Towne Lake Garden Association

 "What do you mean no fishing?".

TLW

Hi TLW,

I'm not sure of the context of your question, but it did get me thinking.  I was under the impression  that swimming, boating and fishing had always been prohibited in our lake.   I just took another look at a message sent in August 2003 to homeowners from the (then) management company, that summarizes some of the Towne Lake rules.  Under D-3: General Use and Maintenance of Common Elements -  Lake Area: "Swimming, boating and fishing are prohibited in the lake area."

Personally, I'd prefer that this rule stand, not because I'm anti fishing or anti fun, but because letting the lake be used for fishing opens up lake misuse by some people.  It's not a lot of people who misuse the lake, but their impact is unfortunate.  Trash, including fishing line, is hazardous to wildlife.  On a different note, if one's house backs up to the lake, it feels a bit intrusive to have someone fishing just outside of one's back fence.  Towne Lake is not a public park, so we don't have personnel to make sure that if people fish, they do it in a considerate, safe way.

If the Rules and Regulations of Towne Lake were ever changed to permit fishing, I'm not sure how that happened.

I'm not sure about the covenants, but I have heard that the recent ban on fishing is an attempt to reduce the number of people loitering around the lake, smoking pot and causing trouble. Also, with the recent car break-ins and people crashing into the front gate, the limit on lake use is to try and keep folks outside the neighborhood from thinking they can come in and use the lake -- not to say outsiders did or didn't do any of the break-ins or gate damage. I don't know. That's just what was explained to me.

My thoughts:

1) Unless the lake is patrolled constantly, I don't see how the ban on fishing will affect anyone except people who obey the signs. Plus, as far as I know, the kids who hang out by the lake getting high don't fish.

2) I'm wondering when the front "in" gate will be fixed, even though it isn't much of a deterrent to anyone wanting in.

3) Fishing in the lake is probably fun. I see no reason why residents shouldn't be allowed to. I sure wouldn't take those fish home and eat them, though. God knows what pesticides, lawn treatments, and other poisons have run into the water from everyone's backyards. Uck.

Our Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, Article VII, Section 7.2,  governs the use of the lake (including fishing).  This has never been changed.   This Declaration, along with the our Articles of Incorporation, the Texas Property Code, and city ordinances are our governing documents. 

Fishermen, residents and trespassers, leave debris (bottles, cans, cigarette lighters, plastic cigarette holders, fishing lines, plastic bags of all sizes, floaters, clothing, etc. , in the lake.  Clean-up is left  to a few older women.  Fishermen leave their dead fish in the lake.   Ducks and birds become entangled in the discarded fishing line.

Fewer fishermen have been behind my house during the last two weeks and the amount of litter in the lake is much less.  I have also seen birds that have been absent since people were encouraged to fish.  The grass is now quite high around the rim of the lake and the cypress tree roots make walking teacherous.   Female residents are hesitant to walk around the lake (and even their backyards) when fishermen have staked out their turf. 

If fishing is going to be permitted, it should be done  in accordance with procedures stated in the Declaration, restrictions on use should be put in the TLGA bylaws, and money should be allotted for clean-up.