Whitfield demands alternative to dam blockades

Whitfield

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, (R-Hopkinsville, Ky.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power,  on Friday announced that he is demanding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to consider alternative options to permanent barrel blockades along the Cumberland River as a means to allowing conditional boating access to river tailwaters for sportsmen and recreational fishermen.

“Boating and fishing are longstanding pastimes for many people in Kentucky, which is why I’ve been sitting down and having conversations with the Army Corps of Engineers to seek alternatives to permanent blockades along Cumberland River dams,” said Whitfield.  “I will continue working with the Corps to come up with a reasonable solution to allow conditional boating access to river tailwaters for sportsmen and recreational fishermen, but considering the response that I have received from the Corps so far, I feel as though I have a responsibility to also pursue a legislative path.”

Since learning of the Corps of Engineers Nashville District’s decision to fully enforce restricted boating access along 10 Cumberland River dams, Whitfield has been in communication with officials from the USACE in an attempt to seek an alternative solution.

On Feb. 5, Rep. Whitfield met with Major Gen. Michael Walsh to further discuss restrictions and to urge USACE to re-examine the decision to permanently restrict boating access to the tailwaters. Also attending the meeting were U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) and U.S. Rep Jim Cooper (D-Nashville, Tenn.). During this meeting, the judge-executives Chris Lasher of Livingston County and Wade White of Lyon County and Rep. Whitfield offered a compromise to restrict the tailwater zone only at times when the dam is operating.

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom has also pled with the Corps leaders to reconsider the blockade. He said there are several commercial fishermen from the county that the measure could harm, as the tailwaters are some of the best fishing areas along the river.

Whitfield said he will continue working with the Corps, local residents, local officials and his colleagues in Congress to come up with alternative solutions to permanent barriers in the upcoming days and weeks. In the coming weeks, Rep. Whitfield intends to introduce legislation that would require a study of the consequences and benefits of a blockade of the tailwater fishing area.