I went to see Congressman Whitfield
I went to Murray this morning and attended one of Congressman Whitfield's Town Hall meetings that he is holding around the district.
I voiced my opposition to this legislation to keep the water levels up on Ky/Barkley until after Labor Day. Basically, I told the Congressman that I had read the environmental impact statements that the KDFW and TFWR had furnished the COE and the TVA concerning the operating levels of the lakes. I told him that I saw nothing in these reports that would indicate anything other than the fact that extending the summer pool water levels here would in the long run be detrimental to the sport fish populations, the waterfowl population, the wildlife (thru displacement) and add to the erosion problems the higher water levels cause. I also told the Congressman that I was there to give him an opportunity to change my mind about this by showing me or telling me where I could find other scientific based studies that would dispute what I had read.
The congressman's reply to me was that basically he was introducing this legislation because certain business groups (both large and small) had approached him to gain his support for this action. He never offered me any other information on this plan. He did state that the COE was opposed to the plan and was fighting it thru their sources in the House committees. He also stated that he had received some opposition from some sportsman's organizations but he did not name them. He also stated that some competitive fishing organizations had expressed that they favored this bill.
The Congressman also noted that I was the first and only individual that had attended one of his meetings and publically voiced opposition to the legislation.
In a nut shell, this bill is up there because of some special interest groups. It may or may not pass depending on pressure from the COE on House Committees. The anglers that oppose this bill are not voicing their concerns in any numbers.
I can understand the Congressman's position...if you want to be heard you need to take some action...go attend one of these meetings and be heard...contact his office and voice your opposition.
EOM