The North Chick gage is dead

[kayakwesty]

The North Chick gage is dead They killed it on May 2011

From the USGS:


“Mark,

My personal apologies for not assuring that you and WRWW knew about the discontinuation of the North Chick gage. I assumed that you had seen the notifications posted on the real-time webpage for the station prior to its being discontinued. I guess that because y'all have automated the capture and translation of the data, you probably missed the notification on the USGS station page. As a boater I should have reached out to you.

Re-establishing the station as a Real-Time, USGS-operated gage would require a funding source. Potentially, the station could be operated as a (no associated discharge) to reduce costs. Please feel free to contact us if you want to discuss the status of the gage or any ideas that you may have regarding potential funding sources to return it to operation and service to the boating community.


Regrettably, the North Chickamauga Creek stream gage was discontinued in May 2011 and no new source of funding for gage operation has been identified. “

Fingers crossed I can pull this off.

I've been talking to the USGS. The gauge is still there. We are emailing back and forth to see if there is a still a way to ping the gauge. I would have to figure out a way to see the data and figure out what its trying to say. I'm a hack of a coder. So we will see. I promise nothing.

I will keep you posted if this can be pulled off.

[MountainDude]

Mark thank you for the hard work.

Keep us in the loop

[kayakwesty]

Here is the latest 07 Sept 2011

Hello Mark,
I just wanted to follow up with you on the North Chickamauga stream gage. As Gregg mentioned, our cooperator for that gage (Hixson Utility District) decided not to continue funding that gage and the funding ended on November 30, 2010 and we discontinued data collection at the site this summer. When we posted the notice/warning on the website a few months ago, we just assumed that you all would see it and I apologize for not thinking to call you personally. Gregg moved from our data collection section to one of our studies sections last year and we had a different technician maintaining that site so I personally should have thought about notifying you all.

We very much appreciate all of the support you and groups such as Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association have voiced in the past concerning the importance of our stream gaging network.
We also know how important our real-time data are to recreational users so I am sending a couple of technicians down to the site to temporarily re-install the monitoring equipment. We will not be able to provide discharge data but we can provide real-time stage data for at least three months but six months would be the maximum additional time we can operate the stage sensor without some additional funding.

The gage was operated under the USGS Cooperative Water Program and we would basically have to find another local, state, or municipal agency to serve as a funding partner to continue the data collection beyond next February. Just give me a call when you get a chance so we can discuss this some more.

Thanks,
Shannon

By Friday I will have some webpages up so we can start our letter writing campaign, I will also tweak some coding to see if I can get a reach to light up on the flowpage.

Also we are tracking down a possible donor.

If you asked me yesterday if this stood a chance I would have said no.

Today I think we have a 50-50 shot on this. Its worked two other times. To me this is the most important gauge to lose and I don't even like the North Chick that much.GASP! But the gauge sure does feed a lot of virtual gauges (15+ )and it will affect the local economy . From flood prediction to money spent in recreational use in the area. Its ours to lose.

I will add more info here once I find out more. I will also post the links also here.

Mark

[digitalocoee]

Noticed you haven't posted this yet at BraggerTalk.

[kayakwesty]

Need someone to write?


Here are their email addresses.

USGS

Scott Gain

wsgain@usgs.gov


Tennessee Senators

Alexander, Lamar - (R - TN)

455 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4944


Corker, Bob - (R - TN)
185 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3344


 
Tennessee House Representative
BILL W. HARMON
D - Dunlap
District 37 - Sequatchie, Van Buren,
Grundy, and Marion counties
rep.bill.harmon@legislature.state.tn.us
Tennessee Senate
TOMMY KILBY
D - Wartburg
District 12 - Campbell, Fentress, Morgan,
Rhea, Roane and Scott counties
sen.tommy.kilby@legislature.state.tn.us

From Brian Belvins:


This is the link to the Tennessee General Assembly website, it’s very easy to learn once you explore it a little and has most all the information you need to monitor legislation and contact legislators.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/


Email is a very effective way to contact legislators, most read their own email. Letters are a good way as well but most effective is a phone call to the legislator from someone in their own district.







1. Senator Bo Watson (Chattanooga) I have always wanted Bo to understand how many paddlers are in his district and I think he would be a great person for some local paddlers to go and visit back home to talk about the impact. He is the Speaker pro-tem of the Senate and on the Finance Committee http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s11.html

2. Senator Steve Southerland (Morristown) He’s the Chairman of Environment and we have talked about this issue before. He also represents the Nolichucky and Pigeon River as well as being an avid fisherman. He has a small pontoon and floats several east Tennessee Rivers to fish.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s1.html

3. Senator Randy McNally (Oakridge) a long time member of the General Assembly and Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Best way to approach him would be emails and someone from the Oakridge effort to reach out to him directly. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s5.html

4. Senator Ken Yager (Harriman) represents Rhea County up thru the upper Cumberland and probably has more whitewater in his district than any other legislator. He’s really into promoting Adventure Tourism in his district. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s12.html


5. Senator Eric Stewart (Belvidere) represents the western side of the Plateau and Rock Island. He’s on the Environment Committee, we have talked about this issue before as well as Jackson kayak and how the sport affects local economies. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s14.html



House Members
1. Representative David Hawk (Greenville) Chairman of the Environment Committee in the House and represents the Nolichucky. We have talked about this before. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h5.html

2. Representative Richard Floyd (Chattanooga) Secretary of the Environment Committee and represents North Chick. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h27.html

3. Representative Charles Curtis (Sparta) Environment Committee member and very good with the workings of the budget. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h43.html

4. Representative Gerald McCormick (Chattanooga) House Majority Leader. Gerald has a lot of paddlers in his district and sits on the finance sub-committee. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h26.html

5. Representative Judd Matheny (Tullahoma) Speaker Pro-tem of the House and sits on the House Finance Sub-Committee. He’s an avid outdoorsman and spends a lot of time on the duck river. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h47.html

Commissioner Brock Hill “Deputy Commissioner of TDEC”
Brock.hill@tn.gov






 

 
 

[kayakwesty]

Need a form letter ?

Need to know what streams are affected ?

Want to email a webpage or form letter go here

Its basically the one we used to save the Tellico and Calfkiller gauges

http://www.waldensridgewhitewater.com/north_chick_gauge_problems.htm

Noticed you haven't posted this yet at BraggerTalk.

I just now finished the pages

[ridgerunner]

Thanks for letting us know. I just wrote my letters.

[TCXJWAGONEER]

Any update?