| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
HOBOs Need Your Help
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Date:
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7/18/2007 4:19:47 PM
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In support of the local economies and the environmental concerns regarding the current and projected lake level, the HOBOs have just sent a letter to the following in Washington DC:
Senator Shelby
Senator Sessions
Congressman Bachus
Congressman Roger
Congressman Everett
Now we need your help, please email the following in support of the HOBO letter and in your own words please reiterate the HOBOs concerns as well as your concerns. I have contacted each office and asked for the email address of the person who would handle such requests and they are as follows, if you would like to call as well here are the telephone numbers also.
Use the Subject: Lake Martin Water Level
PLEASE HELP !!!!
Senator Shelby - senator@shelby.senate.gov
Senator Sessions - use web at :sessions.senate.gov/email/contact.cfm
Congressman Bachus - bachus@house.gov
Congressman Roger - Jennifer.Warren@mail.house.gov
Congressman Everett - Whitney.Verrett@mail.house.gov
Senator Shelby - (202) 224-5744
Senator Sessions - (202) 224-4124
Congressman Bachus - (202 )225-4921
Congressman Roger - (202) 225-3261
Congressman Everett - (202) 225-2901
Also you can review the HOBO letter below, but please do not just copy and paste our words as it is important that Washington hears everyones concerns.
URL: HOBO Letter to US Senators and Congressmen
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| Name: |
raysea
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| Subject: |
HOBOs Need Your Help
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Date:
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7/18/2007 4:51:07 PM
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Maverick,
Excellent letter! I have not as yet joined HOBO (I guess fearing that they were not serious about addressing the economic impact of the water level situation and were more into the environmental impact); however, I will be joining immediately. Great job and I hope we can at least get a sympathetic ear in the political realm.
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| Name: |
Blue Creeker
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| Subject: |
What's the enviromental...
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Date:
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7/18/2007 5:31:34 PM
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...impact of the water level where it is?
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| Name: |
8hcap
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| Subject: |
HOBOs Need Your Help
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Date:
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7/18/2007 5:34:01 PM
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Great letter Jesse - i have emailed th Gov and will contact teh others on your list.
8
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| Name: |
JIMMY
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| Subject: |
I have 2 questions.
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Date:
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7/18/2007 5:40:10 PM
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1. How are the low levels negatively affecting the shoreline erosion, isn't most of the usual shoreline many feet from the water? If there is a positive of the drought, it seems that the fact that there will be zero erosion of the usual shoreline. The shoreline that is being eroded now is actually the lake bed, isn't it? I'm not trying to be a smart@$$, I just don't see what you're talking about here.
2. Can I be a HOBO member even if I don't agree with the 485 winter drawdown proposal?
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| Name: |
AnchorbayDon
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| Subject: |
HOBOs Need Your Help
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Date:
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7/18/2007 5:44:10 PM
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Maverick,
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, not the Corps of Engineers, is the government body setting the rule curves and who has the authority over Alabama Power Company regarding Lake Martin.
The COE does have direct authority over the lakes and reservoirs in Georgia, but not those in Alabama. It does, also, control the lower Alabama River where our water goes toward Mobile Bay.
Another letter should be sent to the Senators and Reps asking for their intervention with FERC, in addition to the COE, regarding winter water levels and release schedules. My letter stating this will be faxed accordingly to all of the representatives.
AnchorBay Don
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
HOBOs Need Your Help
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Date:
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7/18/2007 5:52:21 PM
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Very impressive letter Mr. Cunningham, or whomever authored it. After reading that I have decided to join HOBO also and will encourage all my friends and neighbors to do the same. Even if they are just inactive members it will swell the enrollment roster. Politicians definitely understand numbers.
And Don, that is a great point about the FERC!! I missed that in the first reading but you are 100% accurate.
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| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
I have 2 questions.
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Date:
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7/18/2007 6:01:28 PM
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Jimmy:
Valid questions and the answer are:
1) Shoreline erosion is up for debate as there appears to be diff of opinions from Scientist on shoreline erosion. However, here is an article from the State of Maine Entitled "Water Level Management"
Do not forget - shoreline erosion not only caused by wakes, winds, etc. it is also caused by the freezing and thawing of the shoreline and from the water run off from rains. So like I stated this is up for debate by the scientists and I am not a scientist.
The URL is: http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/doclake/waterlevel.htm#nutrients
2) With regards to the member question the answer is yes, as we will all have diff of opinions. However, raising the water level has been the #1 response on our application forms.
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| Name: |
HOT ROD
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| Subject: |
I have 2 questions.
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Date:
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7/18/2007 6:10:30 PM
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answer to no.2-- NO, why would you want to belong to an organization that doesn't believe the same things you do anyway?
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
My question would be....
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Date:
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7/18/2007 6:21:26 PM
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... why would you be opposed to 485, UNLESS of course you controlled all of the deep water marinas on the lake.
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| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
Senator and Congress Fax #
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Date:
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7/18/2007 6:25:22 PM
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Seantor Shelby - 202-224-3416
Senator Sessions - 202-224-3149
Congressman Bachus - 202-225-2082
Congressman - Rogers - (202) 226-8485
Congressman - Everett - (202) 225-8913
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| Name: |
JIMMY
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| Subject: |
I have 2 questions.
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Date:
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7/18/2007 6:28:04 PM
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Looks like the HOBO organization is in favor of many of the things I believe, However, I like the 10 foot drawdown, for at least three reasons.
1) My family enjoys building a bonfire on the beach, especially on cool nights. But we can't do this until the level drops to about 483. So a level that never dropped below 485 would end a family tradition that spans many decades and at least four generations.
2) I like to take walks along the shoreline. Usually I can do this only in the winter, but a 485 limit will make this much harder to do.
3) I have a close friend who builds piers and docks. He almost always needs the water to be down at least 8 feet to do a proper job on the stationary piers, and sometimes he says that 8 feet is cutting it close, and 10 is much better. Since this is his job, this could be considered an economic concern, unless you're only concerned about your personal economics.
Thanks for the answer though, now I can save my money and put it towards something useful.
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| Name: |
JIMMY
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| Subject: |
I answered below.
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Date:
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7/18/2007 6:32:31 PM
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
I have 2 questions.
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Date:
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7/18/2007 6:51:48 PM
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Two of the three reasons you gave are 'personal' to you, so you must be only interested in your own self interest also. And the friend who builds piers, well all I can say is that piers get built in water everyday.
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| Name: |
Blue Creeker
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| Subject: |
Anyone?
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Date:
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7/18/2007 9:10:55 PM
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Anyone got an answer to my above question?
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
I'll take a SWAG at it.
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Date:
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7/18/2007 9:46:44 PM
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One issue for sure is the lower levels offer less dilution to any contaminants that may be in the lake.
I am not a scientist either, but I can see where there may be microbial or bacterial life that normally would be under water now after having been in a 'dormant stage' over the winter. Other wildlife that would normally use the cover of the banks for protection are more exposed this year. Fish habitats are not the same. Migratory birds don't have the same breeding grounds. I only had to shoot bottle rockets to run off geese one time this spring. The ducks didn't come in here to mate this year. The lakebed is growing grass that has never been there before. That may affect ecosystems next year.
Are any of these life threatening? Or even life changing? Certainly not, but maybe it gives you something ponder.
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| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
Thanks LTL - Been Busy
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Date:
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7/18/2007 9:59:24 PM
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Agree with all LTL comments and I am not a scientist as well, however from the research we have done in a short period of time water quality can also be effected by not have a constant flow though the lake, ie stagnant water. Best case scenario for a lakes ecosystem is to have constant inflow and outflow of water, that is a strong current to move the water and resupply oxygen to the ecosystem.
Again not a scientist or an expert, just from some quick research. Yes, I am sure the ecosystem will return to normal, but if the current trend continues and lets say the lake goes to 7-10 feet below normal winter levels that will not be the best case scenario for the ecosystem, fish habitats, water quality, wildlife or others environmental concerns.
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| Name: |
BigFoot
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| Subject: |
HOBOs Need Your Help
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Date:
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7/18/2007 10:06:25 PM
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Go HOBO's!! Great job on the letter and rounding up the pertinent names/addresses/ph. nos. etc...Thanks, Mav, Osms, and the others for your good work!
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
Bluecreeker
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Date:
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7/18/2007 11:41:10 PM
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To add to LTL's and Maverick's posts, one of the concerns is the introduction of fertilizer type chemicals from farms, lawns, and malfunctioning sewage treatment plants (Dadeville). You will begin to see algae blooms (green water) that rob the water of oxygen and can cause fish kills. We've already seen some algae in Sandy Creek.
Without adequate inflow and outflow, water stagnates and concentrations of chemicals and bacteria can cause fish kills, water grass kills, and can harm humans who swim in these waters. For example: off the coast of the Mississippi River delta in the Gulf of Mexico a Dead Zone develops every year about this time. This Dead Zone is directly caused by fertilizers that empty from the MS River, promote algae growth to the point that no fish can live in the area - thus the Dead Zone.
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| Name: |
Blue Creeker
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| Subject: |
Thanks all...
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Date:
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7/19/2007 12:35:07 AM
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...and I see and agree about flow.
I'm a freak about that when I am indoors.
I need moving air.
Again, thanks.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
I have 2 questions.
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Date:
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7/19/2007 8:50:53 AM
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Please reconsider joining HOBO. There isn't an organization in the world that every member agrees with everything 100% of the time. If HOBO represents you on a number of issues but you differ on one or two that's OK. I understand your reasons for not wanting the 485 drawdown and frankly many of the people (myself incuded) want the 485 mostly for personal reasons (although the current drought does represent some other legitimate concerns).
Forum posters: Please don't focus on what divides us and don't drive people away just because they don't agree with you. HOBO will be a stronger organization with more members even if there is not total agreement on all the issues.
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| Name: |
RidgeRider
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| Subject: |
thanks for doing that
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Date:
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7/19/2007 8:59:31 AM
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good letter and it's very much appreciated. One very minor point, the letter asks for Senator to "order" the COE to change policy. The Senator does not have that authority. The Senator can surely send letters to the Corps though and could potentially hold hearings on this. Leveraging our Senators and Congressional reps is a good way to go. If the group is persistent in this, it could raise the issues front and center and perhaps help us next year.
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| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
Thanks MartiniMan
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Date:
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7/19/2007 9:37:57 AM
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Very nicely worded and totally agree with your comments.
Been busy getting letters out to all the Local Mayors, County Commissioners, State Reps and Senators, Governor and several other.
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| Name: |
Uncle Sam
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| Subject: |
I am a member. However,
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Date:
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7/19/2007 9:45:57 AM
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I am already a member, and so far I agree with almost everything HOBO is fighting for. However, playing devil's advocate, I can see where someone might find the phrase "Remember, we want the winter level raised" divisive. Because "we" is inclusive, and if you don't agree with "us," you must be one of "them"-- not in the group.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
I am a member. However,
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Date:
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7/19/2007 2:27:36 PM
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I can see your point but my sense from the posts I have seen is that the vast majority of people are very concerned with the lake levels so its probably reasonable for a representative of HOBO to use the term "we", sort of in the "royal we" sense. I would guess there are any number of other issues that would justify the royal we even though not all members agree or view an issue as important. To the extent that HOBO doesn't pretend to have 100% concurrence on an issue but represents a majority view then I would hope the we would not taken as divisive.
Where individuals in an organization begin to pursue their own personal agendas without regard to the broader view of the members it is definitely divisive and we have to guard against that happening. That would constitute grasping defeat from the jaws of victory, something I seem to do all too often on the golf course (i.e., good drive followed by a second shot into the water....aaarrrgghh). I don't know why I had to remind myself about that frustration?!?!?
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| Name: |
augobbler
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| Subject: |
HOBOs Need Your Help
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Date:
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7/19/2007 10:21:19 PM
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Great Letter!
I have a few political connections in the right places. I will be joining the HOBOS tomorrow when I get to the office and can print and working my connections with a letter.
Thank you for getting this going!
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