|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October
2, 2002
For
more information contact:
Michael Berry
4015 Beltline Rd
Addison, TX 75001-4383
972.376.0921 / 214.912.0758
972.392.1098 fax
rmberry@steelecreekdevelopment.com
Steelecreek
Development, LP Spurs Effort to Rid Lake of Nuisance Vegetation
(OCT
1, 2002 / DALLAS, Tex.) To ensure the health of the beautiful Lake Cypress
Springs in East Texas, lakefront property developers R. Michael Berry and
George S. Watson of Dallas, Tex. spearheaded the planting of native aquatic
plants throughout the lake yesterday.
This
first planting was completed by Dr. Michael Smart of Smart Associates in
Lewisville, Tex., David Weidman, water district manager, officially observed
the planting.
In a
preliminary assessment conducted by Dr. Smart, the national expert in aquatic
plant life, found that all elements are in place to increase the level of
nutrients in the lake. Higher concentrations of nutrients are associated with
stagnant, oxygen-deprived waters and a depleted fish population.
Concerned
for the welfare for the lake, Watson and Berry, committed $10,000 toward the
cost of the preliminary assessment, together with a native aquatic plant
restoration project. The District intends to use the Steelecreek seed capital
along with some of its own budgeted funds to attract matching grant funds for
more restoration work.
To cure
the lake, inhibit the growth of junk plants, and increase the flow of oxygen in
the waters, the District’s board approved the initial planting at various
points in the lake.
Along
with other types of treatment, such as the strategic use of biological,
chemical and mechanical controls, Dr. Smart and the District anticipate that
the lake’s ecosystem will become healthier. The result will be the reduction of
nutrient levels, improved water quality, clearer waterways and better fishing.
Believing
that lakes with water plant coverage attract the best fish, especially
largemouth bass, some fishermen favor lakes with hydrilla and other aggressive
plants.
Yet too
much of a “good thing” can be detrimental to the long-term life of a lake. When
the coverage becomes an unending mat of plants, the lake disappears.
The
Texas Department of Park and Wildlife, or TPW, estimated in 2001 that of about
200 public water bodies of 500 acres or larger, 98 percent are infested with
plant species listed as harmful or potentially harmful exotic plants.
To keep
the public informed, especially lakeside residents, a series of workshops is
being planned.
# # #
ABOUT STEELECREEK DEVELOPMENT, L.P.
Steelecreek Development, LP has a small inventory of
well-located, hard-to-find, private lakefront properties on Lake Cypress
Springs and Lake Bob Sandlin – both spring-fed and drought-tolerant.
Small, intimate subdivisions feature generous properties with an average of
100-plus feet of waterfront each. While secluded, the properties are located
close to the towns of Winnsboro, Mt. Vernon, Pittsburg and Mt. Pleasant, which
offer perfect weekend pursuits for the non-angler and angler alike. For more
information, or to schedule a visit, please contact:
R. Michael Berry
972.376.0921 / 214.914.0758
George S. Watson
972.376.0853 / 214.914.5944
| 
