Below is a copy of the press release out of Congressman Ed Whitfield's Washington Office yesterday.

This is the second time that Congressman Whitfield has attempted to get this bill thru Congress. Prior to the first introduction of the bill he attempted to have the water levels of Kentucky Lake held to summer pool until after Labor Day by taking the TVA to court and happily it did not turn out in his favor. Obviously since he could not win a court battle with the TVA he turned his attention to fighting the COE to try to get the Lake Barkley levels to remain at summer pool until after the Labor Day weekend by introducing this bill. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that since the lakes are connected that if one lake must remain at summer pool until after Labor Day then both lakes will have to be in concert.

On the surface when you read this news release about the bill it seems a great idea. But, you will notice there is nothing in this release nor in the bill itself that addresses the consequences on the aquatic environment if the water levels are left to summer pool levels an additional 8 to 10 weeks each year.

This is because there is scientific evidence that if the summer pool levels here are extended until after Labor Day each year that over time it will result in the loss of the button brush and aquatic plants that provide cover and nutrients to the newly hatched bass and other fry in the spring. Basically the study that was conducted indicates that the if the high water levels are extended, the button brush will not germinate nor will the aquatic plants (grasses) which will over the years eventually eliminate it. Leaving the water levels at summer pool also will have a devastating effect on the islands which provide sanctuary and nesting habitat for the waterfowl because of the extended period of erosion each year caused by the waves generated by the wind and large boat traffic.

This scientific evidence was presented to the TVA by the KDFW and TRWR two years ago when they were revamping the River Operating System (ROS) for the TVA lakes. The ROS basically sets the seasonal levels for the water in the TVA lakes amongst other things. This evidence was the deciding factor in the TVA's decision to not change the seasonal operating levels of these two lakes. This is also why Congressman Whitfield could not win a court battle with the TVA.

So now Congressman Whitfield is taking this issue to Washington where the lobbyists can get involved. Now who do you think is backing this issue down here in the lakes area...all those local residents he mentions? The majority of these folks can easily be found at Green Turtle Bay and all the other big marina's that cater the pleasure boaters. Sadly, many of the local residents here have signed a petition that was put out at local businesses or they were met around the launching ramps by supporters or hired folks and asked to sign this petition. The petition indicated that by signing it you would be supporting something that would be beneficial to the Fishing and Boating here on the lakes...of course there was nothing attached to the petition to support this statement.

Anyway, here we are again, those of us that like to fish, having to try to fend off those that would take actions that would in all likelyhood reduce the quality of the fishery in future years.

I would ask that you please contact your Congressional officials and let them know that you do not support this bill for this reason. I am sure the COE is going to fight this as will the TVA but we can never have enough folks on our side if we are to win these type battles in Washington.

Thanks
Dave Stewart



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WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield re-introduced the Lake Barkley Water Level Improvement Act to improve safety conditions for boaters on the lake as well as extend the recreation season on Lake Barkley. This legislation proposes a two-year pilot program to hold Lake Barkley at its summer pool level through the Labor Day weekend.

The two-year pilot project I have proposed will let us fairly evaluate the benefits of keeping the lake at a higher level through the late summer months, said Whitfield. The Lake Barkley Water Level Improvement Act is supported by Kentucky's Western Waterland, the Governor, numerous chambers of commerce and thousands of individuals who enjoy Lake Barkley. This issue is important to me and to many of my constituents, and I will make the passage of this bill one of my top priorities this year.

Each year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins its drawdown of Lake Barkley in mid-July when traffic on the water is at its peak. Lake Barkley is a relatively shallow body of water filled with a number of obstructions, including tree stumps, road beds and old house foundations. These obstructions factor into a number of boating accidents as the lake gets shallower each summer and have played a role in several fatalities over the years.

Last September, Congressman Whitfield introduced the Lake Barkley Water Level Improvement Act in response to concerns that the early water level drawdown posed significant safety problems to navigation, recreation and fishing on the lake. As time was running out on the 109th Congress, Whitfield attempted to attach this bill to a larger piece of legislation, the Water Resources Development Reauthorization Act (WRDA) of 2006, because it was the last opportunity to pass this legislation before Congress adjourned for the year. House leaders had planned to vote on WRDA before the 109th Congress adjourned, but the bill got pushed to the 110th Congress because House and Senate negotiators were unable to reach an agreement.

Congressman Whitfield emphasized that the bill will likely face strong opposition again from groups such as the Army Corps of Engineers. Last year, the Corps submitted a three-page memo to the staff of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee expressing its belief that this legislation would have an adverse impact on the area. Congressman Whitfield considers their opposition to be a significant impediment to passage of the bill.

This is a good bill that enjoys tremendous support from residents living around the lake as well as the citizens who use it for recreational purposes. I will work with my colleagues to enact this legislation to show that keeping the lake levels higher through the summer will benefit the region, said Whitfield