Catch & Release
01-23-2013, 08:26 PM
lanuary 17 ,2013
Lt. Col. James A. Delapp Commander, Nashville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers P.O. Box 1070
Nashville, TN 37202-1070
Dear Col. Delapp:
A Line From
BILL DANCE
I am writing in regards to your announced plan to restrict boat access in the name of safety to certain water areas directly upstream and downstream ofall dams along the Cumberland River and its tributaries.
As an ardent Tennessee sportsman, to say I'm deeply concemed about such a plan, both for myself and my fellow fishermen, is putting it mildly. I have been an active participant in the sport of fishing all my life. In fact, for more than the past lbrty-five years, I've also made my living producing a national TV series on the sport offishing.
On the matter of safety at these facilities, I've fished many, many times above and below most of the dams than would be affected by this policy and often at similar places all across our country! Naturally, I'm fully aware of the unique safety requirements they present, but from personal observations, am also confident that the vast majority of fishermen who frequent them are responsible sportsmen who stay informed, constantly practice the special rules of safety required there, and also do their part in educating the public about it.
Having the fortunate ability to reach large numbers ofthe sporting public via my television shows, I have always made it a point to do all I could regarding boating safety
as can be witnessed by receipt of the fbllowing safety awards. some olwhich you may be familiar with:
U.S. Dept of the Army - Commanders Award for Public Senices - Water Safety
National Water Safety Congress - Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contributions in the Prevention of Water Related Accidents and Drownings throughout the Nation.
U.S. Coast Guard - Award lor Promotion of Water Saletv
Saf'ety awareness tips also are often included in our broadcasts. As recent as last summer (2012). a 30 secorld tip cautioning anglers about the dangers oftailrace fishing near dams was included as a public service announcement in one ofour Bill Dance Outdoors TV shows broadcasted nationallyl
Furthermore, I car.r personally attest to the admirable job done in the area ofsafety in the subject dam and other river areas by personnel of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. They know their business well, and in my view, they always attend to it!
Consider also that, according to the TWRA, in the past 32 yeals, only 7 boating related deaths have occumed below-Teruressee Corps projects! Five ofthose deaths occumed because the persons involved were not wearing lifejackets! Of the remaining two, one was wearing an inflatable jacket that the person failed to inflate, and the other one did not properly fasten their PFD!
With this in mind, I am totally at a loss to understand why such a disruptive and potentially costly plan is even being considered! Also, without exception, everyone of many interested parties that I've talked to about this - from management to enforcement personnel to sportsmen - feels the same! No orle can even fathom a reason and it seems that no one who does know is w-illing to offer the courtesy ofan explanation.
Have there been an unusual number of water safety incidents in these subject areas that for some strange reason have not been reported to the public? ls there something invisible and new in the subject waters that we have not been privy 10?
Admiltedly. we all do know that accidents will occasionally happen anywhere large groups olpeople do any.thing. And some ofthese happen because not everyone follows the safety rules all the time. But that's why we have a very effective enforcement agency that does a greatjob in the subject areas and elsewhere throughout our great state. The statistics substantiate it!
Above, I referred to your proposed plan as clisruptive and potentially cosllyl I say disruptive because throughout the existence olthese dams, fishermen have considered
them some of the most high quality and productive fishery zones in Tennessee. Just a f'ew of the dams involved are near the homes of almost one million anglers who consider your tailwaters great fishing destinations. Restricting access to the most productive areas ofthem will cancel the thousands of regular trips enjoyed by recreational anglers and numerous commercial fishing guides in the affected areas. Much of the considerable money they spend on buying licenses and other purchases in nearby communities will disappear, thus drastically affecting nearby economies, some of which are already in despair.
In the interest of faimess to all and the continued long-time respect of sportsmen for the Corps ofEngineers itself, I cannot urge you enough to first publically explain why such a plan is even being considered, and also to explore every possible altemative to it.
Sincerely,
Bill Dance
Lt. Col. James A. Delapp Commander, Nashville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers P.O. Box 1070
Nashville, TN 37202-1070
Dear Col. Delapp:
A Line From
BILL DANCE
I am writing in regards to your announced plan to restrict boat access in the name of safety to certain water areas directly upstream and downstream ofall dams along the Cumberland River and its tributaries.
As an ardent Tennessee sportsman, to say I'm deeply concemed about such a plan, both for myself and my fellow fishermen, is putting it mildly. I have been an active participant in the sport of fishing all my life. In fact, for more than the past lbrty-five years, I've also made my living producing a national TV series on the sport offishing.
On the matter of safety at these facilities, I've fished many, many times above and below most of the dams than would be affected by this policy and often at similar places all across our country! Naturally, I'm fully aware of the unique safety requirements they present, but from personal observations, am also confident that the vast majority of fishermen who frequent them are responsible sportsmen who stay informed, constantly practice the special rules of safety required there, and also do their part in educating the public about it.
Having the fortunate ability to reach large numbers ofthe sporting public via my television shows, I have always made it a point to do all I could regarding boating safety
as can be witnessed by receipt of the fbllowing safety awards. some olwhich you may be familiar with:
U.S. Dept of the Army - Commanders Award for Public Senices - Water Safety
National Water Safety Congress - Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contributions in the Prevention of Water Related Accidents and Drownings throughout the Nation.
U.S. Coast Guard - Award lor Promotion of Water Saletv
Saf'ety awareness tips also are often included in our broadcasts. As recent as last summer (2012). a 30 secorld tip cautioning anglers about the dangers oftailrace fishing near dams was included as a public service announcement in one ofour Bill Dance Outdoors TV shows broadcasted nationallyl
Furthermore, I car.r personally attest to the admirable job done in the area ofsafety in the subject dam and other river areas by personnel of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. They know their business well, and in my view, they always attend to it!
Consider also that, according to the TWRA, in the past 32 yeals, only 7 boating related deaths have occumed below-Teruressee Corps projects! Five ofthose deaths occumed because the persons involved were not wearing lifejackets! Of the remaining two, one was wearing an inflatable jacket that the person failed to inflate, and the other one did not properly fasten their PFD!
With this in mind, I am totally at a loss to understand why such a disruptive and potentially costly plan is even being considered! Also, without exception, everyone of many interested parties that I've talked to about this - from management to enforcement personnel to sportsmen - feels the same! No orle can even fathom a reason and it seems that no one who does know is w-illing to offer the courtesy ofan explanation.
Have there been an unusual number of water safety incidents in these subject areas that for some strange reason have not been reported to the public? ls there something invisible and new in the subject waters that we have not been privy 10?
Admiltedly. we all do know that accidents will occasionally happen anywhere large groups olpeople do any.thing. And some ofthese happen because not everyone follows the safety rules all the time. But that's why we have a very effective enforcement agency that does a greatjob in the subject areas and elsewhere throughout our great state. The statistics substantiate it!
Above, I referred to your proposed plan as clisruptive and potentially cosllyl I say disruptive because throughout the existence olthese dams, fishermen have considered
them some of the most high quality and productive fishery zones in Tennessee. Just a f'ew of the dams involved are near the homes of almost one million anglers who consider your tailwaters great fishing destinations. Restricting access to the most productive areas ofthem will cancel the thousands of regular trips enjoyed by recreational anglers and numerous commercial fishing guides in the affected areas. Much of the considerable money they spend on buying licenses and other purchases in nearby communities will disappear, thus drastically affecting nearby economies, some of which are already in despair.
In the interest of faimess to all and the continued long-time respect of sportsmen for the Corps ofEngineers itself, I cannot urge you enough to first publically explain why such a plan is even being considered, and also to explore every possible altemative to it.
Sincerely,
Bill Dance