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Irrigation and Water Conservation

By
Cary Sims
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I got a call from my water provider a couple weeks ago asking if I had a leak in my water line as my bill was substantially higher than normal. I assured them that I did not have a leak but was simply using much more than normal to keep my landscape from dying.

And I don’t think I’m winning the battle to keep everything in my landscape alive. To be honest, I did prioritize my vegetable garden and the landscaping around the house and, subsequently, my home’s foundation. Most of the lawn is having to fend for itself and is not doing well.

As we continue in this dry season that has only seen brief respite from a few showers, lets take a good look into watering basics.

First, you can make your existing landscape irrigation system more efficient. Set your timer for the early morning and consider changing your sprinkler heads to the more efficient spray patterns. Irrigation heads that spray a stream of larger droplets reduce evaporation that occurs with fine-misted sprayers that have much of the fine spray drift off target. Also consider adding the rain sensors that would delay irrigation if your hardscape had just received some rain.

Perhaps one of the best tips to share is the “soak and cycle” method. If that is a new phrase to you, be sure to study up the “soak and cycle” for your irrigation system. Doing that will give your lawn and beds a good, deep drink of water and reduce runoff. Soak and cycle greatly reduces the problem with trying to water deeply and seeing it run down the curb into the gutter.

Next, let us review some of the rules and regulations regarding home irrigation systems and what you are allowed to do. Texas law states that anyone can set up an above ground drip irrigation system from some simple products available at local nurseries. These drip hoses are quite simple for a do-it-yourself homeowner. Even for those who feel challenged with home improvement products, drip irrigation kits have a “plug and play” setup that anyone could tackle.

There are, however, some serious laws regarding who can install and repair underground irrigation systems. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is Texas’ version of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the national level. Under their jurisdiction, you must be licensed to install almost any irrigation system.

Now, I’m not an attorney and I don’t play one on television, so please don’t take the following as all you ever need to know regarding landscape irrigation law.

According to Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 30, “A person may not sell, design, install, maintain, alter, repair, service or inspect an irrigation system – or consult in these activities- in this state, unless the person is licensed by the TCEQ.” As with some laws there is a couple of exemptions, and one exemption is that you can if you are a gardener or agriculturalist working on you own property.

But we have to take it one step further. Some municipalities (Lufkin being one of them) say that even though you may be exempt by the state, you are required to apply for a permit (just like a building permit) and hire a licensed technician to inspect it IF a portion of it is underground.

Why all the rules to water you yard, you ask? At issue is the safety of the public water supply. If you put together a pressurized irrigation system incorrectly and some of the water in your system gets back into the city water supply, it is possible to contaminate city water.

Water law is interesting. In general, water laws (who owns it and who can gather it) are set and governed by states, as opposed to the federal government. Texas residents enjoy a good amount of freedom regarding water rights. You are allowed by Texas law to harvest rainwater. In fact, the practice is harvesting rainwater to use in the landscape is even encouraged by our state with tax credits and tax exemptions at certain times.

On the contrary, my understanding is that Colorado residents are generally not allowed to harvest rainwater that drips off of the roof as it has “the potential to withhold water from users that have senior water rights” under Colorado law.

Many years ago, the Lufkin Daily News wrote an editorial entitled something like “Lufkin’s Water Problem”. The tongue in cheek title of the editorial was that that Lufkin residents are so blessed by normally abundant rainfall and exceptional planning by city leaders regarding abundant supplies of municipal water supplies that they didn’t realize that there was a shortage of water across the state during a terrible drought.

Our state representatives have dealt with the wondering eyes from other parts of our state and how they would love to take a part of the water resources we so enjoy.

Indeed, we are typically blessed with more than adequate rainfall and have high quality water for city residents. We can and do have incredible landscapes because of our abundance of water.

Nevertheless, in times like these, let us all remember to use this resource wisely. Water is limited. I suppose we could approach this from another way- – keep you water bills low and save yourself some money. Even during summer droughts like we are currently experiencing, we typically do see a spike in water usage in the landscape. Yet with wise planning, you can save money by implementing water conservation measures.

Cary Sims is the County Extension Agent for agriculture and natural resources for Angelina County. His email address is cw-sims@tamu.edu.

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, national origin, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Are You Living a Balanced Life?

By
Lee Allen Miller
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We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but some people seem to be able to accomplish so much more than others. How do they do it? The answer often lies in creating a balance between different areas of their life. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how you can create a more balanced life for yourself!

What is balance?

The term “balance” is often used when talking about lifestyle. A balanced life is one that includes a healthy mix of activities and relationships. Everyone’s idea of balance will be different, but there are some common themes. A balanced life usually includes:

-A healthy diet
-Regular exercise
-Time for relaxation and hobbies
-Quality time with family and friends

Creating a balanced life can be difficult, especially if you feel like you’re always busy. It’s important to make time for the things that are important to you. Start by making small changes and see how they make you feel. You may find that a little bit of balance goes a long way!

Why is balance important?

We all have busy lives and it can be easy to let our health and wellbeing suffer as a result. Creating a balanced life is important for our physical and mental health. It can help us to manage our stress levels, enjoy our hobbies and activities more, and have more energy to devote to our work and family commitments.

There are many ways to create a balanced life. Some people find that following a specific routine helps them to stay on track, while others prefer to be more flexible in their approach. The important thing is to find what works for you and stick with it.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Make time for yourself – Set aside some time each day for yourself. This is time that you can use to relax, exercise, meditate, or do something that you enjoy.

2. Eat healthy – Eating nutritious meals helps your body to function at its best. Make sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet.

3. Get enough sleep – Most adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Getting enough rest will help you to feel your best during the day.

4. Exercise – Exercise

Tips for creating a balanced life

1. Set realistic goals for yourself and don’t try to do too much at once.

2. Make time for the things you enjoy and make sure to schedule in some down time.

3. Be honest with yourself about what is realistic and what isn’t and be willing to let go of perfectionism.

4. Don’t forget to take care of your physical health and make time for exercise and healthy eating.

5. Seek out social support and ask for help when you need it.

How to maintain balance in your life

The ability to maintain balance in your life is essential to your well-being. It can be difficult to achieve, but it is worth the effort. There are many ways to maintain balance in your life, and each person has to find what works best for them. However, there are some general tips that can help everyone achieve a more balanced life.

One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to set priorities. You need to figure out what is most important to you and put that at the top of your list. Once you have your priorities straight, it will be easier to make time for the things that matter most to you.

Another way to achieve balance in your life is to take care of yourself physically and mentally. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. Taking care of your body will help you feel better overall and be able to handle stress more effectively.

It is also important to schedule time for both work and play. You should have set hours for work and then make sure you are taking time off to relax and enjoy yourself. It can be tempting to work all the time, but it is important to have a life outside of work as well

Get Started!

It’s important to find a balance in life between work and play, between obligations and free time. Too much of either can lead to burnout or feeling unfulfilled. It’s all about finding the right mix for you and making sure to enjoy your life along the way. We hope these tips have helped you figure out how to create a more balanced life for yourself. Do you have any other tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!

The Pineywoods Car Show

By
Bee Martinez
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Pineywoods Car Show is back this year.

Friday, September 16

George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center

Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls

By
Bee Martinez
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Help us serve children in East Texas and around the world through our annual Angelina County Shoe Drive with 90.9 KSWP.

Your gift of NEW SHOES can be the first step out of poverty.

June 13th – July 15th

Drop shoes at The Chamber 1615 S. Chestnut St. or
Buckner 3402 Daniel McCall Dr.

ERCOT Issues Conservation Appeal to Texans and Texas Businesses

By
Bee Martinez
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With extreme hot weather driving record power demand across Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is issuing a Conservation Appeal, asking Texans and Texas businesses to voluntarily conserve electricity, Monday, July 11 between 2-8 p.m. ERCOT also issued a Watch for a projected reserve capacity shortage from 2-8 p.m. At this time, no system-wide outages are expected.

Conservation is a reliability tool ERCOT has deployed more than four dozen times since 2008 to successfully manage grid operations. This notification is issued when projected reserves may fall below 2300 MW for 30 minutes or more.

ERCOT encourages all electric customers to visit the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) Power to Save or their electric provider’s websites to get important conservation tips. According to the PUC, ways to reduce electricity use during peak times include turning up your thermostat a degree or two, if comfortable, and postponing running major appliances or pool pumps during afternoon peak hours.

ERCOT continues to use all tools available to manage the grid effectively and reliably, including using reserve power and calling upon large electric customers who have volunteered to lower their energy use.

ERCOT emphasizes that the call for conservation is limited to the hours of 2-8 p.m.

Factors driving the need for this important action by customers:

  • Record high electric demand. The heat wave that has settled on Texas and much of the central United States is driving increased electric use. Other grid operators are operating under similar conservative operations programs as ERCOT due to the heatwave.
  • Low wind. While solar power is generally reaching near full generation capacity, wind generation is currently generating significantly less than what it historically generated in this time period. Current projections show wind generation coming in less than 10 percent of its capacity.

Under current projected scenarios, performance of the generation fleet Monday is:

Installed CapacityMonday (7/11) Tightest Hour (2-3 p.m.)Percentage of Installed Capacity Available at Tightest Hour
Dispatchable80,08367,91385%
Wind35,1622,6988%
Solar11,7879,55781%
Total forecasted demand is 79,671 MW.

How to track electricity demand

·         View daily peak demand forecast, current load, and available generation at http://www.ercot.com.

·         Follow ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO) and Facebook (Electric Reliability Council of Texas).

·         Sign up for the ERCOT mobile app (available for download at the Apple App Store and Google Play).

·         Subscribe to the EmergencyAlerts list on http://lists.ercot.com.

Consumer Assistance: Public Utility Commission of Texas Hotline – 1-888-782-8477

ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers, representing about 90 percent of the state’s electric load. As the Independent System Operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 52,700+ miles of transmission lines and 1,030+ generation units, including PUNs. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for more than 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature.

Contact

ERCOT External Affairs Team

media@ercot.com

Summer Fish Kills

By
Cary Sims
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There are a few ways that pond owners could experience a major fish die-off during these hot, dry summer months. Warm water already holds less dissolved oxygen than cold water and, when coupled with too large a fish population and the following conditions, we can expect to have fish die-offs.

First is the overuse (or misuse) of aquatic herbicides. Make no mistake, these products are very safe to fish and the environment when used according to their instructions. However, if there is a large amount of vegetation in the pond that is treated all at once, the resulting death and decomposition of vegetation can rob the pond of oxygen.

All decomposing things consume oxygen, be that a dead squirrel on the side of the road or all the vegetation recently treated in your pond. The rule of thumb is to treat no more than a quarter, perhaps up to a third, of the target vegetation and then wait a couple of weeks before treating another portion.

Even without any induced weed control measures, ponds can have a natural phytoplankton die-offs. Nutrient-enriched ponds often produce dense blooms of microscopic algae (called phytoplankton) that give them a deep green colored appearance. Sudden phytoplankton die-offs can occur following consecutive days of cloudy, hot, windless conditions. When an algal bloom “collapse” occurs, the water can change colors quickly. The sudden die-off of algae will, as mentioned above, lead to a rapid decline in dissolved oxygen as bacteria decompose the dead algae.

Following suite with too much phytoplankton is excessive vegetation. Everyone knows that plants take in CO2 and give off oxygen, but few remember that plants also need and use oxygen. Consider a pond where 60 to 80% of the surface is covered with plants. These plants are both producers and consumers of oxygen.

And add to the excessive vegetation a long period of hot, cloudy, still (windless) weather conditions where water temperatures rise above 85°F. The cloudy days give less sunlight for plants to make oxygen. The still days where the wind doesn’t seem to move at all provides no wave action to aerate the pond. And the hot temperatures reduce the water’s ability to hold oxygen.

Ponds can usually withstand several consecutive hot days and nights, but if these conditions persist, oxygen levels may decline to levels harmful to fish. Experience has taught us that this type of summer fish kill is more common in shallow ponds that are heavily vegetated.

Lastly, turnovers can follow the blessing of a heavy rain. Most ponds deeper than 8 to 10 feet typically stratify in the summer. This results in a warmer, lighter, more oxygenated upper layer on top of a colder, denser bottom layer.

After a long, dry, hot spell, most folks are overjoyed when a cool front and a resulting storm brings some much-needed rain. Yet the cooler blowing wind coupled with the cooler rain may reduce the temperature of the surface such that the pond “turns over”. The oxygen-poor bottom layers mix with upper layers, resulting in low oxygen levels throughout the water column and possible fish kills.

When we analyze our ponds’ ecosystems, we learn that large amounts of organic matter may accumulate during the summer in the deeper areas of stratified ponds. By the latter part of the summer, oxygen in this bottom layer will be used up as this organic material decomposes. This mixing of these stratified layers can occur during the summer after a heavy cold rain.

In all these circumstances, low oxygen levels may be identified by close observation during the early morning hours. At sunrise during extremely hot weather, check your pond regularly for fish “gulping” at the surface. This gulping is the sign of oxygen stressed fish. Larger fish usually die first because their oxygen requirements are greater than those of smaller fish.

If you find evidence of fish deaths later in the day, take some time to carefully look for smaller fish alive and well near the edges. If you find them, then we can confirm that the cause was low oxygen levels and not some other toxin-induced die-off.

Solutions to low oxygen in the pond revolve around two simple options. First you could add more oxygen be purchasing an aerator. From fountains, to paddlewheels, to bubbling devices located on the bottom of the pond, these are an immediate fix for the oxygen and are often employed by commercial fish producers.

But guessing that most every pond owner is not in the commercial fish production business, the other option is to reduce the number of fish in the pond. Annually at the very least, invite friends or family over to catch fish and then hold a fish fry! This physical reduction of the pounds of fish will reduce the need for oxygen and will provide a responsible means of enjoying the fish that have been produced in your pond.

Cary Sims is the County Extension Agent for agriculture and natural resources for Angelina County. His email address is cw-sims@tamu.edu.

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, national origin, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

July 2022 First Friday Luncheon

By
Rachel Lauren
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Featuring TxDOT updates on present and future construction project in Lufkin District and I-69 projects.

5 Ways to Be More Sustainable This Summer

By
Statepoint
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You don’t have to be a sustainability expert to incorporate elements of eco-friendly living into your everyday routine. This summer, think about the small changes you can make that can add up to make a bigger difference.

Store Sustainably:

Single-use plastics are difficult to avoid when protecting fragile household items or delicate holiday decor. Cut down on plastic cushioning and packing foam usage by incorporating Flourish Brand Honeycomb Cushion Wrap to cover and safely store your breakable and fragile items. The interlocking structure is easy to stretch and secures to itself without any tape needed.

Give Green:

It’s often difficult to find the perfect presents for housewarming gatherings, family holidays and hostess gifts. Spread some sustainable love by gifting a plant to that hard-to-buy-for-friend or neighbor, or even give something green as a surprise for someone special.

Environmentally Friendly Connection:

Sending a package to a distant loved one is a delightful way to brighten someone’s day, but unfortunately many mailers feature excess plastic wrapping or aren’t made of earth-friendly materials. Ship sustainably by choosing an eco-friendly option like Flourish Honeycomb Recyclable Mailers. This type of mailing material features 100% recyclable material packaging and include a die-cut honeycomb layer to create space and cushioning that helps protect items during shipment, without using unnecessary plastic. Additionally, they can easily be tossed into the recycling bin after use.

Make Small Changes:

Living sustainably can sound intimidating at first. Like any shift in habit though, changing behavior may take a while to stick, but small, consistent adjustments will mean the most over time, especially when it comes to everyday things like reducing your use of single-use plastics, and switching to reusable shopping bags and food containers. Take things one small step at a time. For example, commit to recycling one additional item each day.

Enjoy the Outside:

Being active is always easier on warm, sunny days. Take advantage of summer weather to reduce your personal carbon footprint and get some healthy exercise! Find ways to do this by walking or biking instead of taking a car to the store. If you need to travel a longer distance, opt for public transport or carpool instead.

McAlister’s Deli Grand Opening

By
Rachel Lauren
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Come celebrate the Grand Opening of McAlister’s Deli Nacogdoches! Known for Sandwiches, Spuds, Soups, Salads, Desserts and Famous Sweet Tea, McAlister’s offers something for everyone. The restaurant will have dine-in, online and app ordering, a pick-up window, a self-serve kiosk, tableside ordering and delivery.

The Coalition Releases Results of Minor Sting Operation in Angelina County

By
Rachel Lauren
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In an effort to decrease the dangers and consequences of alcohol purchased by minors in our county, The Coalition, Inc. has partnered with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) and TxDOT to conduct alcohol stings. Under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, juveniles under the legal age to drink/purchase alcohol are used as decoys to enter businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol and then attempt to purchase alcohol.

“The ultimate goal is to protect the youth of Angelina County from underage drinking, which is proven to increase the risk of impaired driving and other consequences,” said Sharon Kruk, Executive Director of The Coalition, Inc. “We are grateful for the local retailers who train their employees on responsible beverage service and correct alcohol sales. It’s up to all of us to work together to protect our youth from the consequences of underage drinking.” 

During the last sets of minor sting operations, there were 33 businesses who did not sell to minors and 3 businesses who did sell to minors. Stings were done at some stores twice and designation has been given below to businesses who did not sell to minors during either of the stings. We commend those stores who did not sell alcohol to minors in our community and recognize them for helping to combat underage drinking:

  • Dollar General Store #9776, 2606 US Highway 69 North;
  • Big’s #3822, 3644 US Highway 69 North (2 visits);
  • Family Dollar Store #8300, 3676 US Highway 69 South (2 visits);
  • Dollar General Store #20058, 7014 US Highway 69 North, Pollok (2 visits);
  • 69 Kountry Store, 10951 US Highway 69 North, Pollok (2 visits);
  • Brookshire Brothers Express #3, 6925 US Highway 69 North, Pollok (2 visits);
  • Hernandez Grocery and Mexican Restaurant, 4602 Highway 103 West;
  • Big’s #3811, 2701 North Raguet Street;
  • Lucky’s, 1707 North John Redditt Drive;
  • Big’s #3819, 103 North John Redditt Drive;
  • West Loop Chevron, 904 South John Redditt Drive;
  • Roma Italian Bistro, 918 South John Redditt Drive;
  • AMC Lufkin 9, 4600 South Medford Drive;
  • Super Mart Store, 702 Southwood Drive;
  • JR Food Mart, 1114 East Denman Avenue;
  • Uday #31, 6480 US Highway 69 South;
  • Homer Mini Mart, 7075 US Highway 69 South;
  • On the Road #102, 2909 East Denman Avenue;
  • Guru Trading, 2215 East Denman Avenue;
  • La Michoacana Meat Market; 416 Atkinson Drive;
  • Gas N Go #1, 401 North Timberland Drive;
  • Diboll Depot, 1605 North Temple Drive, Diboll;
  • Just Stop, 605 North Temple Drive, Diboll;
  • Dollar General Store #1695, 225 North Temple Drive, Diboll;
  • Brookshire Brothers #35, 221 North Temple Drive, Diboll;
  • On the Way, 701 South Temple Drive, Diboll;
  • Neches Pines Golf Course, 900 Lumberjack Drive, Suite A, Diboll;
  • Snappy Food Mart Diboll, 1580 North Temple Drive, Diboll;
  • Cracker Barrel Old Country Store #622, 2301 1 st Street;
  • Sam’s Club, 407 North Brentwood Drive;
  • HEB Food Store #617, 111 North Timberland Drive;
  • Walgreens #05792, 102 North Timberland Drive; and
  • CVS Pharmacy #6846, 1204 East Lufkin Avenue.

2 businesses sold to minors and administrative action was taken against the individuals who sold the alcohol:

  • Pilot Travel Center, 1920 East Denman Avenue; and
  • On the Road, 4110 South 1 st Street.

One business sold to a minor during the first sting and a second sting was done later in the year. During the second minor alcohol sting, the business did not sell to the minor. We commend this business for training their employees and following-up on the policies regarding the sales of alcohol:

  • Brookshire Brother Express #113, 15284 N US Highway 69, Pollok.

Sale of alcohol to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement up to a year in jail, or both. Persons 21 or older (other than a parent or guardian) can be held liable for damages caused by intoxication of a minor under 18 if the adult knowingly provided alcoholic beverages to a minor or knowingly allowed the minor to be served or provided alcohol beverages on the premises owned by or leased by the adult.

Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes and behaviors, all in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. The Coalition is partially funded by a grant from TxDOT. For more information on how to help prevent underage drinking, contact The Coalition at 936-634-9308.

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