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Help Needed from Lehigh River Runners!

In February, American Whitewater met with Pennsylvania State Senator Stewart
Greenleaf (R. Montgomery County) to discuss the possibility of improving whitewater recreation on the Lehigh River in Eastern Pennsylvania, and to support the Senator's many accomplishments in this ongoing process.

Senator Stewart Greenleaf has been spearheading efforts to move
a road from the upstream face of the Francis E. Walter Dam on the Lehigh
River to the top of the structure. When water backs up today, the road is
flooded. This limits reservoir capacity. The new road will allow more water
to be stored by the dam, permitting more reliable and frequent water releases
through the popular Lehigh River Gorge. It will also improve fish habitat
maintenance and water conservation during droughts. Working with
Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators and Congressmen, Senator Greenleaf was able got
$300,000 in funding for the initial design work on this project.

We need whitewater paddlers to write Senator Arlen Specter, Senator Rick
Santorum, and Congressman Paul Kanjorski to support full funding for this
project. We need the authorization (via the Water Resources Development Act)
and an appropriation of $4.2 million to get the job done.

Regular mail delivery to federal legislators has been delayed by several
weeks due to anthrax concerns. It was suggested that any correspondence
supporting this project be faxed to these numbers:

Sen. Specter's fax # is 202-228-1229.
Sen. Santorum's fax #is 202-228-0604.
Cong. Kanjorski's fax# is 202-225-0764.

We can do this! Your help is critical.

A sample letter is found below:


The Honorable Paul E. Kanjorski
2353 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Kanjorski:

The Honorable Arlen Specter
711 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Specter:

I am writing today to seek your help in obtaining authorization and
appropriations in the amount of $4.2 million to move a local road to the top
of the Francis E. Walter Dam.

The road now runs along the upstream face of Francis Walter dam. When water
backs up behind the dam, the road floods. Relocating the road to the top of
the dam will improve the safety of the driving public on this roadway. In
addition, the relocation gives the Corps greater flexibility to store water
to be released later. This will probably result in improved recreational
opportunities for fishermen and whitewater paddlers that will benefit the
local economy. It also allows for increased water storage during droughts, a
real issue during dry seasons like this one. Elected officials, local
businesses and residents, fire and rescue groups and area communities are
supportive of moving this road on top of the dam.

Thanks to your support and efforts, the 2002 Energy and Water Development
Appropriations Act contained $300,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
perform the initial engineering and design plan for relocating the public
access road to the top of the dam. Bidding specifications will be completed
by September 30. Construction could begin in fiscal year 2003, at a cost of
$4.2 million.

Again, I would appreciate your assistance and support in obtaining
authorization and appropriation ($4.2 million) for the construction of a road
above the Francis E. Walter Dam.

Please contact Kevin Colburn at American Whitewater (828-252-6482, Kevin@amwhitewater.org)
if you have any questions.

Sincerely,


Your Name Here

Thanks

Your Contact Information