The Army Corp of Engineers recently embraced a policy thateither reduces or eliminates entirely, whitewater flows on some of New England‘s most popular early season runs. This new method of calculating seasonal runofftotally eliminates the historical releases that boaters have been getting forthe last 25-40 years.
Most notably, the Corps has reduced the spring West River releases from 1,500 to 1,000 cfs, a level that will be problematic for many upper noviceand intermediate boaters. They have also eliminated one day of the fallreleases on the West this year. Theyhave also reduced or cancelled traditional releases on the Millers, Blackwater, and Setucket Rivers.
But today– they are releasing 2,200+ on the west but intendto actually release less than average inflow on the spring release days.
Help American Whitewater, New England FLOW, the MVP, and the AMC to fight thispolicy. The Corps intends to limit or negate boater participation in anydecision they make regarding whitewater recreation at their projects.
Contact the corps now by voicing your displeasure at this decision. Email your letter at once to the two corpsstaffers identified below. We alsorecommend you send a courtesy copy to you congressman.
We need your help now. If the corps succeeds this will be the forerunner to apolicy that will affect all of their projects throughout the nation.
Submit a letter to the Army Corps staffers.
Sample Letter
Date: [Insert Date]
Richard C. Carlson
Bruce Williams
U. S.Army Corps of Engineers
696 Virginia Road
Concord, Massachusetts 01742
By Email: Richard.C.Carlson@usace.army.mil
Bruce.Williams@usace.army.mil
RE: Loss ofRecreation opportunities
Mr. Richard C. Carlson Dear Mr. Carlson:
I am writing to express my concern over the recent Corpsdecision to inhibit, restrict, or otherwise eliminate entirely, scheduledwhitewater releases from Corps dams on rivers throughout New England.Specifically I am referring to the Millers River in central Massachusetts,the Blackwater in southern New Hampshire, the Setucket Riverin Connecticut, and the West River in southern Vermont.This action by the Corps has the practical effect of eliminating water-basedrecreation at the above facilities and clearly is not in keeping with the Corpsresponsibility to promote recreation at its facilities. I request theserecreational flows be reinstated immediately and the USACE work with AmericanWhitewater, the Appalachian Mountain Club, New England FLOW, and many othersmaller boating organizations throughout New England whorepresent their members on these recreational opportunities each year. Theserecreational releases create an important revenue stream into the rural areasthat host these releases, and now these economic opportunities will also belost, causing hardship to those residents who depend on this income eachboating season.
Please revoke the Corps decision to reduce whitewaterboating opportunities, especially on the West River in Jamaica,Vermont. Reverse this baddecision at once.
Sincerely
[Insert your name and address]
CC: Representative [Insert Name]
Senator [Insert Name]
