Texas State Sen. Robert Nichols promises to look after Cedar Creek Lake's interests; bridge, pipeline on list




The widening of the bridge between Gun Barrel City and Seven Points, and the safety of a petroleum pipeline running under Cedar Creek Lake will get the attention of state officials, according to District 3 Texas Sen. Robert Nichols.

Nichols made the promises during a presentation to the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Aug. 14.

Nichols said he would get involved in the bridge widening project that Texas Rep. Lance Gooden and Rep. Jim Pitts lobbied the Texas Department of Transportation to put on a fast track. Gooden lost his re-election bid and Pitts retired, leaving the project without major sponsors.

"I will work on it," Nichols said. "I wish that I had already been involved in it."

Chamber President Jo Ann Hanstrom said she would be working with Nichols' office to provide him with support and information.

Nichols also promised to contact the Texas Railroad Commissioner about the now-closed Pegasus Pipeline running from Patoka, IL, to Corsicana. The pipeline ruptured in Arkansas in March 2013, prompting the evacuation of Mayflower when 210,000 of Canadian tar sands bitumen spilled into the streets and a nearby lake.

The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration closed down the pipeline operated by ExxonMobil from Illinois to Corsicana where it connects to for transport to South Texas refineries in Nederland.

Federal officials allowed the reopening of the leg from Corsicana to Nederland in July, but the section from Illinois to Corsicana remains closed.

Many Cedar Creek Lake residents fear the pipeline running under their lake could be reopened, creating a public safety threat if another rupture occurred. Rep. Gooden opposed the reopening of the 66-year-old pipeline.

Nichols said he would contact the Railroad Commissioner that oversees petroleum pipelines to ensure that the operation is safe. He agreed a rupture of the pipeline would pose a significant hazard to the area, saying "It would be a disaster."

Cedar Creek lake supplies water to Tarrant County in addition to lake area cities. The Integrated Pipeline Project from Lake Palestine to water customers in both Tarrant and Dallas Counties will be connected through Cedar Creek Lake facilities.

Nichols stopped short of saying he would repeat Gooden's call for the pipeline's permanent closure. "I can't impact ExxonMobil's business, but I will contact the Railroad Commissioner."

 




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Cedar Creek Lake Weather Forecast

Thursday

Sunny

Hi: 69

Thursday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 56

Friday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 74

Friday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 60

Saturday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 78

Saturday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 64

Sunday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 79

Sunday Night

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Lo: 67


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Cedar Creek Lake

Fishing Report from TPWD (Mar. 20)

EXCELLENT. Stained; 62 degrees; 0.08 feet below pool. The hybrid striped bass and white bass have recently been staging in the creek arms to spawn these past few weeks. Fish are now coming back into the main lake in droves to recover from the spawn and are on a feeding frenzy. Look for heavy bird activity throughout the lake on flats and near the dam on edges of drop offs especially on cloudy and overcast days. The bite will continue to get even better in these areas as the shad spawn will start to take place in the next 2-3 weeks across the lake. Retrieve shiny slabs or spinnerbaits off the bottom at a very slow retrieve to catch these fish in depths of 17-26 feet of water. The crappie bite has picked up in the creeks and inlets in 2-10 feet of water throughout the entire lake. We are now seeing the crappie migrate back into the main lake. Look for them under bridge pylons or under docks where the depths are between 4-10 feet. Guides have been reporting exceptionally nice catches on sunny warmer days. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service.

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