I am starting a new thread. I would like to post some documents received from Tim Belcher (of Elkhorn City Heritage Council) today. The first is the Big Sandy Watershed Re-Evaluation Study of February 3, 2009. The other is the CRS Report for Congress updated May 1, 2008.

Brent

This list is likely to be helpful to us for letter writing:


From: Timothy Belcher [mailto:timothydbelcher@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thu 5/14/2009 11:45 AM
To: Steven Ruth; Brent Austin; Gene Counts; James Fred Stapleton
Subject: Whitewater issues and the Corp addresses KY Appropriations members in congress


Hon. Hal Rogers

2406 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515


202-225-4601 -- phone
202-225-0940 – fax



Hon. Ben Chandler

1504 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515


Phone: (202)-225-4706
Fax: (202)-225-2122



Hon Mitch McConnell

361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


Phone: (202) 224-2541
Fax: (202) 224-2499



Brent

This from Tim Belcher in regard to Hal Rogers response about funding for this effort:
Brent





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From: Timothy Belcher [mailto:timothydbelcher@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 1:08 PM
To: Gene Counts; Brent Austin; mark.vanover@bos.dcwin.org
Cc: rsurratt@dcwin.org; charlotte.mullins@ida.dcwin.org; laura.lee@mail.house.gov; sandy.stiltner@buchanancounty-va.gov; haysimayor@dcwin.org; rstanley@dcwin.org; cisco14@verizon.net; bagrim1@email.uky.edu; Steven Ruth; fishdoc.powers@gmail.com; mark@americanwhitewater.org; kevin@americanwhitewater.org; James M LRH Schray; david.f.meadows@usace.army.mil; moquinn@breakspark.com; gldelong@bellsouth.net; jimpricehydro@bellsouth.net; jvbarton@bbandt.com; jennifer.wampler@dcr.virginia.gov; kendallron@yahoo.com; jason@kentuckywhitewater.com; comptonlance3@yahoo.com; lkendrick@t-l.com; lboggs@fs.fed.us; lu@luellsworth.com; lynn.crump@dcr.virginia.gov; Pings Peggy; robinsonmooselax@aol.com; scottmullins@verizon.net; regedi@ky-rafting.com; ceb5000@yahoo.com; abellamy@gardner-webb.edu
Subject: See attached letter I got form Hal rogers on this issue RE: RF Study Resolution/USACE




I have attached a letter I got from Hal Rogers Office, he blames no funding for Big Sandy on President O'Bama. What about the 8 years prior that we have been trying to get this?

Timothy D. Belcher





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From: genecounts@hotmail.com
To: baustin@jbrentaustin.com; mark.vanover@bos.dcwin.org
CC: rsurratt@dcwin.org; charlotte.mullins@ida.dcwin.org; laura.lee@mail.house.gov; sandy.stiltner@buchanancounty-va.gov; haysimayor@dcwin.org; rstanley@dcwin.org; cisco14@verizon.net; bagrim1@email.uky.edu; stevenjruth@gmail.com; fishdoc.powers@gmail.com; timothydbelcher@hotmail.com; mark@americanwhitewater.org; kevin@americanwhitewater.org; james.m.schray@usace.army.mil; david.f.meadows@usace.army.mil; moquinn@breakspark.com; gldelong@bellsouth.net; jimpricehydro@bellsouth.net; jvbarton@bbandt.com; jennifer.wampler@dcr.virginia.gov; kendallron@yahoo.com; jason@kentuckywhitewater.com; comptonlance3@yahoo.com; lkendrick@t-l.com; lboggs@fs.fed.us; lu@luellsworth.com; lynn.crump@dcr.virginia.gov; mpings@wvu.edu; robinsonmooselax@aol.com; scottmullins@verizon.net; regedi@ky-rafting.com; ceb5000@yahoo.com; abellamy@gardner-webb.edu
Subject: RF Study Resolution/USACE
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 14:30:52 +0000

Brent and Mark:

Mark Vanover has understandably requested more info re our request for a resolution from the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors. Brent still has many questions.

Actually, in 2006, USACE requested $500,000 for this same type study at the conclusion of our famous Elkhorn City meeting. Now they are asking for $250,000. Notice they are not asking for a study of the intake structure as they were in 2006. I expect they will present that in our planned November 2009 meeting.
If our request for $500,000 in 2006 was not honored perhaps $250,000 in 2009 will be.

Lets start back at the beginning:

We are working off the premise that SE KY and SW VA are largely coal mining economies and our local, state and federal legislators want to diversify the economies of this oft economically depressed mountainous region. Thus we attracted four US Senators and two congressmen to a meeting in 2006. USACE maintained they could not make Summer releases from John Flannagan Dam. It was built in 1962, authorized by congress as flood control only, and not recreational. On the other hand, Fishtrap, 1968, was authorized as flood control/recreational. We met in EKC in April 2006 trying to get our legislators to make JF Dam flood control/recreational same as Fishtrap Dam.

We know our congressmen and senators want to increase tourism to show the more beautiful sections of their states. The Breaks Park, Potter Flats, and the Russell Fork Gorge is, without question, the most beautiful parts of KY and VA.
In addition to this natural beauty paddling began to take hold in the 80,s and raged in the 90's. It has simmered the past few years but is largely constrained to the Fall season because the dam cuts back and natural flow is not sufficient from Flannagan Dam to Elkhorn City to support any type of commercialism.

Fact: VA is getting a hiking/biking trail from Clintwood and Haysi to the Breaks Park.
Fact: Elkhorn City is getting a whitewater park.
Fact: To enhance the above summer whitewater releases are an absolute necessity.

One objection USACE had was summer flows would hurt bass fishing in the lake. We countered by saying NO, NO. We are asking for a very minimal flow for 6-8 hours on Sat and Sunday weekends of no more than 300CFS thru the Garden Hole. Save back 8-10 CFS M-F and make short releases Sat and Sun. Everyone wins, nobody is harmed. The bonus is the trout hatchlings would live thru the summer with a once per week flush of water.
USACE agreed they could accomplish this if, first, congress would appropriate sufficient funds for a feasibility study of the watershed.

That is why bass and trout interests were not represented at our latest meeting. They know this.
Also I didn't emphasize inviting legislative interests to our latest meeting with USACE because they are already behind this proposal. But we do need to communicate with them to get immediate help.

Mark, I hope this sufficiently addresses the need for a resolution to our legislators. If further questions call me 276-865-5651 or email.

Thanks,
gene counts

ps: From the 2006 meeting, to Congressman Boucher:

Laura:

Desperately need a water release reallocation study performed in the Russell Fork River Basin. Have had a difficult time getting a definition from the corps of what constitutes a reallocation study. All we have at the moment is a TMDL study completed by the DCR.

Got up with Mike Worley this morning, Chief of USACE Planning Department. This study is much more than the minimal flow requirement at Pikeville, much more comprehensive. It is something we fully understand and endorse.

The entire study will cost in the neighborhood of $500,000 over a two year period. This basin wide reconaissance study would consist of hydrology studies, environmental studies, and would include a multilevel intake structure study of John Flannagan Dam. It was also understood if more money, over the $200,000 minimum, were appropriated the first year, the study would be done in an even more expeditious manner.

This multilevel intake structure study will insure that a lethal dose of deadly metals(primarily manganese) will not be released accidentally by a USACE employee when larger than normal(up to 260CFS) potential releases are scheduled on summer weekends(we, Kentucky and Virginia interests, are negotiating). This flow, if unregulated, could be deadly to the trout hatch that is occuring below Flannagan on the Pound River and could affect fishing down the Big Sandy Basin.

An invasive species called Didymospheria first appeared in Virginia in 2006 at three locations in our state. It seems to appear only in cold water streams. It certainly affects the aesthetics of the Russell Fork Basin below the dam (for paddling tourists). The tourists were all disgusted at the appearance of Didymo during the past whitewater season as it looks like wet toilet paper roiling thickly in the waters. It also affects fish habitat as recent studies in New Zealand have proven. I'm sure a basin wide study will take all factors into account. We are currently consulting with Trout Unlimited and the DGIF(fisheries) concerning this problem.

I am sure putting a little green in ole Hal's re-election kitty would smooth things right along. A BWA collection for an earmark anyone?

Check out this video featuring Steve Ruth and Gerald Delong.
Brent




[vimeo.com]

Just got these proposed minutes from Jim Schray of the ACOE. Your alls thoughts and comments would be appreciated. Difficult questions are nice too. Please pass them on here. This is a cat we need to skin somehow. Too much water not to manage for recreation purpose.

Brent





<< Advisory Panel Meeting minutes 2008.doc>>

Folk,

Could you please review the attached minutes and provide me your comments or additions that I may have missed.

Thanks

Jim Schray

Brent I am pretty sure this was for the attendees to make notes and give back to Jim. I dont think it would be useful to add anything from out side that meeting based on what he is requesting currently. There are lots of times lots of voices are needed but this is one where he is basically error checking his own notes via those who attended. I am pretty sure additional discussion is not wanted here.

Well I understand why he put it out there, but I think that is in itself noteworthy and newsworthy cause I dont' think any of them give a shit what we care or think about, draft notes or not. I do think everything Schray and the ACOE does should be under a microscope since they have absolutely no basis for not managing releases now under they current regime they have. The reasons they give are irrational and bs. I think it is imperative that we keep the boating public in the loop and keep the hot press on them since their position is entirely without basis. It is BS they cannot manage the downstream now for recreation. Nothing we do seems to matter, although we do get some piddly handouts which they clearly have discretion to do. See for eg. the Switftwater Clinic water hold back recently. (Implications for winter and spring managment clearly). So, I posted these because I want people to say "wtf", write down their opinions, ask the tough questions, then I would in turn pester them or make waves with any congressmen, senator or media outlet that will give the issue scrutiny. This whole meeting and even the minute making should be scrutinized by all of us, not just you and me and those at the meeting. This was not something I feel like was done to advance the ball but to simply placate us with another useless meeting. So, I respectfully disagree and do invite inquiry, scrutiny and comments. I definitely want to know what others think about this. No one has the solution to getting the ACOE to manage this unbelievable resource, at least not one that has been implemented. Many of us have been trying to "get along" and "reason" with the ACOE for decades and all we got was a relatively arbitrary decision to cut back fall flows to 800 cfs in about 1990 or 91. The study was just to placate all the factions at the time, boaters (rafters they refer to them as) and trout fishermen. Those cut back flows are why we had two raft fatalities in 1993 and 94, both at Maze where the rafts had to enter the rapid on the right and make that big ass move in front of the Undercut that was more cushioned and less a factor at 1350. Those guys at the ACOE meeting were totally unaware they used to give us 1350 for a decade or so before that time as you recall. Jason, I really think we need as many eyes on this as possible. I always value the input I get from folks like you, YT, Wes, Clay, Matt Walker, Jay Ditty, and countless others that will see this type stuff on our favorite river and offer some good insight and questions about a difficult cat to skin. So, that was why I went there and my $.02. Worthless as it may or may not be at times. lol.

Brent

whoa buddy just saying he was asking us for corrections, you know which team I am on here...

"Wink". I know Jason, I just get so worked up on this topic. So frustrating dealing with them. I am sorry. I didn't mean it to come off that way. Dang.
Brent