The pumps are finally running and the water levels are starting to drop. Seeing my neighbors finally get some relief after years of watching our homes drown is a feeling I cannot even put into words. We will keep watching the lake levels closely but today we can finally breathe …
April 13, 2019
Final supporters
On September 30th of 2018 we printed and distributed the attached petition to then Senator O'Brien and to you Representative Iden, at a Texas Township Task Force meeting. It was our understanding at the time, the Engineers and others whom Texas Township hired had figured out a short term solution to lower the levels of Eagle and Crooked Lakes. This was to also help the many neighborhoods around those lakes which are also experiencing flooding. The only thing we needed to start this was approval from the DEQ
At that meeting the DEQ explained their process, which could take 90 days and could include a public hearing, if necessary. It was agreed to move forward so we planned the public meeting to run in parallel with the DEQ efforts. This was done in order to try to fast track this process as much as possible. Our hope was to start pumping by the end of 2018.
We're now into January. Since that time, the lakes have risen due to continued rain and snow. Just last week the lake rose another 1.5 inches. A road that serves as the only way to about 25 homes, is now backfilled from the storm drain and frozen over. Residents have to drive over a sheet of ice that was once a road to get to their homes. Multiple people have been displaced from their homes, and many, many more are constantly pumping their basements to try and keep the water outside their walls.
On the government's end, DEQ has stated we might have to get approval from every downstream residence 'significantly impacted' by our pumping. They can't or won’t provide us the definition of 'significantly impacted'. Meanwhile, they also identified a protected rattlesnake downstream. This snake will now require EPA approval for the pumping. Getting approval from the EPA, which takes a minimum of 90 days, has yet to start.
On September 30th, the best case was January 1st. On January 6th, the best case is now April 6th, if at all. Twenty-five homes already have their right of way impeded. If the water comes up another 4 inches, it will start impeding all of Treasure Island, or about 80 homes.
We've been told that this is not a State Emergency, and we need to follow the process. As a board, we have been explaining this to our residents. We have been patiently urging them to stay calm. We have reassured them help is on the way. But at what point is this an Emergency? We've already displaced at least 3 families from their underwater homes - how many more homes need to drown before this gets some attention?
I urge you both to figure out what can be done. We are mostly ready to pump water. The pipes and pumps have been identified and procured. We are just waiting on the green light. As someone who wakes up daily to a water line that grows closer and closer, it's completely frustrating the only thing stopping us is bureaucracy.
Please Help!
Updates
January 17, 2019
Reaching five hundred signatures brings a heavy weight to my chest because I know the faces of the families trapped behind those icy roads. Seeing this many people acknowledge the disaster unfolding in our neighborhoods proves that we are not screaming into the void alone.
Reached 500 supporters
January 14, 2019
January 12, 2019
My neighbors are still driving over frozen water just to reach their front doors. We are nearing five hundred signatures and hitting this number will force the local officials to finally take our displacement seriously.
Reached 100 supporters
January 8, 2019
141 Comments
My home of 41 years on Eagle Lake is my biggest investment. Losing it to an encroaching flood will be a major setback for my financial future. Help expedite the legal process to provide relief for this area of hundeds of vulnerable homes. Hopeful...
We have been dealing with a rising lake level for over a year now. We paid $$$ for a seawall to protect our property and made it a foot higher than we originally planned. The water is now less than 5 inches from going over our seawall. We all need help now!
We need help here desperately! We have no yards left and no beaches. Our lake has gone from an all sports lake to a no wake lake very quickly. We cooperation from the DNR to close off a public access as boaters come and do not observe the no wake signs and continue to ruin what little we have let!
Please help my home is the next domino to topple , and my son will lose his room to sleep in. We've done everything we can responsibly do to prepare and already spend thousands. Please clear the way and begin pumping or my family will be displaced and possibly lose the home
It appears the DEQ and supporting state officials are heading down the road to a crisis similar to the “Flint Water Crisis”. If Treasure Island Drive Causeway floods, closes and sewers can not operate, they will have to answer to 80 home evacuations. A nightmare no one wants to see or answer to.
I hope it happens
We need help!
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The pumps are finally running and the water levels are starting to drop. Seeing my neighbors finally get some relief after years of watching our homes drown is a feeling I cannot even put into words. We will keep watching the lake levels closely but today we can finally breathe …
April 13, 2019
Final supporters
On September 30th of 2018 we printed and distributed the attached petition to then Senator O'Brien and to you Representative Iden, at a Texas Township Task Force meeting. It was our understanding at the time, the Engineers and others whom Texas Township hired had figured out a short term solution to lower the levels of Eagle and Crooked Lakes. This was to also help the many neighborhoods around those lakes which are also experiencing flooding. The only thing we needed to start this was approval from the DEQ
At that meeting the DEQ explained their process, which could take 90 days and could include a public hearing, if necessary. It was agreed to move forward so we planned the public meeting to run in parallel with the DEQ efforts. This was done in order to try to fast track this process as much as possible. Our hope was to start pumping by the end of 2018.
We're now into January. Since that time, the lakes have risen due to continued rain and snow. Just last week the lake rose another 1.5 inches. A road that serves as the only way to about 25 homes, is now backfilled from the storm drain and frozen over. Residents have to drive over a sheet of ice that was once a road to get to their homes. Multiple people have been displaced from their homes, and many, many more are constantly pumping their basements to try and keep the water outside their walls.
On the government's end, DEQ has stated we might have to get approval from every downstream residence 'significantly impacted' by our pumping. They can't or won’t provide us the definition of 'significantly impacted'. Meanwhile, they also identified a protected rattlesnake downstream. This snake will now require EPA approval for the pumping. Getting approval from the EPA, which takes a minimum of 90 days, has yet to start.
On September 30th, the best case was January 1st. On January 6th, the best case is now April 6th, if at all. Twenty-five homes already have their right of way impeded. If the water comes up another 4 inches, it will start impeding all of Treasure Island, or about 80 homes.
We've been told that this is not a State Emergency, and we need to follow the process. As a board, we have been explaining this to our residents. We have been patiently urging them to stay calm. We have reassured them help is on the way. But at what point is this an Emergency? We've already displaced at least 3 families from their underwater homes - how many more homes need to drown before this gets some attention?
I urge you both to figure out what can be done. We are mostly ready to pump water. The pipes and pumps have been identified and procured. We are just waiting on the green light. As someone who wakes up daily to a water line that grows closer and closer, it's completely frustrating the only thing stopping us is bureaucracy.
Please Help!
Updates
January 17, 2019
Reaching five hundred signatures brings a heavy weight to my chest because I know the faces of the families trapped behind those icy roads. Seeing this many people acknowledge the disaster unfolding in our neighborhoods proves that we are not screaming into the void alone.
Reached 500 supporters
January 14, 2019
January 12, 2019
My neighbors are still driving over frozen water just to reach their front doors. We are nearing five hundred signatures and hitting this number will force the local officials to finally take our displacement seriously.
Reached 100 supporters
January 8, 2019
141 Comments
Many of us who do not live on the lake are suffering from the flooding and have not been told what is going to b done to help us either. We had a pond that dried up every year is now only kept out of our basement by a 4 ft berm we built ourselves. Everyone impacted by the water needs to be helped physically and financially.
My home of 41 years on Eagle Lake is my biggest investment. Losing it to an encroaching flood will be a major setback for my financial future. Help expedite the legal process to provide relief for this area of hundeds of vulnerable homes. Hopeful...
We have been dealing with a rising lake level for over a year now. We paid $$$ for a seawall to protect our property and made it a foot higher than we originally planned. The water is now less than 5 inches from going over our seawall. We all need help now!
We need help here desperately! We have no yards left and no beaches. Our lake has gone from an all sports lake to a no wake lake very quickly. We cooperation from the DNR to close off a public access as boaters come and do not observe the no wake signs and continue to ruin what little we have let!
Please help my home is the next domino to topple , and my son will lose his room to sleep in. We've done everything we can responsibly do to prepare and already spend thousands. Please clear the way and begin pumping or my family will be displaced and possibly lose the home
It appears the DEQ and supporting state officials are heading down the road to a crisis similar to the “Flint Water Crisis”. If Treasure Island Drive Causeway floods, closes and sewers can not operate, they will have to answer to 80 home evacuations. A nightmare no one wants to see or answer to.
I hope it happens
We need help!
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Many of us who do not live on the lake are suffering from the flooding and have not been told what is going to b done to help us either. We had a pond that dried up every year is now only kept out of our basement by a 4 ft berm we built ourselves. Everyone impacted by the water needs to be helped physically and financially.