Save the Tellico gauge with just an email

[backdraft]

If you ever paddle the Tellico in TN or you care about access to such guages please copy this form letter and send it to patrick.mcintyre@tn.gov, wsgain@usgs.gov,


I use this gauge often and this would really help me out. I have read that it only takes about twenty contacts on a particular issue for a politician to take note of it. It will only take a few seconds. Just fill in your name at the bottom where it says" your name here." If you paddle, or care to do so, please pass this on.





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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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