Why Fight 'Em?

Notwithstanding my last post below which mentioned the challenges of even attempting to oppose Big Oil, folks are passionate about the Laguna Madre. It is a world class birding center and is right on the Midwest Flyway. In fact, the Island boasts a new facility of over a million dollars just to expand birding. Several hundred kinds of birds can be found in addition to Peregrine falcons, ospreys, and strange birds of Arctic or South Amercia origination.

The fishing between Mexico and Mansfield is nothing short of fantastic. Tarpon and rare snook can be found among large schools of redfish and speckled trout. Many state records for saltwater fly fishing are held by fishermen down here. Some studies estimated that on one tournament weekend called TIFT, over 500 boaters represent an economic value of several million dollars in direct and indirect revenue. Over two dozen guides operate a large charter fishing industry year-round, growing to over 60 in the summer.

We love our bay dolphins too and there are about a dozen boats that are used as excursion vessels for that specific purpose. Most all the bay dolphins have names and when a new baby is born it is cause for celebration.

The population of sea turtles is quite high, with over 100 residing as juvenile green turtles in the lower bay alone. We know there are at least that many because we rescued 136 in last winter’s cold snap. Other endangered species such as Kemp’s Ridley also nest here, although mainly on the beach side. The internationally known Sea Turtle Rescue center is located on our Island and it even has a satellite station down in Mexico; several thousand school children and adults visit the center every year.

Several universities operate marine research stations down here, and many academic papers have been published regarding work done addressing the complex ecosystem of the Lower Laguna Madre and its surrounding features. Some scholars find that gooey, brown-green sediment slime to be quite fascinating. While some of the research might sound arcane, they also investigate things such as Red Tide - they even formed a group called the "Red Tide Rangers" to help collect water samples when red or brown tide is in the area.

It is not just that the area boasts a strong eco-tourism economy that is the livelihood for many of us locals, but a way of life. We fish; we go birding; we even count butterflies. "Winter Texans" come here from all over the US and Canada. No, it is not maybe 500 people on a sand spit in lower Texas, it is much more and we will fiercely fight for our local environment. Anything that threatens the vision, industry, or way of life is simply not acceptable.