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Fishing Information
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Last week Congressman John Tanner, as well as representatives from other Tennessee and Kentucky legislators met at Reelfoot to discuss the spillway project. There were presentations made by Congressman Tanner, the Corps of Engineers, TWRA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and here's a summary of what was discussed. It is of no doubt to anyone that the spillway needs to be replaced and needs to be replaced soon. At this time, water is leaking under, around and through the present spillway and it's life span has almost reached it's end. The spillway is over 70 years old and reports as far back as the 1960's have indicated water leaking through and around it. It is estimated that the spillway has an estimated 5 years of life left and although this project started in 1982, there is still no definite time frame on when or even if congress will approve the funding for this project. It seems that a few interests in Kentucky still have veto power over the whole project and if congress does not approve the funding, the Corps and TWRA stated they do not have the funding available to finish it. Congressman Tanner indicated that there have not been any motions in the Senate or Congress since last year. In July the senate sub committee is going to meet and hopefully with the information provided this project can be approved. When it will be approved by Congress and when it could possibly start are not clear at this time. All that is clear is that it needs to be done as quickly as possible. The Corps of Engineers provided the most extensive study of this project. Their four recommendations for the project are to build a spillway, build a large sediment retention basin on the northeast end of the lake, to connect the major basins through circulation channels and to restore shelby lake. The new spillway will be comprised of 6 gates that are each 20 ft. wide. It will be automatically controlled and provide real time lake level management. It will maintain the lake at 283.2 in winter (1 foot above the present pool level) and 285.7 in summer (one half foot above the present pool level. The spillway project will also provide real time web information on lake stages, watershed rainfall, gate operation and a spillway camera. The sediment retention basin will provide real relief from the sediment entering Reelfoot Lake. This new project is centered around Reelfoot Creek, which accounts for 50-60% of the sediment entering Reelfoot according to their studies. By building a 288 acre sediment basin, the flow of sediment should be noticeably decreased over the years. Three circulation channels are proposed to be built that will cover 3.5 miles and provide better water flow and better oxygenation of the major basins. There are two controversial areas of this project. The draw down and it's effects and the land affected by raising the water levels. The draw down would be conducted between June and November and will draw the lake down between 3-4 feet. These draw downs have been performed in other lakes with great success and it has been estimated that the water can be returned to normal pool by February of the next year. The study also shows that only 187 acres will be affected at the winter level and only 400 acres at one half foot above winter pool ( an extreme case). In 1982 a legislative task force was formed to evaluate the Reelfoot Lake project and now, 19 years later, it still hasn't been approved. Reelfoot Lake is the largest natural lake in Tennessee and the largest wintering area for the Bald Eagle in the United States, as well as a natural marvel. But, something has to be done. In the words of Congressman Tanner, "If that spillway goes, you're going to be looking at a 12,000 acre mud puddle and all that we have discussed here will be for nothing."
Please support this project in any way possible. |
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