NEW RULE FOR WATER SUPPLY BY TRUMP

Trump just put the states in control of their own water supply rules.  He directed the Corps to immediately back off from the federal government's involvement in the regulation of states' water supplies.  SEE COPY OF NEWS RELEASE BELOW

Report: Trump moves to roll back Obama-era water supply policy

January 20, 2020

This weekend, President Donald Trump announced plans to limit the federal government’s involvement in the regulation of states’ water supplies by rolling back a rule that, according to The Hill, was “proposed in the final days of the Obama administration.”

Former President Barack Obama had proposed changes to the so-called Water Supply Act in 2016, The Hill reported. But appearing at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 101st annual convention in Austin, Texas on Sunday, Trump said his administration wouldn’t be moving forward with those revisions, according to local ABC affiliate KVUE.

“I am directing the Corps of Engineers to immediately withdraw the proposed rule…and allow states to manage their water resources based on their own needs and based on what their farmers and ranchers want,” Trump told a reportedly cheering crowd.

He went on: “Water is the lifeblood of agriculture and we will always protect your water supply.”

Answer to Augusta Lock and Dam and drought Control is the same

I feel like the little boy who cried wolf.  No matter how hard I try to get our congressmen to understand they simply don't want to listen.  Right now they are threatening to sue the Corps over the Augusta lock and dam problem.  Previously they tried repeatedly to get the Corps to be more responsive on drought control.  Neither has worked and neither will work until Congress adds economics of real estate and business ventures around the lakes and basin at Augusta to the Corps responsibilities. Regardless how hard you argue the Corps has an irrefutable argument.  "That is not one of their responsibilities".  They will then quote the list of things they are responsible for which has been established by congress. As long as they live up to what Congress has specified they are untouchable in the courts or elsewhere.

We have tried talking to each of our congressmen but they see us as a gnat in the wind compared to the corps which they see as the elephant in the room.  We even had Jodi Hice look at this but the Georgia State chamber of congress convinced him not to pursue because in their mind any change might harm the harbor at Savannah.  What we could not get him to realize is adding economics to the corps responsibilities does not lessen their other responsibilities which give full protection to the harbor.  ADDING ECONOMICS WOULD TOTALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CORPS WOULD THEN BE OBLIGATED TO RESPECT THAT ALONG WITH THEIR OTHER 8 RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS FLOOD CONTROL, FISH AND WILDLIFE, ETC. ETC.

The purpose of this writing is to try one more time to get our congressmen to understand how simple it would be to finally solve this problem. I've even tried getting help from radio and TV (eg Austin Rhodes, channel 6 news) but again they assume we don't know what we're talking about.  What they fail to realize is we've been right 100% of the time on how to better the drought controls.  We recommended 3600cfs anytime the lakes drop below full pool over 10 years ago.  It took $2 million and several years for the Corps to come to the same conclusion.  We are not offering pie in the sky solutions.  We are offering sound engineering and economic answers to the question of how best to manage the Savannah River Basin.

ANSWER TO LAKE LEVEL CONTROL AND DESIGN BASIS FOR AUGUSTA LOCK AND DAM ARE THE SAME BUT OUR CONGRESSMAN AREN'T LISTENING

I've been working to try and get Corps to respect the effect of poor drought control on real estate and business ventures along the Savannah River Basin for over 10 years.  The answer to the problem is simple but I have not been able to get our congressman to understand the answer.  The problem is economic impact is not included in the 8 or so responsibilities assigned the Corps concerning the basin.  They see flood control, hydro power, navigation, recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish and wildlife as their responsibilities.  If economic impact were included they would suddenly be forced to consider what is happening to lake levels and height of the dam at Augusta and the rest would be simple.

It is my understanding talking with people who have worked with congress that adding such a requirement would be simple for our congressmen to do.  It would involve some closed door sessions with committees having these responsibilities and a simple addition of such a requirement to the list of Corps responsibilities.

Unfortunately human nature being what it is our congressmen assume it can't possibly be such a simple answer and they get all bogged down in the technical double talk the Corps does.  The Corps is not being bad. They are simply quoting what their guidelines and oversight organizations such as the EPA are demanding.

SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO FIND AT LEAST ONE CONGRESSMAN WHO WILL LISTEN AND ADD ECONOMICS TO THE CORPS RESPONSIBILITIES.  THERE ARE TWO CONGRESSMAN ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUGUSTA LOCK AND DAM AND TWO MORE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAKES, EACH OF WHICH COULD EASILY MAKE THIS CHANGE.  BUT INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO US THEY ARE CONFUSED BY WHAT THE CORPS IS TELLING THEM AND HAVE NO CLUE WHAT WE ARE SAYING.

WE ARE STILL ON PAST FAILED DROUGHT PLAN

Since we had those meetings a year or so back about an improved drought plan most folks probably are operating on the assumption that performance of the lakes during this drought will be better.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  The new plan is still not in effect and we still have no concrete date on when that will be.  Meanwhile if this drought doesn't end soon we are headed for another reputation busting season of drastically low lake levels.

And as a reminder the Corps still has no responsibility for minimizing destruction of economics around the lakes (eg. real estate values, business income, tourism).  We have two government entities to thank for all this.  Your congressman could correct this immediately by adding economics to the Corps responsibilities and the corps could act on their own as engineers instead of procedure followers to manage the lakes responsibly.

The Fox is Still Minding the Hen House When it Comes to the Future Prosperity of Our Lakes

After spending Millions and several years time trying to better the future prosperity of our lake area we still are at the mercy of the Corps.  They are to our lakes the same as the EPA is to the future of fossil fuels. Rather than considering the prosperity of communities around the lakes the Corps is using guidelines that ignore the financial impact of their actions.  Just as changing EPA regulations to more reasonable thinking has led to a huge impact on the financial health of the US, similar changes to drought management practices around our lakes could lead to fantastic growth of lake communities.

An excellent example is the way they are handling the lock and dam below Augusta and North Augusta.  Beautiful river front property can greatly impact a city and does so for many cities around the country.  By ignoring financial impact the Corps is making their modifications in a manner that will do serious harm to the attractiveness and value of the riverfront property currently shared by both cities during a severe drought.

Regarding the lakes, ignoring financial impacts means the Corps will allow the lakes to drop 2' below full pool before they initiate reduced releases during a drought.  Otherwise they would start drought protection immediately upon the lakes falling below full pool. And ignoring financial impacts has allowed the Corps to delay initiation of the improved drought protection they did come up with till next year sometime.  We are just lucky we haven't experienced a severe drought like the ones of the last 20 years.

Looking to the future, a severe drought will destroy the beauty of the riverfront between Augusta and North Augusta.  Once that happens there is only one source of water to better the problem and that is from drought starved lakes.  Current Corps regs will prevent them using lake releases to help but once property values between Augusta and North Augusta are being destroyed anything is possible in terms of congress or someone demanding changes.

Major Loop Hole Needs Fixing or We will be in Serious Trouble With Lake Levels

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.

SILVER BULLET FOR DEALING WITH CORPS ON LAKE AND RIVER ISSUES

We've been dealing with the corps for over 10 years on lake levels trying to get them to act responsibly concerning lake stakeholder interests.  Initially they had about 8 issues they would come back to us with as to why they couldn't do what we were requesting.  Issues from the sturgeon being an endangered species to oxygen levels in the harbor were used to shut down any conversation about improving the drought plan for the Savannah River Basin.  We got past all these only to have the corps stop us with one final issue.  They state that congress has given them a list of the issues they need to consider in their work and economics such as real estate values or impact on business interests were not on that list. If one of our congressmen such as Rick Allen were to get that added to the list we would be able to come full circle on the drought plan (almost there but one more change needed to optimize our drought plan).

One of our members who worked for years in Washington with congress has explained to me that such a change (add economics to corps responsibilities with regard to the Savannah River Basin) would be easy to accomplish as a local regulation favoring a few congressmen's needs. Before the climate Trump has generated this might have been problematic but with the new attitude of being reasonable with EPA concerns this should be doable now. Rick Allen is the first congressman connected with the Savannah River Basin to come at this from the standpoint of being willing to do whatever is needed to get this right.

Here is a quick look at how this changes things.  Let's say the controlling factor concerning the future of the lock and dam  is the sturgeon.  No problem.  If economics were one of the Corps' responsibilities they would simply be forced to design the fish ladder in a manner that takes care of the sturgeon and does not drop the river below current levels.  Right now they are only directed to protect the sturgeon without any responsibility toward business interests. The River Keeper already has a proposal that would accomplish that but the corps has no reason to listen. AND BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE THEY WILL NOT LISTEN.

COMMENTS SENT TO CORPS IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR COMMENTS

FOLLOWING IS AN EMAIL SENT BY ONE OF OUT PEOPLE TO THE CORPS IN RESPONSE TO THEIR REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION OF A FISH PASSAGE IN PLACE OF THE AUGUSTA LOCK AND DAM.  THE EMAIL WAS SENT BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS.


Several things are very disturbing about your proposal.

 1) you are showing levels for 5,000cfs to fish ladder but during severe droughts the flows will be much lower than that.  Your design needs to be for the flows anticipated during the droughts of record experienced since 2001.

 2) the sturgeon are no longer an endangered species.  Since they have not been able to get to Thurmond dam since 1930 it is ludicrous to destroy the economics of North Augusta and Augusta in the pretense that we have to put in a fish ladder

 3) As with lake levels the corps ignores economic impact of lake and river levels.  I understand you feel congress has not provided that in your responsibilities.   As engineers responsible for the SRB the corps should be going to congress and recommend economics be added to your concerns.

NOTE THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE RIVER LEVEL AT AUGUSTA/NORTH AUGUSTA WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY TRANSLATE TO SCREAMS FOR EXTRA RELEASES FROM THURMOND DURING A SEVERE DROUGHT LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE 2001.

THE ADDRESS FOR COMMENTS IS:CESAS-PD@usace.army.mil.  IF YOU SEND COMMENTS THE CORPS WILL PROBABLY NEVER LET THEM SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY SO COPY JERRY CLONTZ AT bgclontz@gmail.com AND HE WILL GET THEM PUBLISHED ON THIS BLOG SITE.

THE CORPS IS MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE WITH CURRENT DROUGHT PLANNING AND CURRENT PLANS FOR AUGUSTA LOCK AND DAM

At present everyone is lulled into a false sense of security concerning both The Augusta Lock and Dam and the final drought plan for the lakes that goes into effect this summer. The problem is the Corps adamantly refuses to consider economics in their planning.  With lake levels the corps claims economics is not part of the instructions they have from congress.  With the Augusta Lock and Dam they not only refuse to look at economics but they also are overstepping EPA guidance on wild life protection.

The only way we are going to get the Corps to factor in economics is to get help from one of our Senators or congressman.  Unfortunately congressional help is not available because Jeff Duncan refuses to help with this and Jodi Hice is following incorrect advice.  David Purdue would be an ideal senator to help because of his familiarity with Augusta and Lindsay Graham would be good because of his familiarity with the Lake Hartwell area and concerns for North Augusta economics. It would only take a short meeting to explain why the Corps is messing up but to date we have been unable to get the ear of either of these senators.  We desperately need help in getting the ear of one of these Senators.  If you know a way to set up a meeting, Save Our Lakes Now would be glad to meet with them at the location and time of their choice. The contact for Save Our Lakes Now for such a meeting is Jerry Clontz in McCormick, SC (email address bgclontz@gmail.com).

All our arguments on fine tuning lake level control and design of the Augusta Lock and Dam have been laid out in past releases of the Save Our Lakes Now Blog (www. saveourlakesnow.blogspot.com).  Rather than attempt a lengthy repeat of those arguments I recommend anyone interested in this problem review the blog releases of the past 12 months. With our recommended changes to the drought plan the lakes would finally gain a good reputation on lake levels which would have a fantastic impact on lake area economics.  Without our recommended changes we will never get past a reputation for poor lake levels.  With our recommendations on the lock and dam design we will avoid lake levels competing with pool levels at Augusta.  Without our recommendations the pool level will drop unacceptably in severe droughts and the lake and Augusta will become opposing interests concerning release rates during droughts.

COMPROMISE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE PLANNED DROUGHT PLAN

There are two parts of the proposed drought plan that are problematic:

1. the new proposal still incorporates dropping the lakes 4' for the winter. The reason given is to provide adequate flood protection for spring rains.
2. the new proposal doesn't drop Thurmond releases to the minimum (3600cfs) until the lakes are down 2' first.  Again the reason given is this provides slightly more flood protection than dropping to 3600cfs immediately.

Viewing this from the stand point of lake stake holders, we want the least possible drop in lake level during a drought so as to protect recreation infrastructure, real estate values, and attractiveness of our lakes for future growth. The same is true for dropping lake levels for the winter.

Viewing this from the stand point of the corps they want to improve drought performance but they also want to make sure they don't decrease flood protection at the same time.

Both can be accomplished if we change full pool to 2' below current levels (328 for Thurmond and 658 for Hartwell). This would mean the lakes would only be lowered 2' during the winter. This would also mean we could drop Thurmond release rates to 3600cfs when the lakes start down instead of waiting without affecting flood protection.  In other words the lakes would finally get a reputation of excellent level control even during droughts. Whether the normal level is 2' below current values is not as important as keeping the level from changing and impacting docks, lake access, shore line appearance, dock placement, etc.

COMMENTS TO CORPS ABOUT FISH PASSAGE AT AUGUSTA LOCK AND DAM LOCATION

Jerry Clontz who is one of our members sent the following email as a comment to the corps on the fish passage design basis. As stated in our last blog SOLN is concerned that the current design basis may lead to future problems with drought control .  Here is the comment.

comment on design of fish passage at augusta lock

 and dam location on savannah river

We noted from a recent release of balancing the basin that the pool will drop at Augusta/North
 Augusta for flows below 5,000cfs after the fish passage is built.

We are concerned that this situation will pit the cities against Lake interests and complicate future

 drought protection releases.

Why not look at the minimum flows that occur at this location during droughts of record (creeks plus

 thurmond = ???) and design the passage such that the pool at augusta will hold level at that flow

 through the passage?

If you wish to send comments to the corps, the address is CESAS-PD.SAS@USACE

.ARMY.MIL

Inbox

x

CORPS ABOUT TO DESTROY OUR LAKES

Sorry for the alarming heading but it is true.  Most people apparently have not realized yet the implications of the fish passage as currently designed.  The corps in their balancing the basin recently stated that the pool level at Augusta will drop anytime release rates from Thurmond dam drop below 5,000cfs. This is a bad design basis.  The fish passage should be designed such that the pool level at Augusta remains constant to release rates below 3000cfs.

Here is what a 5,000cfs basis means:

• Lake stakeholders will be in direct conflict with Augusta / North Augusta interests.  If we try to drop the release rates from Thurmond below 5,000cfs to avoid destroying the lakes during a major drought (we have had about 5 such droughts since the year 2000) it will destroy the pool level for the river flowing past Augusta and North Augusta.  That in turn will do both physical damage to the sides of the river and economic damage to Augusta and North Augusta. The Corps would simply sit idly by and let us fight it out.
• If the cities win the lakes will be destroyed.
• If lake interests win the corps will jump into the battle claiming that the poor sturgeon who have not been north of the Augusta lock and dam for almost a century must be permitted passage by maintaining release rates of 5000cfs or so.

This borders on criminal negligence by the Corps who spent over $2 million during the past several years to come up with a plan demanding 3600cfs releases from Thurmond during severe droughts.

Plans for Fish Passage for Lock and Dam replacement could spell disaster for lake levels during droughts

Following is a comment on "Balancing the Basin" site by one of our members.

"The numbers given in this explanation indicate drastic problems for lake level control. At present release rates from Thurmond of 3600cfs or higher are acceptable downstream.  Release rates higher than 3600cs during droughts cause drastic drops in lake levels. The design basis for this project should be based on 3600cfs or less, not 5,000cfs and higher.  The Corps knows these numbers well.  All lake stake holders need to demand a more rational design basis which includes protection against negatively impacting lake levels during drought conditions."

Save Our Lakes Now agrees with these comments and recommends a totally different design basis for the fish passage.  What the Corps is proposing now with the fish passage being put in replacing the current Augusta Lock and Dam could exacerbate lake level problems during droughts to intolerable extremes. The current design proposal shows a 2ft drop in river level along the shores of Augusta and North Augusta with release rates from Thurmond of 5,000cfs.  Apparently release rates from Thurmond dam below 5,000cfs would drop the river at Augusta and North Augusta to unacceptable levels with the fish passage.  The corps knows full well 5,000cfs release rates from Thurmond dam during droughts can literally destroy our lakes.  This design basis is unacceptable and we need to insist on a more rational design basis that protects both lake levels and river levels at Augusta during the worst droughts of record.

PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO DROUGHT CONTROL NOT ENOUGH

It's easy to get complacent about drought control when we are getting all the water we need this year to keep the lakes full.  And the Corps, with a lot of hoopla has promised major improvement in their drought control plan making our concern over drought control low.  But  more tweaking to what the Corps is planning for drought control  is needed.

When evaluating which plan to use based on all the studies done over the past couple of years, the Corps used a series of criteria where they simply looked at which plan gave the most positive changes for about 10 criteria they were looking at.  For example they looked at flood control, dissolved oxygen in the river and harbor, what would make the fish the happiest, etc.  Two plans won out.  One was the one Save Our Lakes Now has been proposing for years and the other a slight modification to that plan where they do not start reduced flows until the lakes are down about 2'. The differences were miniscule between these two plans for the criteria used. Unfortunately two major criteria which would have changed the outcome were not evaluated.  One is how much fresh water is thrown to the ocean before starting minimum releases and the other is which plan gives the best economic affect.

If the Corps considers amount of fresh water being thrown away (we are looking at billions of gals of fresh water a day) and/or the impact of low lake levels on economics of the lake community our proposed plan would win hands down.  Our plan compared to the one they favor would add 2' to lake levels compared to the plan the corps is adopting during a heavy drought. This is because our plan reduces flows to the minimum as soon as the lakes start down whereas the plan the corps is currently planning on using doesn't  reduce to minimum flows until the lakes drop 2'.

For some reason our congressmen and senators have chosen to stay out of the Corps plans for future drought plans. Any one of our senators or congressmen could demand that amount of fresh water being thrown to the sea and economics be considered. If that were to happen the corps would have to go with our plan which keeps the lades 2' higher in a severe drought.  That plus the improvements already in the corps plans would vastly improve our lake levels I .

If you have personal contact with any of our senators or congressmen please encourage them to get into this enough to at least learn what the arguments are. The best plan will not win out unless they help.

Another Appropriate Comment to Balancing the Basin You May be Interested in.

posted by one of our members on todays balancing the basin concerning the fish passage.

The continued refusal by the Corps to consider economic and recreation issues is a prime example of what happens with over regulation.  I know the Trump administration would change this because they are trying country wide to get rid of ridiculous regulations that are hurting communities like ours.  We need to wake up our congressmen and get them to work on this.

RECENT COMMENT ON BALANCING THE BASIN IS EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF OUR DILEMMA

The following was submitted as a comment to balancing the basin by one of our members:

Dropping lake levels for this reason is not a problem for businesses and residential areas around Thurmond.  Our problem is not a 1ft drop.  Our problem is the drought control plan.  And unfortunately, even after spending millions of dollars for studies to optimize drought control, refusal by the Corps to include how much fresh water is being thrown away during droughts and the impact of lake levels on the reputation of the lakes for recreation (which has destroyed economics of the lake areas) is preventing adoption of the truly optimum drought control plan.  The optimum plan when these are factored in is to drop releases from Thurmond to 3600cfs anytime the lakes cannot be held to full pool.

SOMETHING "FISHY" ABOUT CORPS GUIDELINES / WHERE ARE THE CONGRESSMEN THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OUR SIX

The corps is demonstrating that they can hold lake levels to within a half foot even with massive rains.  They see this as a must to protect fish laying their eggs this time of year.  How in heaven's name can they justify this while ignoring the impact to real estate values and the economics of the areas around the lakes from drastic swings in lake level the rest of the year We've pleaded repeatedly with our congressmen to insist that the corps include economics in controlling lake levels.  But for some reason they have chosen not to help.

All over America Trump is eliminating unnecessary regulations.  How then can our congressmen ignore the impact on jobs and economics of poor lake level controls.  And how can our congressmen ignore Corp's regulations that are holding back profitability of businesses connected with our lakes.

PLEA FOR THE CORPS TO INCLUDE DESTRUCTION OF FRESH WATER AND ECONOMICS IN REEVALUATING DROUGHT PLAN

Following is a copy of a recent comment on balancing the basin which sums up our views nicely. 

COPY OF COMMENT TO CORPS:

The parameters for evaluating the various drought plans do not include retention of as much fresh water as possible without doing damage to the environment and similar concerns for the economics of the area. Everyone will attest to the idea that wanton destruction of fresh water during a drought is unforgiveable. And the economics of the area sucks because of the horrible reputation on lake level control over the past 15 years.  Yet neither were considered in your previous determination of which plan was best. As engineers it is the job of the corps to come up with the best technical answers possible in managing our lakes.  It is not to blindly follow some rules written in 1985 by congressmen who do not have the necessary information to come up with the best plan.

Please add these two considerations when reevaluating the test data to come up with the optimum drought protection plan.

HELP US GET OUR CONGRESSMEN TO UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS ON LAKE LEVEL CONTROL

Our congressmen can help get the Corps to act more responsibly on lake level control but they do not have a good understanding of what lever to pull to make this happen.  We do.  If you will help, maybe we can educate our congressmen and get the help needed.  Emails or phone calls or letters to your congressmen can make this happen if enough of us get behind the effort.

Two major things the Corps ignores are keeping the Corps from making the final changes needed to minimize drastic lake level drops.  They are the gross waste of fresh water from higher than necessary releases and the economic impact on businesses connected with providing recreation around the lakes such as the marinas and real estate values for homes around the lakes.

Looking at the waste of fresh water, the Corps is releasing 4200cfs from Thurmond right now instead of holding back to the minimum demonstrated to have no environmental impact which is 3600cfs.  Every drop of fresh water released is doomed to become salt water as it enters the harbor at Savannah. This 600cfs difference represents the unnecessary destruction of 400million gallons of fresh water each day.

Looking at the impact on businesses and real estate we are talking hundreds of millions of dollars any time the lakes drop more than 6ft. The full impact is much more than is obvious looking at monthly or even yearly economic data.  The full impact is in destruction of the reputation of the whole region over a period of years that will take on the order of 10 years with good lake levels to correct.

The Corps evaluation of the recent study to determine an optimum drought control plan fails to include destruction of fresh water and economic impact.  If the Corps were instructed to consider these by our congressmen the resulting optimum drought plan would be the one we have espoused for years; drop to minimum safe release rates any time lake levels cannot be held to full pool. Please help us educate our congressmen about this.  Save Our Lakes Now has informed our congressmen of this but we are only one voice against the voice of a very persuasive Corps.  Hundreds or thousands of voices are needed to convince our congressmen that something needs to happen now.

One other thing our congressmen need to understand is the plan we are recommending will not do any damage to the harbor at Savannah.  Recent information indicates some uninformed organizations such as the state chamber of commerce fear any change might do harm to the harbor and thereby have a negative impact on a major source of income for the state. We would be glad to meet with anyone having this concern to prove to them that such a concern is unwarranted.

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.