Remember; this is not a done deal. There are two ways this issue can be solved. Congress is the key to either solution.
Solution 1: Congress votes on a budget that puts these mitigation funds back in the 2012 budget. This would not necessarily mean a net spending increase. Congress could deny FWS the $47.8 million increase that they are requesting by not allowing them to spend some of the $140 million they want to spend on new land acquisitions. In other words, Congress can force FWS to change their priorities and put more money towards fish and more traditional programs and take away from some of the new programs they would like to spend more money on related to climate change. The amount of money that needs to be put back in is $6.3 million. It's chump change compared to some of FWS's other programs that are not even proven or popular.
Solution 2: Congressman in Tennessee and state officials can pressure TVA and COE to come up with full reimbursement agreements with FWS. If TVA agrees to pays $835,000 (100% reimbursement to FWS), Dale Hollow NFH would face only about a 5% cut, which would result in a 20% cut in COE waters. If COE agrees to pay the remainder of the requested amount ($900,000) for all hatcheries involved, then Tennessee would continue to get all the fish from Dale Hollow they get now.
If you would like to join the friends group, Friends of the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, send me an email, and I'll send you updates on this issue as they occur. You don't have to do anything to join the group except send the email, but you are welcome to work as hard as you want to help spread the information to the public, state officials, and Congress.
[email protected]
Reply With Quote