There is one thing the people demanding higher release rates
at the beginning of a drought fail to realize.
Had we dropped releases to 3600cfs (3100 in cold months) at the start of
the drought, the lakes would be just about full now and the end of reduced
rates would be insight. Instead we have a
long slog ahead for mandatory low release rates and we are literally sweating
out what may happen if we go into a dry Spring and Summer. Further
this continual refusal to reduce releases at the start of a drought has destroyed
the reputation of our lakes from the standpoint of recreation and is well on
its way to destroying our recreation infrastructure. We have already reached the point where no
bank in their right mind will loan money for anything to do with our lakes.
Lowering release rates at the start of a drought does not
harm what happens downstream. The water
to the river will be the same either way.
Since man cannot make water out of thin air, mother nature is in full
control of how much water we are going to have for the duration of a
drought. All man can do is manage wisely
or unwisely the water nature provides. The
difference in responding immediately at the beginning of a drought is you keep
the lakes as full as possible which fulfills the Corps’ responsibility for
protecting the recreation infrastructure and you maintain a lot better control
of the system whereby you still have water left for any unforeseen emergencies
upstream or downstream. So far as all the critters downstream they
would have been unharmed by 3600cfs at the beginning of the drought the same
way they are unharmed by these release rates now.
What we need is strong leadership by the Corps to drive
these points home when the environmental groups worry about starting low
release rates too soon. The
environmental groups are advisory only.
The Corps is where the buck stops.
Until that occurs we need for our congressman and Senators or State
Governments to take a strong interest and get things turned the right way.
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