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June 20, 2011

Hello Arroyo Partners:

The Rio Grande Valley and most of Texas, still, has not received any rain.  To say that we are in a full blown drought would be an understatement. According to the National Weather Service, current drought conditions in the Valley are "exceptional," a technical classification even more drastic then "severe". The local weather prognosticators are predicting that a low in the Gulf of Mexico could provide some much needed rain to the RGV Tuesday and Wednesday.  We will wait and see what happens.

I want to remind everyone that the ACWP will be holding several of their Work Group meetings in July.

• The O&E WG will be held on July 12, 2011 from 10 am-12 pm at the Agrilife Extension Center conference room.  The extension center is located at 2401 E. Expressway 83 in Weslaco, TX.
• The Arroyo Colorado Habitat Workgroup meeting will be held on July 21, 2011 from 2-4 pm at the Estero Llano Grande World Birding Center located at 3301 S. FM 1015.
• The Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership will be hosting an Arroyo Colorado Steering Committee meeting on July 21, from 5-7 pm.  Food and refreshments will be served from 4:30-5:00 pm.  The meeting will be held at The Estero Llano Grande World Birding Center located at 3301 S. FM 1015.

If you have any topics or suggestions to include on the Agendas for the upcoming workgroup meetings please call or send me an e-mail.

Odwalla is donating $100,000 to plant trees in the United States this year. You have a vote in where those trees will be planted! Visit www.odwalla.com/plantatree and plant your tree in Texas. Each tree planted online equals $1 your state will receive to plant real trees in Texas State Parks. Last year you helped raise over $15,000 for trees at Garner State Park. This year's contest ends when there are 100,000 votes, so place your vote today! Texas ranked fourth in votes last year, being topped out by Maryland, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Let's put Texas in the top 3 this year!

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming meeting:

• The USIBWC will be hosting a Lower Rio Grande Valley Citizens Forum on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 from 3:00 pm -5:00 pm at the Hoblitzelle Auditorium, TX A&M Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 2415 E. Hwy 83,Weslaco. There will be a presentation on Bacteria Levels in the Lower Rio Grande Basin by the CRP and an update on vegetation management in the Arroyo Colorado to reduce flood risk.

The fishing in the LLM has been outstanding.  This was verified by veteran Port Mansfield guide, Capt. Walt Kittelberger last week, in Richard Moore's "Nature Report".  In the report, Capt. Kittelberger states that the quality and quantity of trout in the LLM has sky-rocketed and are close to pre 1984 numbers.  After catching a nice stringer of trout along the King Ranch shoreline, he hooks and lands 2 flounder in some real skinny water.  This is exciting news for anglers, especially coming from an "old Salt" like Walt that has been fishing about as long as I have been alive.  You can see the video by going to ValleyCentral.com and then clicking on the neighborhood tab and then the nature report tab.  If you have a chance, be sure to wet a line.  I hope to see you out there.     

Looking ahead,
Jaime Flores