[This note is to provide the historical background for the following satire.
A number of years ago Corpus Christi sought to lock in its long term water
supply by creating Lake Choke Canyon. This site was one of three
possible sites: it had the lowest average rainfall of the three.
In order to satisfy environmental concerns, Corpus Christi had to agree to
monthly water releases from Lake Corpus Christi, its main water supply.
This flow of fresh water would then support the marine life in Corpus
Christi Bay. Subsequent revelations have shown that these releases were
to continue no matter what the salinity level in the bay might be. In recent
years Corpus Christi won a concession allowing the water releases to be
stopped because of our drought like conditions.
The rain has fallen this year! As a result, Lake Corpus Christi has risen
from about 30% capacity to about 75% capacity, with floodwaters still
rolling down the feeder rivers. The speculation was that Lake Corpus
Christi might actually fill up. No dice. Apparently there is a bulge in the
concrete of the dam.
This bulge, discovered at least 4 years ago and just now brought to the
public's attention, has caused officials to release water to prevent the
Lake from rising above 77% capacity. There is no way of knowing at this
time whether or not the bulge has just shown up or if it has been around in
the past when the lake was over 90% capacity. So the water keeps rolling
down the river and now the satire begins. The above is NOT satire, but is
true in essence, and I haven't even mentioned the pipeline project!]
Dam officials have decided that in order to prevent damage from the dam
bulge that water will be released to prevent the lake level from rising
above 77% capacity. Water is flowing down the Nueces River causing
homeowners along the river to travel by boat, prepare for evacuation or
both. In addition, fresh water flowing into Corpus Christi Bay has caused
an alarming drop in salinity in the bay.
Officials from the TNRCC noted that the low salinity level in the bay would
harm marine life accustomed to a higher salinity level. "If the salinity
level
drops any farther, it is likely that we will order the City of Corpus
Christi to
introduce minerals into the bay to maintain an appropriate level of salinity."
In further TNRCC action, board members voted to order officials at the
Wesley Seal Dam to resume monthly water releases. "The drought
conditions that once plagued the Corpus Christi area have ended.
Therefore we are ordering a resumption of the water releases from Lake
Corpus Christi."
Reporters asked officials if these two orders might seem to be
contradictory. Officials sniffed, "We're following the law. We're not
worried about contradictions."
___________________________________________________________
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©1997 by Bob James. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to
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