Let's hope somebody uses common sense and keeps Barkley and the other 9 spots open!
West Kentucky Star - News
Printable View
Let's hope somebody uses common sense and keeps Barkley and the other 9 spots open!
West Kentucky Star - News
It appears that our government officials (federal, state and local) are taking the bull by the horns to try and get the Corps to do the sensible thing. I think its neat that both Tennessee and Kentucky wildlife officials are taking the stance that they will not enforce the Corps' regulations. Shows they both have the common sense the Corps seems to lack, and that they also have some cajones! Also interesting that we haven't heard anything from TVA about restricting boat use below its dams.
I contacted Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell about a month ago, below is the reply I got from Sen. Paul. We need to ALL get involved in the issues that could impact our outdoor sports and support our state wildlife agencies.
Thankyou for contacting me about the proposed fishing regulations along theCumberland River. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.
Ishare your concern that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has not beenin full communication with citizens and stakeholders about the implementationof restricted access areas for fishing near the dams they operate.
TheUSACE held a series of public meetings in both Kentucky and Tennessee in early2013 to meet with residents in the affected areas to hear their concerns.Additionally, I will make certain to forward your comments to the Commander ofthe Nashville District USACE in order to facilitate better communication withthe citizens of Kentucky and the public, and to monitor the situation as itunfolds.
Again,thank you for contacting my office. It is an honor and a privilege to representthe Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States Senate. Please continue toinform me of any thoughts you may have on federal legislative issues.
Sincerely,
Rand Paul, MD
United States Senator
Here is a copy and paste of comments from Doug Markham after the Nashville meeting.......
Ok, the Nashville meeting is history. Probably 350 to 400 folks there tonight at McGavock (maybe more. It was a pretty big place) . A good turnout and lot of passion and good behavior all around. The Corps was cordial and made sure everyone got to talk. I don't think anyone left there tonight happy with the answers we got or any less determined to continue the battle to stop cables and buoys from going down. Safety was the theme and it didn't matter how often the real safety numbers were brought up---the Corps has to protect us---it's all about safety they say. Liability is not the main issue, according to the Corps, but I will never believe that. The 1996 policy was also repeated again and again as a reason why this implementation must take place, but no great answers to why it has never been be adhered to other than other commanders probably didn't want to face mad fishermen. The good news--this is a long way from over. Kentucky County Executives Wade White and Chris Lasher met with the General Walsh of the COE in Washington. With him were Senator Alexander, and Congressman Jim Cooper (TN) and Congressman Ed Whitfield (TN). A press conference was held immediately after the meeting and Senator Alexander and Congressman Whitfield both said they would work to try and get the Corps to work out a compromise where we could continue to fish below dams except during heavy spillage. However, they both noted that it the Corps would not work with them that they would move to have legislation passed forcing a different outcome. This is the last thing they won't to do--that was made clear--but it was also made clear that the COE should work with the wildlife agencies in Tennessee and Kentucky for compromise that lets us keep fishing. TWRA Director Ed Carter told the Corps of Engineers that the agency would continue to enforce life jacket laws below our dams if the COE would work with us and he said he would ask the agency's commission to even make life jacket laws more strict (perhaps not allow inflatables to be worn below dams, as an example) if the COE would work with the agency. I was proud of Ed Carter and TWRA. I was proud of everyone, but from the get go it was obvious it would be a night where many questions would go unanswered, and they were, or evaded, or not answered to satisfaction. The commander was polite and stood on the stage and took the brunt of questions and comments. But most of us have been around long enough to know when we aren't getting real answers to our questions and we mumble in the crowd --but here's the deal. Keep calling your congressmen and letting them know that this is wrong. Because it is. The waters above and below those dams are not the Corps of Engineers. No way did a policy written in 1995 change a few months later n 1996 to deny us access. This is not a safety issue. Look at the numbers. Thanks to everyone for showing up tonight. Thanks to many of you who couldn't be there tonight for making calls. Congressman Black, and Blackburn also had representatives at the meeting in Nashville.
The Corps Meeting In Washington Yesterday--What Happened
From Doug:
I talked quite a while with Lyon County Executive Wade White, and Livingston County Executive Chris Lasher last night late. Talk about two guys who had a long day and were still going strong close to midnight. They flew out yesterday morning at 6 a.m. (that's when the plane left) for a 3 p.m. meeting with General Walsh, one of the top Corps commanders. In the room were a bunch of people, so neither executive knew who everyone was or who everyone there was representing. There were three well known Washington leaders their---Tennessee's Senator Lamar Alexander and Congressman Jim Cooper, and Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield, who helped get this meeting together.
Judge White said the meeting went well and lasted about a half hour (I hope he will come in with a fuller and better report at sometime, but he and Judge Lasher are still in Washington trying to come to terms with FEMA over issues).
The county executives told me they were listened to, allowed to leave an outstanding opposition package with the COE that shows in many ways how secretive this entire process has been, and how the Nashville District hasn't even followed its own policies (ironic, since all we heard last night was the COE has to barricade our waters because of policy).
They got no commitments from General Walsh, but they didn't really expect to have him leave the room to call the Nashville District commander and tell him to quit what he was doing.
After the meeting Senator Alexander lead a press conference (I listened in) that included Congressman's Whitfield and Cooper. Senator Alexander began the conference, followed by the Kentucky congressman. Both were outstanding their support of sportsmen. Both believed strongly--and that came through in the conference---that the COE has not been willing to work with state fish and wildlife agencies toward a compromise (we saw that again and again last night as policy was repeated over and over as a reason the COE has no choice in this issue). I should note again right here that TWRA Director Ed Carter was at the McGavock meeting and told the commander they agency would work anyway it could to help enforce safety below dams if it altered its approach and found room to compromise. He said the agency would not enforce the barriers. The commander did not provide any promising comment here and that is how it went all night. It also was apparent that the commander had met with no other enforcement agencies in any county to see if they would provide assistance.
During the press conference, Senator Alexander said he expected the COE to work toward a compromise where we anglers could continue to fish when no spillage was taking place. We all know now from lots of reading and researching, that no one has died below a dam who had on a life jacket during times when no spillage was occurring. Numbers used by this commander have been suspect since day one, but he continued to use them again last night without explanation.
I will say this about Senator Alexander and Congressmen Whitfield--they had a keen understanding of the issue. I knew Senator Alexander is a sportsman of sorts, but he took the time to explain the issue (I think so some of the reporters that don't have outdoors backgrounds could understand it better) and he was excellent.
Senator Alexander said he has asked the COE to find a compromise and not to barricade our waters. His most encouraging comment in my opinion was that he would pursue legislation to change the intended outcome of the Nashville District's barricading of our waters if the COE did not find an alternative to the current plan. Congressman Whitfield said the same thing. Congressman Jim Cooper was in the room and the Judge White told me he was disgusted. He did not talk during the press conference, but it was a good that he, and not just his staff, was present.
Senator Alexander did say legislation could be long and difficult (the COE has many friends and lots of money--that's my comment, not the Senators). He said he hopes this issue can be remedied without the need for legislation. The conference lasted about 15 minutes. The Tennessean had a representative online who asked a question and Mike Organ (outdoors/sports writer) was at the meeting last night. I have not seen the newspaper, but you might check out the Tennessean this a.m. The Louisville Courier Journal was also there. You can probably find it online. The outdoors reporter is Gary Garth.
I think we have two or three strong leaders in Washington now working for us.
At this point---and don't let t here by ANY DOUBT ABOUT THIS--it is up to us to contact and recontact our legislators and ask them to stop this encroachment on our waters in Tennessee. The commander can smile and evade our questions and simply not answer them over a course of two hours, but what the result of that to me is just letting us know without 1 percent of doubt what our next move must be.
Please make your calls and be assured your work to date has grabbed the attention of many people and that those who take the time to understand this issue, oppose it and oppose it strongly.
Excellent job to all who came out to McGavock last night. It was a strong gathering on week night in Nashville.