Texas floods

Texas set record-breaking rainfall in May with a month-long deadly deluge of seemingly biblical proportions. Perhaps the one positive takeaway, as residents begin to put their lives back to normal, is the subsiding of extreme drought conditions that were plaguing the state.

Lake and reservoir levels are slowly returning to normal, which bode well for this fast growing state, the environment and boaters since for many in Texas, boating is a way of life.

Lake levels across the state have been at perilous and exceptional lows for the past few years. Many boat ramps and marinas were left high and dry, while boaters’ safety was becoming an issue in some places as boats were hitting shallows or newly exposed debris causing significant damages to hulls or engines. Rivers and creeks dried up and without the influx of fresh water into the estuaries along the Gulf, these nursery grounds for redfish, speckled trout, black drum and flounder have been in severe distress. The $17 billion tourism economy—much attributed to the appeal of Texas’ lakes and Gulf Coast—showed signs of sluggishness.

Let’s hope this will signal the end of the drought for Texas and along with it the return of its unique boating culture and people back out on the water.

Kemah boardwalk
Those last few steps in the sands and dives in the waves of the Gulf of Mexico on Galveston Island are approaching fast as there are only a few weekends left to take the kids out boating and allow them to create great memories and stories that last throughout the school year. Kemah’s Boardwalk is an easy day or weekend boating trip for most residents in the Houston area and an ideal family-friendly way to close out the summer.

Located on Galveston Bay, Kemah’s Boardwalk has a full-service marina catering to transients looking for endless dockside dining, outdoor concerts and a carnival-like atmosphere for the kids. Filled with rides, the Boardwalk draws in families from the Houston area, where there’s no better way to visit and escape traffic than by boat. Transient boaters can find slip space at the marina from 30-50 feet. Reservations are advisable.

In August, live salsa bands wander the boardwalk and add to the excitement of the carousel and other rides. As the sun sets, parents can enjoy the atmosphere or savor fresh local oysters and redfish from their choice of six waterfront restaurants. Whether you stay on board your boat or get a room at the Boardwalk Inn, the Kemah Boardwalk is an easy weekend getaway and a world away from the start of the school season. It might also stimulate you to untie those lines and become even more adventurous in exploring Texas’ sprawling Gulf Coast.

By Harlen Leslie, Southern Boating Magazine August 2015

Is the Lone Star State’s Cruising Scene Running Dry?

Texas, like much of the West, has been battling ferocious droughts for much of this decade. The effects are cascading throughout the boating world as some reservoirs used by recreational cruisers become severely depleted and rivers that feed the estuaries dry up and negatively influence the breeding grounds for fish and commercial seafood harvests. With the insatiable thirst from growing cities such as Houston and Austin, there simply isn’t enough water to go around and fights are brewing between economic interests built up around these reservoirs, cities, commercial fishing, and farming.

The effects are severe enough that many sailing and boating organizations regularly post updates on water legislation alongside photos of regattas or fishing tournaments where lower water levels are clearly visible along shorelines. Lakes such as Ray Hubbard, Granbury and Nocona have reached record low water levels since their dams were constructed in the 1960s and Lake Whitney alone has dropped 13 feet. Public ramps on Lake Travis have been closed due to the low water levels, and marina operators have to shift boat slips further from shore and into deeper waters. Cruiser safety is also becoming an issue in some places as boats hit shallows or newly exposed debris causing significant damages to hulls or engines.

As rivers and creeks dry up, so do the estuaries that are the nursery grounds for redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and flounder. As saltwater moves in to replenish the depleted fresh water, entire ecosystems are being damaged. Gulf oysters that normally thrive in the bays from Port Aransas to Galveston are taking huge hits from the hyper-salinity levels that are occurring. The effects are beginning to reverberate throughout the $17 billion tourism economy along the Texas Gulf Coast in higher costs and smaller recreational and commercial fishing hauls.

Texans recently voted to dip into a $2 billion “rainy day” fund in order to create new reservoirs, water pipelines and to fund new conservation projects. While not as heavily affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, Texas could also reap another billion dollars from impending fines against BP, and these funds should go directly into coastal conservation and reconstruction projects. However, individuals have expressed concern that some of this money could be redirected towards projects that have nothing to do with environmental restoration, just as Alabama recently did by directing millions from these penalties toward a hotel project.

Texas has a unique boating culture that has grown up around these reservoirs, and combined with the state’s already wild and beautiful rivers and coastline, every effort should be made to not sacrifice them for the sake of water intensive lawns or even rice farming. While Texas is faring better than states such as California, which is being ravaged by drought, it is crucial to protect the waters that make Texas such a beautiful state for all boating activities.

By Harlen Leslie, Southern Boating December 2014

Rocksgiving tournament helps fund two great causes.

Anglers have another opportunity this month to score large migrating striped bass and win large prize money at the inaugural Rocksgiving Tournament on November 15th. The tournament is headquartered in Annapolis at the Chesapeake Harbour Marina, which accommodates boats up to 110 feet in length and has a basin-wide depth of 8 feet (MLW). Any angler who is lucky and skilled enough to reel in a Maryland state record fish during the tournament will win the Grand Prize of $100,000. The tournament is also offering $10,000 to any angler weighing in the first striper more than 55 pounds. More modest yet substantial payouts are also planned for winning fish. Sam’s on the Waterfront will host an awards party from 4-8PM.

Tournament entry fees will fill the prize money pot and also help fund two local causes: The Bowen Foundation and Chesapeake Bay Trust. The mission of the Bowen Foundation is to raise awareness and funds for the prevention, treatment, education, and research efforts related to autism spectrum disorders. The Chesapeake Bay Trust is a nonprofit, grant-making organization focused on the preservation of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in Maryland. Call (410) 268-1969 or visit rocksgiving.com.

Carolina angling

This month the water temperatures are cooler, the crowds are gone and the weather is usually still nice with daytime temperatures averaging in the 60s. Fish are also more active making them easier to catch; the shallow-water bite is particularly exciting this time of year. North Carolina’s coastal rivers, estuaries and sounds are typically filled with stripers, redfish, spotted sea trout, king mackerel, and more. Many charter boats offer both half-day and full-day runs, and the captains can put you on fish fast. It’s a prime time to catch and release, or take home the legal catch limit.

The Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. by Howard Youth is not only informative and practical, but also full of beautiful wildlife art. Photo: Johns Hopkins University Press

Books on board

Gift-giving season is approaching and the gift of knowledge is often a thoughtful choice. One recently published book by Johns Hopkins University Press is a great book to have on board. The Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. by Howard Youth is not only informative and practical, but also full of beautiful wildlife art. It’s superbly illustrated by Mark A. Klingler and includes fine color photos by Robert E. Mumford, Jr. If you’re visiting D.C.—by boat, preferably—it’s a great guide to have on hand, since a stroll along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers can reveal bullfrogs, largemouth bass, ducks, snapping turtles, herons, and much more flora and fauna. Youth is a natural history writer and former associate editor and communications manager for the Friends of the National Zoo. Two other books by JH Press I have in my cabin and highly recommend are Life in the Chesapeake Bay by Alice and Robert Lipsson, and The Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy and John A. Musick.

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating November 2014