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11/12/2009
Public access period for maintenance on public duck blinds, waterfowl hunting openings and access routes will close at midnight, Sunday, Nov. 15.
10/15/2009
Contract work for the removal of ice storm debris on the Big Lake WMA is nearing completion. Recent heavy rainfall has somewhat limited access for cleanup equipment across much of the area. The remaining work crews will be directed by the area staff to begin final clean-up of critical areas and residual debris which might impact water management activities. All contractor activities will be phased out over the next week to ten days.
On Monday, October 19, water control structures will be regulated to commence routine annual flooding of the area for waterfowl season.
On Monday, October 19, the public will be permitted to access all area compartments to begin cleaning up public hunting holes and maintaining public duck blinds. During this authorized maintenance period, all rules and restrictions of Administrative Order No. 09-01 signed by Scott Henderson, Director, on September 15, 2009, must be strictly adhered to. The public duck blind and public hunting hole maintenance period will run through sunset on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, except no maintenance activities will be allowed on Nov. 7-8 during the Modern Gun Special Youth Deer Hunt. All participants in the authorized maintenance period must remain aware some contractor activities will be ongoing for the first half of the maintenance period. Do not park ATVs, trailers, boats or materials in locations which might restrict contractor access. All participants in the authorized maintenance period should exercise appropriate safety measures while accessing or working on the area. Levee tops and roadways have varying degrees of damage due to contractor activities and will be rutted and slick. Most of these levees and roadways will not be fully repaired until next summer due to the extremely wet ground conditions. All participants in the authorized maintenance period should be very observant of any remaining hanging limbs and leaning trees along their access route or adjacent to their work area. These hanging limbs and leaning trees pose a serious danger if reasonable precautions are not used.
Hatched areas eligible for public access clean-up effective 10/19/2009.
Click on the image to open a PDF copy of the map.
10/09/2009
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Hatched areas eligible for public access clean-up effective 10/10/2009.
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09/17/2009
These following maps show the areas designated by that are eligible for clean-up assistance. On Sept. 15, 20 to 25 contractor crews were scheduled to begin work on Big Lake. The contractor coordinated with the area staff and divided the area into four sections. Each section contained three to four compartments. The second map was developed to assist the contractor in locating the system of channels and canals which were not clearly indicated on the first map due to the GIS road data layer.
Sportsmen will not be allowed early access on Big Lake WMA due to the absence of a major river system. Since there is no major river system on Big Lake WMA, FEMA clean-up eligibility guidelines must be strictly adhered to. Public clean-up efforts will be prohibited until FEMA crews have completed all of their activities in a compartment. As compartments are ready to open to additional public clean-up efforts, sections will be highlighted or otherwise noted on this map. All restrictions and procedures contained within the Administrative Order permitting the public clean-up activities must be followed. Click here to view Administrative Order No. 09-01. No hunting seasons will be closed.
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Map 1
Big Lake WMA Ice Storm Access
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Map 2
Big Lake Lateral Boat Lanes
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Timeline for FEMA Activities
Big Lake WMA
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AGFC publishes bid announcement for clean-up of Big Lake WMA week of Aug. 14, 2009.
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AGFC publishes bid announcement for monitoring contracts for Big Lake WMA on Aug. 21, 2009.
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AGFC conducts a pre-bid meeting with potential clean-up contractors for Big Lake WMA on Aug. 24, 2009.
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AGFC conducts a pre-bid meeting with potential monitoring firms for Big Lake WMA on Aug. 26, 2009.
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AGFC conducts a pre-construction meeting with selected clean-up contractors and monitoring firms on Sept. 8, 2009.
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Final clean-up and monitoring contracts signed week of Sept. 11, 2009.
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Debris clean-up on Big Lake WMA to begin Sept. 15, 2009. Contracts provide for a 45-day completion period which projects out to a date of completion date of Oct. 29, 2009.
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Limited public access allowed under an Administrative Order to begin clearing waterways which are not FEMA eligible begins Sept. 19, 2009.
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