Here is my comments put in my weekly fishing report reference the meeting held here last night:
Last night I attended the public information meeting hosted by the Corps of Engineers Nashville District which was about the proposed restriction of fishing below Barkley Dam. I would estimate about 300-400 people attended this meeting to voice their opposition to the proposed restrictions. Among those in attendance which voiced displeasure with the Corps plan to permanently restrict fishing immediately below the dam even during periods of low flow was the Honorable Congressman Ed Whitfield as well as staff members of Senator's Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and other local officials. This proposed blanket closure of access to these waters is estimated to have a minimum economic impact on the local economy of 4 million dollars per year. This proposal, if implemented as planned, will also have devastating effects on many local commercial fishing businesses. Basically, what I took away from the meeting is that the Corps held this meeting to basically tell everyone what they were going to do and why they were going to do it because they are required by their regulations to do so. Congressman Whitfield and other officials argued that the Corps regulation that addresses the restriction of waters to the public below the dam is worded as such that these waters could be restricted during periods of high flow events but could also be opened to the public during normal flows. In his closing statement, Congressman Whitfield advised the Corps officials present that he and everyone in attendance at this meeting will oppose the Corps plan to blanket close these waters to the public and mentioned that we have courts that decide how regulations and laws are interpreted. Congressman Whitfield received a standing ovation of support from those present with these remarks. I would like to personally thank Congressman Whitfield and all the other high ranking public officials for their support in opposing the Corps implementation of this proposed closing of public waters without regard to the economic impact on the local area and the rights of the American people to have access to public waters in a reasonable and common sense manner.
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