PORT ARTHUR — Natural resource trustees are planning early restoration to start addressing impacts to natural resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and they’re welcoming ideas for specific restoration and conservation projects according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials.

 In April, the trustees announced an agreement in which BP agreed to provide $1 billion toward early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico to address natural resource injuries caused by the spill.

 Texas will select and implement $100 million in early restoration projects, as will each of the other four Gulf states. The federal trustees, NOAA and Department of the Interior, will each select and implement $100 million in projects, and the remaining $300 million will be used for projects selected by NOAA and DOI from proposals submitted by the states.

 “The early restoration agreement is a first step toward fulfilling BP’s obligation to fund complete restoration of injured public resources, including the lost use of those resources by people who live, work and visit in the area. The full Natural Resource Damage Assessment process will continue until trustees determine the full extent of damages caused by the spill,” TPWD reported.

 “This is a critically important opportunity to invest in the well being of the Texas coast,” said Carter Smith, TPWD’s executive director and a member of the executive committee overseeing spill restoration efforts.

 “Any and all suggestions from interested parties about coastal fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects are welcome.”

 Early restoration funds can be used for projects such as rebuilding coastal marshes, replenishing damaged beaches, conserving sensitive areas of ocean habitat for injured wildlife, and restoring barrier islands and wetlands that provide natural protection from storms.

Any interested parties are encouraged to be a part of the early restoration process by submitting project ideas online on the Give Us Your Ideas web page of the NOAA Restore the Gulf website. Or send comments by regular mail to NOAA Restoration Center, Attn: DWH PEIS Projects, 263 13th Ave South, Suite 166, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

 Now onto the report…

North Sabine — Capt. Phillip Samuels reports on calm days are producing good numbers of trout with most action under schools of shad with some bird action. The action is extending from early morning into mid-day during slick offs. Live bait and plastics fished under popping corks has been the best method. Reds remain scattered with a few fish showing back up on the main lake feeding with the trout. Flounder are fair to good along shorelines stacked with shad and in the bayous along the Louisiana shoreline. Gafftops are good on cut bait fished around East Pass and Coffee Ground Cove and also feeding alongside the trout under the shad.

South Sabine — Trout are good under birds and schools of shad in the mid-southern area of the lake especially during slick-offs. Live bait and plastics fished under popping corks and spoons are producing. Very few reports of flounder on the south end.

Sabine Pass — The jetties are good for gafftop and redfish. When the water is running clear, a few nice trout have been caught. Weedlines offshore are producing some tripletail and ling.

Lake Calcasieu (Big Lake) — Hackberry Rod and Gun reports live shrimp under a popping cork is producing the best action. Wind switching directions has made things tough on anglers but there are fish up to five pounds brought to the docks daily. Reds are scattered and mixed with the trout. Very few reports of flounder.

 Sabine River — Muddy Water Marina reports largemouths are good on small spinners, whacky worms and topwaters fished around Blue Bird’s, Burnout Bridge and in Adams Bayou. Trout are in the river but have been hard to pattern. Late in the evenings there has been some schooling activity.

 Sam Rayburn — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department biologists report largemouths are fair on minnows and shad colored crankbaits. White bass are fair on minnows and Li'l Fishies. Crappie are good on minnows over brush piles in 15–30 feet. Bream are fair on nightcrawlers. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait and liver.

Toledo Bend — Holly Park Marina reports largemouths are good on watermelon red French fries fished in the creeks. Some big crappie are coming from deep creeks and main lake brush on shiners. White bass are good in the river on spoons fished around the channel and humps. Very few reports of catfish.

LAKE LEVELS

 TOLEDO BEND: Normal Pool Level: 172.0 Current Pool Level: 162.86 Was 163.10

 RAYBURN LAKE: Normal Pool Level: 164 Current Pool Level: 155.30 Was: 155.54

 B.A. STEINHAGEN: Normal Pool Level: 85 Current Pool Level: 82.70 Was: 82.49