COMMENT ON 1/18 TO BALANCING THE BASIN HITS HOME

A COMMENT TO TODAYS BALANCING THE BASIN HITS HOME ON HOW THE CORPS IS HARMING THE ECONOMICS OF THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE SAVANNAH RIVER BASIN.  THE COMMENT FOLLOWS:

The corps dedication to the harbor environment is admirable.  Their lack of concern for the economics of the impoverished communities along the lakes is not.  The horrible reputation of lake level control has stymied economic growth (real estate values, growth associated with highly attractive recreation areas and accompanying growth that occurs from both) for all communities adjacent to the lakes. Basically the Corps is destroying economics in a fashion similar to unrealistic regulations from the EPA. Hopefully we can get the attention of the Trump administration so they can help here the way they did with coal interests in West Virginia.

SOLN IS SEEKING A WAY TO GET AUDIENCE WITH CONGRESS OR THE PRESIDENT SINCE TRUMP IS FULLY BEHIND ELIMINATING UNNECCESSARY REGULATIONS.  IF YOU HAVE PERSONAL ACCESS TO ANY OF OUR CONGRESSMEN PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH JERRY CLONTZ VIA EMAIL bgclontz@gmail.com.  WE ARE LOOKING TO MEET WITH DAVID PERDUE AND ARE AWAITING RESPONSE FROM JODI HICE AND JEFF DUNCAN.  IN EACH CASE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THEIR STAFF WHO OFTEN TIMES ARE NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH OUR NEEDS.  WHAT IS NEEDED IS DIRECT CONTACT FROM SOMEONE THEY TRUST.

COMMENT TO RECENT BALANCING THE BASIN

One of our members recently submitted the following comment to the Corps Balancing the Basin release where they tried to defend their management of our lakes during droughts.  Thought this was a pretty good summary of our situation.

"The problem is not the drought.  The problem is the Corps' refusal to deviate from a failed drought control plan.  We've pleaded for 3600 cfs as a standard when the lakes cannot be held at full pool (3100 during winter months) and the corps has thumbed their nose at us making the fallacious claim that SEPA makes them hold to higher releases for power demands.  Top management at SEPA has repeatedly told us (and i sat in on a meeting when they told the same thing to the colonel then commander for our lakes) that they can make up any power deficiencies from elsewhere in their hydropower system.  This behavior by the Corps is devastating to the economics of the struggling rural communities around the lakes and frankly is unforegiveable.  We are seeking congressional help to this in view of Trump's desire to eliminate ridiculous regulations that destroy economics."