their other levees.
7. Old River Lock, Oxbow Dredging, LA - Authorize the Corps to dredge an oxbow in the proximity of Old River Lock to allow for tows to stage barges off the Mississippi River, currently a serious safety issue.
 
Contact the RRVA office if you are aware of any other issues that should be included in the next WRDA Bill.
 
Contact the RRVA office for fact sheets and additional information.

RRVA Newsletter Archives

 
We are excited to announce another feature to better serve our members and communities. RRVA Newsletters and Updates are archived on our website: www.rrva.org.
 
We encourage you to visit our web site and welcome comments to make it a better site to serve the citizens of the Red River. 
Richard Brontoli
Red River Valley Association
318-221-5233
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