New Year's Resolution

We've been ignored, used and abused by the Corps long enough. And as the abuse continues we see Lake Thurmond drop a foot with rainfall well above normal. Many think the Corps should have used the increased water flows at the locks below the dams from rain swollen streams to decrease the required 3100cfs releases at the dam. While I agree that this is certainly the least that could be done I feel we need to go far beyond this and revamp the whole drought control set up to prevent the Lakes from going below the level where lake interests are destroyed. Lake Murray has undergone the same drought as Lake Thurmond but it is at normal levels because Lake Murray does not have release requirements to solve downstream problems. Downstream problems below Lake Thurmond need to be solved by engineering solutions instead of just throwing very costly lake water at them. The costs from destroyed Lake interests is way too high and should no longer be treated as acceptable in solving downstream problems.

My resolution for the new year is to join with a large number of people who feel the same way so that the Corps has no choice but to hear us. If the numbers of people and amount of money represented is large enough, law suits can be used anytime the Corps ignores us the way they are now. Furthermore we need to insist on assistance from our political leaders if they wish to remain in office. Everyone knows it is wrong to destroy one man's property in order to build up another's, especially when the man who is on the losing side has no vote on the issue. I suspect the people involved with problems downstream would not intentionally destroy lake interests as a way to solve their problems. But that is exactly what is happening. And our political leaders are remaining silent.

With enough reasonable people and money behind this the Corps and our political leaders will have no choice but to revamp the current ridiculous drought control plan. It looks like the time has come for this action and I applaud the measures currently being pursued. As with any cause the fight may not be easy but since our cause is just we have the distinct advantage. Remember, evil prevails only when good men remain silent. If we cease our silence the destruction of our hard earned lake interests will surely come to a stop.