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A Statement from the SMART Board of Directors
In Texas, we are proud to have formed a massive coalition of over 300,000 members to
assist in creating a healthier system of aquatic vegetation management. Our organization
is called Sensible Management of Aquatic Resources Team (SMART). SMART consists of all
major bass fishing organizations, conservation and environmental groups in Texas. This
coalition was formed because of a strong common belief that herbicides used in fresh water
drinking systems and the destruction of aquatic habitat through the use of these chemicals
is destroying our natural heritage and the health of our citizens.
SMART members are working with legislators to provide Texas with new laws that will assist
in creating management plans that offer cleaner water and a better future for all of our
state's inhabitants. While there are many more issues to address, great strides toward
success have already occurred, not the least of which is a demonstration to politicians
and fisheries agencies of the number of people who seek a healthy environment.
Management doesn't have to include the wholesale poisoning of aquatic vegetation at all
costs, with chemicals that will be retained in the bodies of humans that consume the water
from that source. SMART members believe that all other methods of non-lethal controls must
be exhausted prior to use of chemicals. Alternative methods available offer cleaner water
and protect, not destroy habitat.
We, as an organization, and as individuals are offended by the interference of national
organizations that do little to cloak their approval of chemical use and have hidden ties
among those who create these poisons.
The National Conservation Director of BASS© Bruce Shupp, published a commentary in the
May 1999 issue of BASS Times that is an insult to the integrity of the work that has been
done by members of SMART. In his commentary Shupp discussed a "steering
committee" that will meet in the year 2000. According to his statements, "…
the output from that event will form the basis for the plant management decision-making
guidelines, and for the research funding strategies [supposedly for the entire
nation]." It is commendable for BASS to take an interest in the very volatile issue
of aquatic plant management, but their choice of steering committee members offers little
hope for less chemical use. Participants named include representatives of SePro Company,
the makers of Sonar and Texas Parks and Wildlife. The thought may have been that a person
from TP&W could help to sway Texan's thoughts on the subject of chemicals, but it was
a choice made with obviously little research. Others listed are pro-chemical use
advocates. Non-partisan this committee is not. No doubt, their findings will conclude that
chemical use must continue.
Shupp went on to discuss "false issues and misinformation" and stated basically
that anglers are paranoid, but that fisheries departments had not made mistakes, they
merely failed to, "… adequately consider the values of all the
stakeholders." Excuse Texans while we just say, "Conroe."
"National protection" from this specially selected group of handpicked
individuals who have past, and present, histories of chemical tolerance and promotion
brings no good news to our state. Texans will get much cleaner water without that kind of
interference. With all due respect, the officials at BASS - particularly their
conservation specialists seem to be out of touch with what the public wants.
We're not going to go away. The chemical companies can't buy us. We're not for sale. Water
body authorities won't quietly be allowed to continue to pollute with poisons. We want
clean, healthy water and we want habitat preserved.
Though some people would have you believe otherwise, chemical companies aren't interested
in the welfare of fresh water or fish habitat. They do not produce poisons for our
salvation from exotic aquatic vegetation because they are philanthropists. They are
interested in making the billions of dollars that supply big salaries for themselves and
the puppets they buy.
Shupp's commentary stated that aquatic plant management, "… is a program in
chaos." The only chaos in aquatic plant management is the poison advocates, sellers
and makers fighting to save big-buck sales.
Studies have revealed that at least 40 percent of the fresh water on our planet is
un-swimmable and un-fishable. If one cannot swim in water, why on earth would one want to
drink it? If chemical companies have not played a major role in the polluting of this
water through run-off and directly with aquatic herbicides, who did?
Shupp's commentary did have one thing right. No one is more deeply involved or cares more
about this issue than bass anglers. Sadly, some of the folks who claim to represent bass
anglers aren't listening to the voices of the people they are supposed to represent even
though a large majority are calling for reduced or no chemical use.
Texans do not need national policy changes to "protect" us, except perhaps to
protect us from those with continued aspirations of chemical use to control aquatic
vegetation.
"We've been bombarded with chemicals. They're in the food we eat, the water we drink,
and the air we breathe," says Ed Parten president of TBBU (Texas Black Bass
Unlimited) and board member of SMART. "I am convinced that its money talking through
the individual that dictates the stand taken in Shupp's article. It's a slap in the faces
of all of us who have labored here in Texas to protect our natural resources."
"It seems the thrust of Shupp's article in BASS Times is to discredit the efforts and
message of SMART," says President and editor of Honey Hole Magazine Jerry Dean, also
a board member of SMART.
"Chemical proponents are rightly afraid that SMART's awareness campaign will spread
outside the borders of our own state. And so it shall. People are realizing that valuable
resources need protection. The members of SMART have hopes that officials at BASS will
re-evaluate conservation leadership and return to basic principles the original founder
Ray Scott intended."
From Bill Bales, president of TABC (Texas Association of Bass Clubs) and SMART board
member, we hear this. "I am ashamed of anyone who would be so quick to get in the
back pocket of the chemical connections. If they truly want to represent anglers they
should go to the anglers for answers, not the people with every reason to want chemical
use to continue. The experts have had control for years and it hasn't gotten any better. I
am happy we have the organizations we do here in Texas. We won't fall over and play dead
for the chemical companies."
President of SMART, David Stewart agrees. "Millions of people worldwide have come to
the conclusion that our existence depends on a cleaner environment. We want some straight
answers as to why some of our leaders fail to see that herbicides aren't necessary to
anyone's welfare except those who reap the benefits from sales."
According to University of Florida specialist S.H. Kay, aquatic plants do not threaten the
viability of aquatic systems in most circumstances. "Only when their growth begins to
have a negative impact on human activities is it considered to be weedy." The
interpretation is that it is merely a human conception that aquatic vegetation is noxious,
depending on location. The largest source of overgrowth complaint is from landowners
around lakes. But landowners do not own public water.
The only viable problem from aquatic vegetation overgrowth occurs in power plant lakes
where water intakes require controlled pH and plants can alter water properties.
In the study by Kay it is clearly stated that all weed management practices can be
expected to have an impact on the environment. Beyond the impact of herbicides, the
presence of decaying vegetation following application can result in general water quality
deterioration and excessive algal blooms.
Fish kills and habitat destruction in target areas, don't just result from residual
chemicals in the water body, but can occur as a side effect from their use.
Even the federal government doesn't want to be held liable for chemical treatments.
According to a review done by the government at the same time 2-4-D was developed for use
on water hyacinth, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided 70 percent of the funding to
purchase the herbicide. But local governments were required to, "… hold and save
harmless" the federal government from claims that might occur from operation. Figures
from government resources indicate that reclamation and recovery costs result in billions
of dollars of expense. In turn, applicators now seek a $2 million cap on liability costs,
a drop in the bucket compared to the damage that can be done.
Aquatic herbicides add to non-point loads of pollution. Non-point pollution causes
eutrophication, which results in oxygen depletion. Fish living in water that is low or
devoid of oxygen must leave the area or perish. Along with other non-point sources such as
urban run-off and acid rain, this type of pollution is the most difficult for scientists
to analyze. It is not surprising that herbicide use is being questioned.
"These caustic chemicals have numerous harmful effects to humans, animals and
fish," says Lyle Haas, president of the TVA Clean Waters Association in Scottsboro,
Alabama.
Haas, a retired 26-year veteran with the Alabama Health Department, said the Center for
Health Statistics reveal that since 1976 the rate of cancer deaths in DeKalb, Marshall and
Jackson counties has jumped 49 percent.
Longtime aquatic environmental activist Ray Scott, founder of BASS, says, "The best
plans are for management and controls that provide healthy conditions for the lakes, the
fish and other animals that rely on the habitat, and the humans. I don't believe poisons
are healthy. They kill, that's why they have danger warnings all over the packaging."
In closing, SMART members beseech Texas Parks and Wildlife and other water body
authorities in this state to reject plant management theories from those who reap benefit
from chemical money. Our state will prosper, our lakes will be cleaner, and all creatures
will live healthier lives. We ask that you look not at the labels on chemical poisons for
answers. Do not continue down the path of destruction through chemical barrage. Look to
the sky and water in their resplendent glory. Keep our state clean and healthy and you,
too, will reap the benefits of a beautiful world.
Lastly, and finally, with all due respect to national organizations such as BASS and
conservation director Bruce Shupp, we ask you to leave Texas out of your
"plans." You appear to have failed to hear the message of chemical rejection
from literally millions of people, including the Texas BASS Federation - your own people
who are members of SMART. We are not certain what causes your hearing loss, but we are
SMART enough to recognize the sounds of destruction at the cost of our fisheries and our
health.
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