Why Taking 2600 Acres From New Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge To Give To Local Interests For “Economic Development” Is A Bad Idea.

Jack Canson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Caddo Lake Association and co-producer of “Lessons of Caddo Lake,” a television documentary now in production. His comments below are strictly his own opinion.

The proposal supported by Senator Hutchison and Congressman Gohmert to take up to 2600 acres away from the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge and hand it over to either private parties or local economic development entities is a bad idea.

Rumors of this maneuver, or something like it, have been circulating since the first of this year. A small group of local businessmen, with the best of intentions I am sure, have what they think is a good idea. They think that if they had those particular 2600 acres to offer, they could attract a major and high quality industry to locate there and bring with them good paying jobs and other economic benefits for Harrison County.

These are intelligent and accomplished businessmen. I accept that they sincerely believe that using those 2600 acres for “economic development” will do more for Harrison County than leaving them in the refuge. I accept that they also believe that their actions will not cause any harm to the refuge or Caddo Lake.

I think they are wrong and I am not alone. Many of us who have been involved in Caddo Lake issues and the development of the new refuge think they are mistaken in their beliefs. Many other residents of Marion and Harrison counties who are not particularly active in environmental or economic development issues apparently agree with us.