The advisory panel for the Flanagan Dam project learned from the USACE that in successive budgetary periods the Corps ask for $ to study the watershed in order to be able to make changes to the management of the impoundments that make up the upper big sandy watershed. Each time the $ was removed in committee (the place where Congress resolves differences between the Senate and House versions of the budget).

Without this appropriation and authorization the status quo will remain on the management of the Russell Fork via Flanagan. Without action by our congressional representatives there will never be a chance at all these great ideas like summertime releases, longer seasons etc

The problem is we have only have the opportunity for 10 days to submit these letters as the deadline looms on Feb 26.

A letter to your own states representatives in Congress would be appropriate in this situation if you are not from KY as our draft letter is addressed to KY delegation.

Jason

the letter is here
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2010 08:06AM by jasonfoley.

Thanks for the update. Is there a draft letter with congressmen and senators names and addresses that folks can sign or morph into their own and get them out right away? That might make it easy on folks to simply print, sign and mail.
Brent

yep its attached to the bottom of the posting!

tester signature

Jason:

For some reason I can't get it to open. It could be me tho.

Brent

its a PDF format so Adobe reader should be able to open it. Anyone else having a problem with the file?

Jason

Want me to attach it as an MS doc?

Is this the same copy that Bubba looked over?
If so, I have a copy I can attach.

-bethany

Foley, do you have a MS word version of this letter?

My computer Hates Adobe. I would like to fix at some point,

But a MS or Google docs would be great.

elizabeth

Internets should work too. They have a form you can fill out.

For Chandler:
[chandlerforms.house.gov]

For Hal Rogers:
[halrogers.house.gov]

Just copy and paste Jason's text, but don't forget to replace "your name and address" with, well.........your own name and address.

-bethany

Actually this forum will only let you attach gif, jpg and pdf files.
here is a text version:


The Honorable Harold Rogers
United States House of Representatives
2406 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1705

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
United States Senate
361A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1702

The Honorable Ben Chandler
United States House of Representatives
1504 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1706

The Honorable Jim Bunning
United States Senate
316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1703

RE: USACE authorization for the Reconnaissance Study of the Big Sandy Watershed

Dear Congress Member,
I am writing in support of the congressional authorization and appropriation for the USACE Reconnaissance Study of the Big Sandy Watershed. Two United States senatorial representatives and two congressional representatives, representing both KY & VA, met in Elkhorn City, KY in 2006 and agreed to secure funds for this study. I am aware that this project was authorized by Congress and did not survive the committee process for the FY 2010 budget process. I am requesting that the appropriation currently included in the USACE budget for 2011 be granted and allowed through the committee process.

As you know, the USACE has identified this study for consideration under their Section 216 Continuing Authorities Program funded by the House Energy and Water Appropriations bill for the 2010 budget (HR 3183), which allows USACE to review operations of completed projects when advisable due to changed physical, economic or environmental conditions. The study would evaluate the long-term planning and management of water resources throughout this important basin. Conditions exist in each of the above criteria that make the authorization and appropriation not only necessary but essential to the large region defined by the watershed.
As I hope you are also aware, the region’s unemployment rate is at a much higher level than the current national unemployment rate of 9.7%. With this authorization, study, and potential changes in the management of the Flanagan project, the tourism industry in the Elkhorn City, KY and Haysi, VA communities, as well as Pike and Dickenson counties respectively, could mature into an incredible source of economic development by the true definition of the term. The congressional authorization and appropriation for this region would greatly enhance and develop an entire industry that currently does not exist. Each October the drawdown releases for Flanagan reservoir attract world class and professional kayakers, as well as beginner and intermediate boaters and their families, from all over the world and create an economic boom for the region. Not to mention further support Kentucky’s tourism message of “Unbridled Adventure”.
I am a recreational whitewater paddler and often seek to travel to the destinations near and into western Virginia and eastern Kentucky where the John Flanagan Dam creates an impoundment on the Pound River. The Pound River, which creates the Flanagan reservoir, is a tributary of the Russell Fork, of the Levisa Fork, of the Big Sandy River. All of the tributary rivers of the Big Sandy have the potential to contribute to tourism in this vast geographical region due to the sheer size of the watershed. When the naturally flowing conditions exist for paddling in this river basin, I choose this destination over many others in the Eastern United States due to its inherent beauty and its quantity of world class whitewater. The reconnaissance study of the entire Big Sandy watershed would encompass the Flanagan reservoir and 5 other bodies of water in the watershed and allow the USACE to study and determine which of the currently outdated guidelines can be reviewed and amended.
Local communities in both states are currently submitting resolutions to the congressional representatives of their respective states. I am aware that the Honorable Representatives Chandler and Rogers in Kentucky and the Honorable Representatives Moran and Wolf of Virginia are members of the House Appropriations Committee and have this authorization in sight during the process. I ask that you please allow the authorization, appropriation and passage through committee on the USACE’s request to allow an industry that would create jobs resulting in significant economic development.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS