June 1999 - Official Newsletter of the
Lake Maurepas Society

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Recently elected Board member and Officers from L to R Billy Mason7 Vice President, Lindy Keating, Jr., Board Member and Jerry Wolze, Secretary.

COASTAL USE PERMIT FINALLY APPROVED

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Management Division has approved a permit to allow the Lake Maurepas Society and St. John Parish to place fill in the Lake Maurepas Sunset Park in Manchac. Not only will there be dirt hauled and dumped in the park, but LMS has also received a grant through DNR to place picnic tables, barbque pits, walkways and gazebos in the park. Work will begin this summer to complete this project. Arnold Labat, St. John Parish President and Patrick McTopy the Chief Administrative Officer for the Parish have been extremely active in helping us to aquire these permits and grants for the park. Please thank these gentlemen the next time you get the chance. Lake Maurepas Sunset Park started out as a dream of several of our members. Slowly, but surely there will be a park on Lake Maurepas for all to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful natural resource.

NEW MEMBERS

We want to thank the following new members for their support!

Raymond Brown, Pam Cox, Darren Kyzar, Rodney Erdy, Linda Erdy, Robert Goesey, James Hilburn, Clara Elaine Hilburn, Donnie Methvin, Henry A. Penedo, Samuel Pierson, Newell Ruth, Scarlett Sharp, Sharon Sledge, Karlyse Sullivan, C. Taravella, Curtis Wilson, Karen Wilson

LEGEND of the SPANISH MOSS

There's an old, old legend, that's whispered by Southern folks,
About the lacey Spanish Moss that garlands the great oaks.
A lovely princess and her love, upon their wedding day,
Were struck down by a savage foe amidst a bitter fray;
United in death they were buried, so the legend go,
"Neath an oak's strong, friendly arms, protected from their foe;
There, as was the custom, they cut the bride's long hair with love
And hung its shining blackness on the spreading oak above;
Untouched, undisturbed it hung there, for all the world to see.
And with the years the locks turned grey and spread from tree to tree.

URBAN RUNOFF/BIG PROBLEM

By Ben Taylor

The Passage of the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act along with the creation of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency helped to significantly reduce the major sources of pollution in this country. The drainpipes, the smokestacks and the toxic waste dumps were easily identified and remedies put into action. There is yet another major pollution challenge remaining. Non-point source pollution, better known as "urban runoff' is considerably more difficult to eliminate because most people contribute their share by doing small things we consider of little consequence. Unfortunately, these many small acts have a cumulative effect. Typically? streams and lakes near heavily-populated areas suffer the most. Their ecological health is constantly wearied with each rainfall. The pollutants that wash from our driveways, yards and parking lots can cause problems even for a mighty thing like Lake Maurepas. Here are a few things the individual can do to prevent non-point source pollution

Don't dump paints, antifreeze chemicals, motor oil, etc. into ditches and drains or onto the ground. These go into the natural drainage system. Take motor oil to oil quick change shops. They are glad to have it. Take the lid off paints to evaporate into solid form for landfill disposal. Find someone that can use that can of leftover pesticide or herbicide. Some agricultural cooperative extensions can also help.

• Take tires and batteries back to the dealers for deposit fees.
• Be sure your household sewage system is operating properly. Have it cleaned out when needed.
• Use biodegradable cleaners when possible.
• Don't totally clear ditches of vegetation vegetation absorbs pollution and holds the soil from eroding.
• Defoliants cause more problems than they solve.
• Recycle yard wastes. Start a compost pile.
• Use pesticides and herbicides as a last resort

• Don't litter.
• If you are clearing a large area of ground, use hay bales or fabric silt filters to control erosion and sedimentation of streams.
• If you are landscaping, set aside an area to hold runoff where biological activity can clean it.
• Pet wastes should be controlled. Rinse it into an area where it can be absorbed by vegetation.

The general rule of thumb is to direct all waste water rainwater downspouts, driveway and sidewalk cleaning, car washing, sewage system discharge, etc.-through vegetation before leaving the property.

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Lt. Wayne Norwood pictured with Dave Hargrave recently spoke at a Lake Maurepas Society meeting and discussed a state grant program that he is involved with through the St. John Sheriff's Department. This grant will make it possible for Lt. Norwood to become the Litter Code Enforcement Officer for St. John Parish. His duties will be to help educate school children about litter and to enforce litter laws in the parish. So far, Lt. Norwood has written more then 50 citations for people littering on Hwy. 51 between LaPlace and Manchac. The Lake Maurepas Society wants to thank Lt. Norwood for all his efforts in bringing about change in this major environmental issue.

MEMBER ACTIVISM PROGRAM

The following are the current point standings for our active members:

 
David Hargrave earned the Activities Patch this last quarter. Billy Mason achieved the Activities Patch and broke 100 points which earned him the Conservationist Patch. Congratulations to these dedicated volunteers for their many hours of devotion to the Lake Maurepas Society. Thanks to all that have given their time and effort to the cause. Keep it going! !

HOW TO KILL AN ORGANIZATION
by Kerry Cambre

• By not attending the regularly scheduled meetings
• The same handful of people attend all the meetings. When a person that never comes to a meeting, comes and then all they do is find fault.
• People that are late paying membership dues.
• People that decline office positions or committee appointments.
• People that get mad because they were not offered appointments.
• Those people that are appointed to a committee and then don't show up for committee meetings.
• When they do attend, don't make any suggestions until everything is over and then tell everyone HOW things should have been done.
• People that don't do any work if they can help it, because the "old reliable" people will do it. Then accuse them of being a "clique".
• People that are always against all events parties and fund raising events, etc. because its a waste of money.
• When you do not get your way, quit the society.
• Members that do not participate in any functions.

Membership Meetings Change

Membership/Board Meetings will be held together every other month beginning in July. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

• Wednesday, July 21st, 6:00 PM Pontchatoula Community Center Across from the new Post Office on Range Road.
  
• Wednesday, September 15th, 6:00 PM The Arcuri Center in LaPiace Cambridge Drive/Across from the bowling alley.

Anyone needing more directions, call David Hargrave at 504-466-1605.