FOBHL
Board Meeting via Email
For December 2009
Emails and calls from the board members approved the November board meeting minutes.
There are on going AIS Task Force conference calls discussing the aquatic invasive species (AIS) concerns and how to handle things next year. It is important that there be a lot of public and government involvement to educate and involve everyone in this most serious issue. BICA has purchased two portable decontamination wash stations for boat cleaning to be used in the coming years. This project is very labor and money intensive so VIP’s can be a big help. FOBHL is helping get the word out by holding meeting with local government and community organizations. Meetings have been held with Northwest College President Paul Prestwich, Lovell and Cowley town councils, and the ElkCanal district. Upcoming meeting will be with Byron, Deaver and Powell city councils; Deaver, Lovell, Sidon, Globe and HuntCanal districts, Powell and Lovell Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. There is pending Wyoming state legislation coming up in February to create the laws and funding needed for AIS control. Any group desiring to learn about the AIS issues please contact a FOBHL board member to set up a meeting.
The Board has contracted for a 12’ X 48’ lighted billboard on Highway I90 between Laurel and Billings from April thru September 2010 to promote Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Final revisions are being prepared after which the board will make their
decision.
The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009 which includes the Crow Compact is winding its way thru Congress. It still has a long way to go before passing due to its cost and management concerns expressed by the USBR. We have heard no further details.
Following the survey of FOBHL membership the consensus was to hold a spring time outdoor picnic type activity at Horseshoe Bend Picnic area for our Annual Meeting. We will send out an email summary of the year’s activities and a financial statement in January.
FYI
The new well at Horseshoe Bend has become a reality. The cold weather has slowed its completion. Once well production is known plans will be finalized on the landscaping of the camp ground.
FOBHL did a presentation at NorthwestCollege on the evening of November 19. The recreation opportunities at BICA and current concerns including AIS were reviewed. The FOBHL DVD, the new geology DVD of BICA and a power point slide show were presented. Four nice mounted photos of the Canyon donated by Lynn Richardson (a FOBHL member) were given away that evening. Pamphlets about BICA, Aquatic Invasive Species and Bighorn Lake Maps were passed out.
BighornLake is at a pool elevation of 3636 feet. Ice is beginning to form with about an inch at Horseshoe Bend and thicker ice in the south end. The new dock at Horseshoe Bend has been pulled up the ramp to prevent ice from damaging it. The log booms are secured as well as the courtesy docks removed for the winter. We appreciate BICA leaving the dock in for the fall boating and fishing season!
Bob C meet with Chris Wilkinson and Christy Fleming of the Interpretive Division at BICA on Dec 10 discussing a range of topics. The topics included: BICA web site, Facebook, Twitter, promotion of BICA, BICA/FOBHL relations, 2010 FOBHL VIP projects, Artist in Residence program, updating tourism sites and tourism publications for 2010, Ranger lead talks and hikes, BICA/Public School programs, AIS education and on site work this season, Northwest College TV and soon to be radio station, BICA involvement with area Chamber of Commerce groups. Chris is very enthusiastic and excited about BICA!!!!!
Hidden Treasure Charters boat tours are planning on a very busy 2010 after a good season in 2009. They expect to have daily tours due to the increased tour bus and local group business. They will be adding some new features yet to be finalized. FOBHL receives a lot of positive comments from folks who have enjoyed a tour.
The monthly USBR conference call with the stakeholders was held on December 8. They reported that all three reservoirs are over 100% of normal storage for this time of year. Outflow from each remains the same at 900cfs for Boysen, 400cfs for Buffalo Bill and 2700cfs for Yellowtail. Continuing under the fall YT management plan the lake will be at elevation 3620-3621 feet on April 1. The annual mountain snow pack is beginning to accumulate. There has been no further information received on Senator Max Baucus’s request for a YT dam water management investigation.
The next FOBHL board meeting will be in Lovell on January 12 at 6:30pm.