Read 2nd .. Corps of Eng. Rick D.
We know how affective calling the Corps District office will be. We need to be calling the legislators who stopped the Senate amendment. Additionally, its time to bring organizations like the American Sportfishing Association, Keep America Fishing, and the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation into the fray. They have ambassadors to the sport, like Roland Martin, Shaw Grigsby, Mike Iconelli, etc., as well as the heads of associated commerce, like Shimano, Frabill, B.A.S.S., West Marine, Cabela’s, etc.
How unfortunate it is, that the United States Army can engage lobbyists to fight the overwhelming opposition of the American Sportsman, and make a sham out of the language within the Code of Federal Regulations. (Remember the parts about, “for the good of the people”?) Or did they...? Its important to find out who the alleged lobbyists are, and very specifically, who they represent. If we find major suppliers or subcontractors to the Army footing the lobby bill, and who the legislators are who stifled the FTF amendment, we’re getting closer to finding the real reason behind all this. Follow the money... if we can find out where the trail leads, we may have enough for a national news expose’.
--R--
From: Wade White
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 12:41 PM
To: doug markham ; Chris Lasher ; bobbie foust
Subject: Fwd: WHITFIELD: ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BARRICADES ON CUMBERLAND RIVER DAMS ARE DISGRACEFUL
Wade White
Lyon Co. Judge Executive
270-388-7311
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Hicks, Cory" <Cory.Hicks@mail.house.gov>
Date: March 29, 2013, 10:36:32 AM CDT
To: "'lyoncountyjudge@gmail.com'" <lyoncountyjudge@gmail.com>
Subject: Fw: WHITFIELD: ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BARRICADES ON CUMBERLAND RIVER DAMS ARE DISGRACEFUL
From: Pack, Chris
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 11:33 AM
To: Pack, Chris
Subject: WHITFIELD: ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BARRICADES ON CUMBERLAND RIVER DAMS ARE DISGRACEFUL
cid:image001.jpg@01CB9D4B.15C98EF0
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 29, 2013
CONTACT: Chris Pack
(202) 225-3115
Editor’s note: Below is an op-ed from Congressman Ed Whitfield. Please feel free to include this in your upcoming editorial pages at your earliest convenience.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BARRICADES ON CUMBERLAND RIVER DAMS ARE DISGRACEFUL
An Opinion Editorial from Congressman Ed Whitfield
With spring officially here, many Kentuckians will soon be spending more time doing the outdoor activities they love. For those living along the Cumberland River, this will almost certainly include boating and fishing.
Any outdoor enthusiast can tell you that for the best fishing around, you head to the waters immediately upstream and downstream of the locks and dams. These areas, commonly known as tailwaters, have some of the best fishing on the river.
Unfortunately, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Nashville District has decided to take away our God-given resources by prohibiting access to these tailwaters. They are doing this by re-interpreting a policy that was written in 1996 that allowed access for fishing in these waters. Under this newfound interpretation, the Nashville District of the Corps will establish a 24-hour permanent restriction with guards prohibiting all waterborne access.
This is troubling news, especially during these tough economic times when many families are looking to stretch their hard-earned money a little bit further by forgoing vacations and doing activities closer to home. It is also troubling news for fishermen and surrounding businesses who rely on the economic activity created by fishing and recreation in the region.
Installing these barricades will cost taxpayers $3 million at a time when our nation faces $16 trillion in debt. Instead of spending millions of dollars ignoring the enormous public opposition to this plan, USACE should instead consider using this money to address our local infrastructure needs such as spending the money on infrastructure maintenance. In fact, we’ve been told that the Corps intends to forgo maintenance on our nation’s infrastructure in order to install these barricades, despite there being no evidence of safety for this action.
I have tried working with the Corps in good faith to reach a compromise. I’ve attended public meetings; participated in numerous conference calls with Corps officials and county judges; and have worked with my fellow Congressmen and our counterparts in the Senate.
All of this has been for naught as it has become apparent that the Corps and their so-called public meetings have been nothing more than a means to placate the public. Thousands of fishermen and recreational enthusiasts have petitioned the Corps to offer solutions such as conditional closing of the tailwaters, but this has been to no avail. I find this disregard of public opinion by the Corps’ Nashville District to be downright disgraceful.
Unlike the Nashville District of the Corps, I believe we must fight for the interests of Kentuckians. That is why I have introduced the Freedom to Fish Act, which prevents the Corps from installing permanent blockades along the Cumberland River. I did this as a last resort, and I want to assure the fishing enthusiasts around Kentucky that I will do everything in my power to ensure the Freedom to Fish Act is signed into law. Unfortunately, the Corps is moving faster than ever to put the barricades up as a means to circumvent the democratic process. That is why I need your help to show support for our efforts by calling the Nashville District of the Corps at 615-736-7161 and telling them to stop this intrusive assault on our Commonwealth’s fishermen. It is time for the Army Corps of Engineers to start prioritizing tasks that serve the well-being of the nation instead of attacking one of our favorite pastimes- fishing.
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