City Hosts Visioning Session for Twin Buttes

Roughly forty people turned out for a City hosted Visioning Session on Twin Buttes Reservoir Thursday evening.  Representatives from the outdoor community included fishermen, hunters, windsurfers, kayakers, off-road riders (ATV and full sized vehicles), runners, trail cyclists, disc golfers, archers and more. 

Lauren Shrum from Texas Outdoors Consulting ably facilitated the session.  Everyone had a chance to contribute their ideas to a master list, which the group later prioritized.  Some of the ideas were in direct contrast to one another.  Examples include:

• keep everything wide open vs. restricting access
• keep the property primitive vs. developing nice camping slots with hookups.  

The group didn't eliminate conflicting ideas, but everyone got to vote their priorities. 

I used my eight votes on:

1) Vehicle access to large areas of the lake shore (both North and South Pools for windsurfing)

2) Regular trash cleanup in high use areas

3) Access to well maintained public restrooms

4) Visible and regular police presence

The Visioning Workshop regarded "the future of the Twin Buttes Recreation Area as part of the master planning process." It remains to be seen if this is a ground up effort or top down directive, like the recent installation of pipe railing.  Never the less, I'm grateful to Carl White, Anthony Wilson and Lauren Shrum for the chance to be heard. Many thanks to Alvin, Joan and Kristin for adding their voice on behalf of windsurfers.  The meeting was worth the time.

Update 2-24-12:  Bill Cullins authored a piece in the Standard Times on this issue.  It's worth the read.

Upcoming Twin Buttes Visioning Workshop

The City of San Angelo will hold a visioning workshop for Twin Buttes Reservoir in the near future.  The event is invitation only and will be facilitated by Texas Outdoor Consulting.  City leaders identified stakeholders to represent specific interest groups.  I've been designated the contact person for the windsurfing community and asked to bring four windsurfers to the session.   

I made a few calls, sent some e-mails.  Alvin said he could go.  I hope to hear from Medwin, Bill L. and Bill C. 

If any new windsurfers or ancient mariners want to go (James R., Lorenzo L, Rick E., Jimmy, George G., Leroy or Steve S.), please contact me at PEUReport@gmail.com.  I'm excited our voice will be heard.

P.S.  The South Pool was up when I sailed in early January.  I'd guess it was at least a foot to foot and a half higher.  The water was a chilly 52-54 degreees.

COSA Seeks Bids for Pumping Dead Pools

The City of San Angelo closed bidding today on proposals for the lease of pumping equipment and portable pipelines.

The pumps will be used to withdraw water from the dead storage pools in Twin Buttes Reservoir, Tom Green County, Texas. The system should be capable of achieving flows of approximately 25 million gallons per day.

COSA's Facebook page stated on January 3:

San Angelo uses an average of 14mm gallons each day. (In the winter, we use about 10mm gallons/day

The City's RFP specified:

The pumping system may consist of a combination not to exceed three pumping units. Pumping units shall be diesel powered. The pumping units shall be skid mounted such that they can be easily moved. City will be responsible for moving the pumps and piping.

Suction piping shall be provided for each pump. A minimum of 200 feet of suction pipe shall be provided for each unit. The typical depth of water over the suction pipe will be 3–5 feet and any type of baffle plates needed to prevent vortexing shall be provided by Respondent. A screening device shall be provided on the end of each suction pipe with openings not larger than 1 inch.

It remains to be seen how the city plans to use these pumps.  They've used pumps in the North Pool to get water through the dry gates.  I'm not aware of pumps being used at the South Pool in the past, although Councilman Paul Alexander floated that idea in 2011.

Provide a detailed description and pricing for the proposed pumping system. The lease period will be for at least 60 days and will be extended on a month-to-month basis thereafter. The pricing schedule shall include at a minimum the following:

A. Monthly lease fee for each pump size
B. Monthly lease fee per foot for suction piping
C. Monthly lease fee per foot for discharge pipe
D. Purchase option per foot for the suction and discharge pipe
E. Minimum lease term
F. Availability of pumps
G. Mobilization fee to deliver and set the pumping system including pumps and piping.
H. De-mobilization fee to disassemble and pick up the pump system.

Bidders may want to check the city's history with pumps and diesel spills. COSA got in trouble for not reporting such in the past.

My hope is the rains come and the South Concho flows.  I windsurfed two weeks ago at the South Pool and the water was up, close to flowing into the Equalization Channel.  The North Pool is way below the South elevation wise, so pumping may remain necessary.

I do think it's better to refer to San Angelo's drinking water source as something other than a dead pool.

Update 2-7-12:  COSA posted Addendum ! and Addendum 2 for the project.  The deadline changed to February 23.

Twin Buttes Irrigation to Go Year Round

San Angelo City Council may amend their contract with the Bureau of Reclamation on irrigation water from Twin Buttes.  The proposed resolution states:

"providing for allocation of the Project water supply and to reflect the change in the irrigation season from February 1st through October 31st , to year round use."

This may be of interest to water sports enthusiasts.

P.S.  I posted possible conflict of interest issues for Water Chief Will Wilde on my other blog.  .

Twin Buttes Public Meeting

The City of San Angelo held a public meeting on Twin Buttes in early December.  The presentation mentioned windsurfers and included a picture from this blog as slide 20.   

Twin Buttes Public Meeting 12-1-11 Presentation

View more presentations from City of San Angelo Texas

There should be another chance for input for windsurfers and other users.  I'll try to find out the details and let folks know.

Update:  The Standard Times ran a story on the park master plan, which includes Twin Buttes.  "We're not coming up with anything new" at Twin Buttes, White said, "just getting the public input for what they would like to make sure continues out there."

Gratitude & Celebration

May the spirit of Christmas bring you joy and peace. Twin Buttes provides me with glimpses of such.

Playing at South Pool

Fall fun on the water. Fortunately, Alvin braved the elements with me.

I was on a 6.0 sail and Mistral Energizer, while Alvin had a 5.9 and a Bassett board.

 I had a little fun putting these pictures side by side.  I have a warm shirt under a convertible wetsuit.  It was refreshing hitting the water.  Next time out?  Definitely drysuit.  I hope it's soon.