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Post by Bill M. on Oct 21, 2008 10:25:58 GMT -6
Army Corp of Engineers is tinkering with the idea of drawing down the Whitefish resevoir. Check that, not tinkering, they want to do it. Brainerd Lakes Chamber is opposing it.
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Post by Bill M. on Oct 21, 2008 14:02:23 GMT -6
Working to get more info on this.
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Post by craig wallace on Oct 22, 2008 9:05:10 GMT -6
Thanks Bill for bringing this up, I got my petition today and will see if I can post it here. The Corp will begin the winter draw down July 15, instead of sometime in September. They will increase the minimum flow out of the dam, I can't remember by how much. There is a great story on this issue in last weeks Northland Press (a free paper in the crosslake, Emily, outing area). Back copies of the paper are available at there office in Crosslake next to the Legion on the South side of town. The Echo in Pequot also had a great story about it last week too. In the petition that I can hopefully post on here there is some write up on it to. I don't have the time to get in to all of the specifics right now. So please take the time to do some reading and sign the petition. This action by the Corp will hinder navigation on the chain and drop property values (the whitefish chain is 25% of Crow Wing Counties Property tax value). Groups opposed to this are: Brainerd Lakes Chamber, City of Crosslake, Ideal Twp, WAPOA, and a few others I'm sure. Being a born and raised resident of Crosslake and a member of the Ideal Fire Department (which by the way we have a fire boat that would be d**n near useless if this happens due to navigation out of Bertha Boatworks and Bertha Channel) I and the residents of Crosslake and Ideal Township are very concerned with this. The Corp is doing this, the only way it can be stopped is by a big group of people voicing against this. Thanks, Craig savethewhitefishchain.blogspot.com/
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Post by Bill M. on Oct 22, 2008 9:21:05 GMT -6
I will provide some links for those who wish to get off their duff and help out with stopping this. If you live in Crow Wing County, this directly affects you and those who don't even use the lake. If property values fall, then the tax rate on those properties fall which means less money for the county which will mean everyone will get to help pay all because the water is drawn down. If you don't live in Crow Wing county and you use the lake, this obviously affects you. Contact Norm Coleman at: coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactFormContact Amy Klobuchar at: klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfmCongressman Jim Oberstar at: wwwc.house.gov/oberstar/zipauth.htmSample letter below with address: Send a letter to the following: St. Paul District, US Army Corps of Engineers Attn: Mr. Steve Clark, Corps of Engineers, CEMVP-PM-A, 190 Fifth St E., Ste. 401 St. Paul, MN 55101 (651) 290-5278 Email: Steven.J.Clark@usace.army.mil Below is the sample letter: Subject: Reservoir Operating Plan Evaluation Dear Mr. Steve Clark, This letter is a formal request to the Army Corps of Engineers to strongly voice opposition to the operating plans proposed on September 10, 2008 for the Cross Lake/Pine River Dam and the Whitefish Reservoir (referred to as ROPE). The changes proposed by the Corps of Engineers in the Rope Study may seem small, but there is major concern in the community about the navigation on the Whitefish Chain and how this will negatively affect our waterways from the recreation standpoint. Changing the drawdown to occur during our prime tourism season has raised concern that this will result in a shorter water recreation season and will negatively impact the tourism industry. Many local businesses will see a significant decline in annual sales. The change will also cause a reduction in property values for lakeshore owners on the Whitefish Chain. These combined will create severe economic damage for the local community. We strongly believe that our community cannot withstand these consequences which will result from the proposed ROPE plan. The Whitefish Chain is one of the premier summer recreation attractions in Minnesota and the country and has been for many, many years. In order to keep the Whitefish Chain as one of the most valued areas to live, work and play in we are recommending that the Corps of Engineers does not activate the proposed ROPE Study for the Whitefish Chain. We do care about the environment and want to ensure the continued enjoyment of our community and the Whitefish Chain for many years to come. Sincerely,
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Post by Joel on Oct 22, 2008 10:29:18 GMT -6
I am part of the effort to stop this on Leech Lake as well.....the draw down now is so bad that if it were ricing season the rice would be susceptible to wind and wave damage. I'll keep ya posted....I'm getting the Res. DNR involved as well.
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Post by gonefishinalot on Oct 22, 2008 18:50:28 GMT -6
FYI, it's not just Whitefish, it's several lakes with Corps jurisdiction. Can't remember all of them right now. I saw an article in Outdoor News a few weeks back with the details
Eric
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Post by bp7135 (bob) on Oct 23, 2008 17:21:09 GMT -6
Wonder if Gull is one of them, since it too is under the Corp...
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Post by craig wallace on Oct 23, 2008 17:29:34 GMT -6
Gull is not under this. The people around gull and that use gull stopped this with petition and the such a couple of years ago ( I can't remeber exactly how long ago). If you are against this sign the petiton and send letters that is the only way this can be stopped. By the way the petiton that I posted is being sent ever rep. the corp, and the gov..
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Post by Bill M. on Oct 24, 2008 8:28:35 GMT -6
I didn't realize this until clicking on Craig's link he provided that this is the link for the petition. It takes less than 1 minute to do. Please help support this petition and click the link and scroll down to the bottom of the page. savethewhitefishchain.blogspot.com/
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Post by bp7135 (bob) on Oct 24, 2008 19:56:44 GMT -6
In the paper, gull was listed as one of the impacted areas...perhaps they too assumed...
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Post by Joel on Oct 25, 2008 8:13:28 GMT -6
The Mississippi Headwaters Board disagrees with the Corps drawn down plan. Bemidji Pioneer Reprint here>
The Mississippi Headwaters Board disagrees with the St. Paul Corps of Engineers proposal of mid-summer draw downs along the Mississippi River. The MHB consists of representatives from Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, and Morrison counties, who work in concordance to protect the first 400 miles of the Mississippi in Minnesota.
Tuesday night, at the Beltrami County Board meeting, Beltrami County Environmental Services Director Bill Patnaude briefed commissioners regarding MHB concerns with the Corps of Engineers Reservoir Operating Plan Evaluation (ROPE) Study and proposed operating plan.
The Corps proposes July 15 water draw downs. This alarms inhabitants of various counties south of Beltrami County. According to the MHB, the proposal fails to recognize historic usages of waters such as recreation, resort business, and ricing. A few feet of water have a negative impact on boating docks and beaches while proving detrimental to wild rice beds, an integral aspect of the American Indian culture in the area.
Because the proposed plan fails to address issues of the social, economic, and natural environment in the region, MHB has asked the Corps to re-evaluate the multi-faceted impacts that will result from such actions within the Mississippi corridor.
Beltrami County Administrator Tony Murphy, stated that even though Beltrami may not be dramatically affected by such action, Beltrami is a component of the MHB, and therefore supports the suggestion to re-evaluate the plan. Downstream issues of tribal land interests, economics, ecology, and historic usage must all be elements weighed in the assessment and operating plan.
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