Folks,
Here are two topics for your information. First, there is a paddling opportunity this weekend with the The ribbon cutting will occur at 10:00 am. After a ribbon cutting ceremony, join guides on the water for an inaugural paddle of the trail’s 3-mile loop. The City of Chandler would like to round up as many paddlers as possible for this event. Call up your friends, load up your kayaks or canoes, and make plans to join us for this historic event.
A number of flatwater kayaks will be available for rent from Creekside Sports, the official park concession. Reservations are suggested for rentals and can be made by calling 903-849-2634.
This out and back trail has recently been certified by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Association and consists of 3 paddling options depending on your time and motivation. There is a one-mile loop going north or up river, a 3-mile loop going south or down river, or you can keep going and make a 7-mile loop which takes you to the mouth of Lake Palestine.
The City of Chandler’s 3.17-acre River Park is located at the western entrance to the city of Chandler on Hwy. 31 on the Upper Neches River. It features a boat ramp and a separate canoe and kayak launch, a 1.32-mile nature walk, covered picnic areas, and an on-site concession selling snacks and fishing supplies.
This section of the river is well suited for viewing nature as various water fowl inhabit this area and during cooler season, it becomes home to many migratory species. The Tyler Audubon Society has counted over 100 species that frequent the area. Deer are also prolific in the area.
The Paddle Trail was made possible through a partnership between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the City of Chandler. Other participating organizations include East Texas Woods and Waters Foundation, Upper Neches Municipal River Authority, Texas Department of Transportation and Henderson County. For more information on Texas Paddling Trails, visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/paddlingtrails.
. See aticle below A ribbon cutting happens at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 9, at River Park, Chandler, TX, Hwy 31. Kayak rentals are available from Creekside Sports. I have paddled this area and it is a beautiful natural setting on upper Lake Palestine.
Then, we were asked to give comments related to recreational use of certain waters in East Texas to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Following are our comments.
To: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Att: Kate Lavelle, Aquatic Scientist
Re: TCEQ Draft Recreational Use Attainability Analysis Reports
Members of Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) routinely canoe, kayak, fish, photograph, and conduct research in the Neches River basin, including some of the river segments contained in the Recreational Use Attainability Analysis Reports.
Dr. Michael Banks of Jacksonville, who is on contract with Texas Conservation Alliance and also volunteers as the co-chair of Friends of the Neches River, reports heavy use of Kickapoo Creek in Henderson County by paddlers and motor boaters, primarily for fishing, especially during the spring sand bass spawn. Dr. Banks paddled Kickapoo several times this spring and was never out of sight of other fishers. The Neches River above Lake Palestine is heavily bank fished and is the site of a State Paddling trail with an active local canoe rental service. Dr. Banks and friends have kayak fished all the segments of the upper Neches River.
Dr. Neil B. Ford, Director of the Center for Environment, Biodiversity, and Conservation at the University of Texas at Tyler, has canoed the following segments listed in a TCEQ email requesting comments:
Kickapoo Creek in Henderson County (0605A)
Neches River Above Lake Palestine (0606)
Mud Creek (0611C)
West Mud Creek (0611D)
East Fork of Angelina River (0611A)
Dr. Ford has conducted research in these segments and says that water quality is a key factor for sensitive aquatic organisms such as mussels.
Texas Conservation Alliance opposes the lowering the water quality standards for any existing Texas streams. Water quality is a key factor for maintaining the health of aquatic organisms. More remote stream segments can be expected to have more recreational use than can be observed by the people reporting to TCEQ over a limited time period.
We report the above uses as data for TCEQ and urge that water quality standards for those and other streams be maintained.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment,
Janice Bezanson, Executive Director
Texas Conservation Alliance
Until we put in again,
Michael
Chandler Paddling Trail – article
Press Release- City of Chandler, Texas
The ribbon cutting will occur at 10:00 am. After a ribbon cutting ceremony, join guides on the water for an inaugural paddle of the trail’s 3-mile loop.
The City of Chandler would like to round up as many paddlers as possible for this event. Call up your friends, load up your kayaks or canoes, and make plans to join us for this historic event.
A number of flatwater kayaks will be available for rent from Creekside Sports, the official park concession. Reservations are suggested for rentals and can be made by calling 903-849-2634.
This out and back trail has recently been certified by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Association and consists of 3 paddling options depending on your time and motivation. There is a one-mile loop going north or up river, a 3-mile loop going south or down river, or you can keep going and make a 7-mile loop which takes you to the mouth of Lake Palestine.
The City of Chandler’s 3.17-acre River Park is located at the western entrance to the city of Chandler on Hwy. 31 on the Upper Neches River. It features a boat ramp and a separate canoe and kayak launch, a 1.32-mile nature walk, covered picnic areas, and an on-site concession selling snacks and fishing supplies.
This section of the river is well suited for viewing nature as various water fowl inhabit this area and during cooler season, it becomes home to many migratory species. The Tyler Audubon Society has counted over 100 species that frequent the area. Deer are also prolific in the area.
The Paddle Trail was made possible through a partnership between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the City of Chandler. Other participating organizations include East Texas Woods and Waters Foundation, Upper Neches Municipal River Authority, Texas Department of Transportation and Henderson County. For more information on Texas Paddling Trails, visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/paddlingtrails.
By: Michael Banks, DDS, Friends of the Neches River
