I've been working on getting a provision into Corps responsibilities that they must protect economic impact along the shoreline (eg real estate, marinas, shoreline at Augusta/North Augusta) in their guidelines and it needs to be equal to fish and wildlife concerns. If we get that done now before the Augusta Lock and Dam is redone with a fish passage then it puts the responsibility of protecting Augusta's shore line into the design of the fish passage. That would also eliminate a lot of the problems we have on lake level control. For example that would dictate that the Corps start minimum release rates as soon as the lake starts falling in a drought rather than after the lakes have dropped 2'.
But there is a major loop hole here. If we don't get that in the provisions until after the fish passage is built, then that would put extra pressure on the corps to save Augusta pool levels with increased releases from Thurmond. If you doubt that the fish passage is going to complicate lake level control just step ahead in time to a point where the sides of the river along Augusta and North Augusta start falling in and the economy of Augusta and North Augusta is at stake. There is only one place they can get more water to correct that and it is the lakes. The people of Augusta and North Augusta will get political help or whatever is needed to get at that water and the lakes will be screwed.
If we get the economic provision in Corps guidelines before the fish passage is built it will force the Corps to look at how to design the fish passage so that it doesn't harm Augusta and North Augusta ventures along the river.
