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FORM LETTER
# 1
(This a letter to help educate and is generic in nature) Dear
Insert Name Here:
I've recently heard that funding for water
gauges maintained by the United States
Geological Survey are being put on the chopping
block and are slated to be shut down. I
understand that balancing a budget can be
difficult and appreciate the delicate balance
that goes into weighing the needs of a state and
the resources available to meet those needs.
As an example of what I'm talking about, here's
is a link to such a gauge:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?03518500
If I were in your shoes, I know what my first
question would be: it's a water gauge, what is
so important about that? For me personally,
those particular gauges (see the link above)
provides the level of the Tellico River near
Tellico Plains, TN., and Calfkiller outside
Dunlap Tennessee. During the winter months, many
whitewater kayakers from the East Coast area and
I make frequent trips to the Tellico River and
Sequatchie Valley to paddle. And we're not
alone. The
Tellico and
Woodcock Creek are a major destinations for
whitewater kayak enthusiasts on the East Coast.
I have friends from Ohio who make an annual trip
to the Southeast, and one of the highlights of
that trip is a visit to East Tennessee.
Also the
Sequatchie Valley is a special treat and need
the Calfkiller gauge to help predict streamflow
and water table levels in the surrounding area
is greatly needed. Without this resource ,
traveling to the area without predictable
streamflow would be almost impossible.
Needless to say, without these particular gauges
which we've used for years to know when the
Tellico River area creeks, and Sequatchie Valley
creeks are at a runnable level, many boaters
won't be making the drive up to the local
areas.
Beyond kayakers, however, there are other groups
that depend on these gauges too. The Tellico
watershed and Big Brush watershed is a popular
river fishing stream, and fisherman use the
gauge to know when safe levels exist for
fishing. I've also heard that the gauges are
used for warning people downstream of the gauge
about flooding.
I've heard from a USGS source that it costs
approximately $14,000 per year to maintain one
of these water gauges. Again, I don't have
specific data, but I have to believe that the
Tellico and Calfkiller gauge alone brings more
than $14,000 a year to the local area businesses
in the local areas. With that in mind, I
encourage you to consider funding the Tellico
and Calfkiller water gauges that are part of the
USGS system in the state of Tennessee.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name Here
FORM LETTER #
2
(This was written by a
lawyer and is a very well rounded written letter)
Thank you "Elkhunt"
from the AlabamaWhiteWater.com board
Dear Lt. Governor Ramsey:
It is my understanding that funding for water gauges maintained by the
United States Geological Survey are being considered for termination or are
already slated to be shut down. I am very familiar with balancing a budget
and appreciate what goes into making such a determination for certain
services or sectors to be cut. I have been actively engaged in the practice
of law since 1994 as managing partner of this law firm. We are primarily a
plaintiffs law firm but also represent several municipalities around the
state which are always trying to provide services to its citizens and
balance their budget too.
I have attached a link for an example of the stream flow gauges that I am
talking about:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?03518500
I know it may be difficult to understand what is the importance of a stream
flow gauge for someone located several hundred miles away in another state.
That particular gauge provides the level of the Tellico River near Tellico
Plains, TN., and the Calfkiller outside Dunlap, TN. Being an avid outdoor
enthusiast, this river gauge provides up to date information for many people
around the east and southeast that make frequent trips to certain rivers for
kayaking, canoeing, rafting and fishing. Many boaters and fisherman watch
the Tellico gauge to determine if we will load our gear on a holiday or a
Friday after work to drive to the Tellico River and the Sequatchie Valley to
paddle and/or fish. Lower water means fishing and higher water means
boating. There is a very large network of people from around the east and
southeast that depend on this gauge. The Tellico and Woodcock Creek are
major destinations for people from Mobile, Alabama to Richmond, Virginia to
Cleveland, Ohio. All of us outdoor enthusiast plan our trips to these
destinations using the gauges as a guide. People from various states will
make frequent trips to Tellico Plains from November to late May for boating
based on the stream flow. In September 2009 a group of fellow boaters from
the Montgomery, Memphis and Chattanooga areas were all planning an extended
boating weekend on two dam controlled rivers in Tennessee and North
Carolina. However within hours after leaving for our trip, we logged on and
checked the gauge of the Tellico River. Due to the flow, we changed our
plans and all of us boated the Tellico River which normally is not boatable
at that time of the year.
Traveling to the area without predictable stream flow would be almost
impossible for fishermen and boaters alike which spend thousands of dollars
and generate tax revenues in the local economies of the smaller towns in the
area. Without these particular gauges which we have used for years to know
when the Tellico River and its various area creeks and the Sequatchie Valley
Creeks are at runnable levels for boaters and fishable levels for fishermen,
most boaters and fishermen will not make the drive to the local areas.
Additionally, I understand that people downstream of the gauge use it as a
resource for warning them of impending flooding though their area may have
had a lesser rain event. I know it cost money to maintain these gauges and I
understand it can cost as much as $14,000.00 per year to do so. However, I
am sure the economic loss suffered by local businesses from loss of tourism
from boaters, fishermen and people visiting the area for its beauty will far
exceed the gauge expense.
I encourage you to consider funding the Tellico and Calfkiller water gauges
that are part of the USGS system in the State of Tennessee.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration in this matter.
FORM LETTER # 3
(This was another well
written by and is from Lisa of the T.V.C.C and
gets to the point why these gages are needed )
Dear __________:
1. I understand that funding for water gauges maintained by the United
States Geological Survey is
at risk. Clearly these are grim budgetary times,
and I can well appreciate the delicate balance that goes into weighing the
needs of a state and the resources available to meet those needs.
2. As an example of what I'm talking about, here's is a link to such a
gauge:_http://waterdata.
usgs.gov/ nwis/uv?03518500 _
(http://waterdata.
usgs.gov/ nwis/uv?03518500)
3. What does it matter? Why is it important? For me personally, those
particular gauges (see the link above) provide accurate water levels on both
the Tellico
River near Tellico Plains,
TN., and Calfkiller outside Dunlap
Tennessee. During the winter months, many whitewater
kayakers from the
SouthEast make frequent trips to the Tellico River and Sequatchie
Valley to
paddle. And we're not alone. The _Tellico_
(http://www.american
whitewater. org/content/ River_detail_ id_1791_) and _Woodcock Creek_
(http://www.waldensr
idgewhitewater. com/waldensridge /woodcockcreek. htm) are a major
destinations
for whitewater kayak enthusiasts on the East Coast. Many people outside
the Southeast travel to these watershed in March of each year to run these
beautiful rivers.
4. And run them safely. Novice and intermediate boaters rely on the
gauges to determine whether or not they should even attempt the run that
day;
personally I have refused many trips when the gauge notified me the water
was running above my skill level. This information is a huge component of
responsible recreational boating.
5. The Upper, Middle and Lower Tellico are among the most heavily used
free flowing streams in the Southeast.
6. The Sequatchie Valley runs are less known but technically
unparalleled. However, most are ungauged, therefore placing even more
importance on
the Calfkiller gauge since it's used to predict streamflow and water
table
levels on several nearby
creeks. Without this resource, traveling from
outside the area (Atlanta, Knoxville, Chattanooga,
Crossville, Charlotte,
Nashville, Ashville, etc.) to paddle a briefly runnable stream
becomes virtually
impossible.
7. Without these particular gauges, boaters simply won't be making the
drive to these watersheds.
8. Other groups will also be effected. The Tellico and Big Brush
watersheds are popular fishing streams, and fisherman also use the gauge to
know
when levels are safe. I also understand the gauges are also used by local
authorities and inhabitants to monitor flood conditions.
9. I understand that it costs approximately $14,000 per year to maintain
one of these water gauges. Without specific data, I have to believe that the
Tellico and Calfkiller gauges bring more than $14,000 a year to the local
area businesses. With that in mind, I encourage you to consider funding
the Tellico and Calfkiller water gauges that are part of the USGS system in
the state of Tennessee.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
your name
Tennessee Valley Canoe
Club
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