Commerce Cabinet
Feb. 15 Newsletter on Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam

Friends of Lake Cumberland –

GOVERNOR FLETCHER TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING IN BURKESVILLE

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Ernie Fletcher and members of his staff will visit Burkesville on Friday for a town hall meeting to discuss ­­issues concerning Wolf Creek Dam.  The meeting will be at 4:45 p.m. Central time at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, 213 Upper River Street, Burkesville.  During the meeting, Governor Fletcher and members of his staff will answer questions from the audience regarding concerns with Wolf Creek Dam. The public is invited to attend and participate.

GOVERNOR FLETCHER HIRES ON SITE COORDINATOR

Governor Ernie Fletcher has hired Hilda Legg as the point person to head up the state’s efforts regarding the Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam situation. She will be based out of Somerset, with an exact office location to be determined. She starts March 1. Contact info will be available soon.

She will be the Interagency Liaison for state government, working with local governments, agencies and organizations. Ms. Legg has worked for The President of the United States during three different administrations.

Complete press release below, at the end of this newsletter.

FALSE RUMORS ABOUT 650’ – THE CORPS RESPONDS

Many of you have heard misleading stories in the media talking about Lake Cumberland being lowered to 650’. In response to those media stories, below is an e-mail from the Army Corps of Engineers out of Nashville on this topic:

Just wanted to make sure you understand that we (The Army Corps of Engineers) have no plans to lower the lake below El. 680 at this time.

WEEKLY UPDATE FROM THE CORPS

Below is a link to the “Weekly Update” put out by The Corps regarding the grouting project:

Trout Stockings Moved Up

The fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is stocking trout early because of concerns about trout production being hampered at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery due to the drawdown of Lake Cumberland.

REMINDER:

LETTER FROM THE TOURISM COMMISSIONER

RAMP CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO THE CORPS:

Usable
The following are Corps operated and Commercial Marina boat ramps that we believe will be usable at elevation 680 (* these ramps will be monitored closely; conditions are subject to change as the elevation lowers):

ITEMS OF INTEREST

http://lakecumberland.com/

Army Corps of Engineers Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam web page. http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/pao/issues/WOLcommo/

If you want to monitor the level here is the website: http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/hh/resplots/wol_a.html

The Corps’ Manager's office home page:

http://www.orn.usace.army.mil/pao/lakeinfo/WOL.htm

On the Net: Corps Nashville District:

DEVELOPMENTS

Corps of Engineers Public Meeting Schedule

Details on Kentucky Meeting about Wolf Creek Dam

NEWS ARTICLES

GOVERNOR FLETCHER APPOINTS LIAISON
FOR WOLF CREEK PROJECT

Hilda Legg’s experience makes her perfect fit for job

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Ernie Fletcher has tapped a career public servant as his administration’s liaison to local communities and citizens affected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Wolf Creek Dam repair project.

Hilda Legg, a resident of Somerset and former federal government administrator, was appointed as the Executive Director of Interagency Services for the Lake Cumberland Region. This office was established by Governor Fletcher in response to the challenges in the region resulting from the Corps of Engineers’ repairs to the Wolf Creek Dam and the lowering of the water level at Lake Cumberland. Legg’s office will be located in Somerset and will serve to link affected citizens and communities of the Lake Cumberland region with state government offices that can provide assistance and information.

“Hilda has had a career of public service from the local to the federal level of government and has been involved with projects and programs that affect the everyday lives of many citizens,” said Governor Fletcher. “She has the experience necessary for the important task of working with the local governments and community leaders to lessen the impacts of the Wolf Creek Dam project. She is the ideal person to fill this important role.”

Legg said she appreciates the opportunity to serve her fellow Kentuckians. “The effects of the Wolf Creek Dam project on communities are extremely challenging. My efforts will be aimed at coordinating and communicating with various government agencies to ensure that accurate and pertinent information is conveyed to the numerous entities involved.”

Legg, a native of Adair County, was appointed by President Bush as administrator of the Rural Utilities Service for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., a position she served in from 2001 to 2005. The $9 billion agency administers loans and grants for the infrastructure needs of rural Americans through electric, water, environmental and telecommunications programs.

She also served as the Executive Director and CEO of the Center for Rural Development, a national model for economic development in rural areas.

Trout Stockings Moved Up

The fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is stocking trout early because of concerns about trout production being hampered at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery due to the drawdown of Lake Cumberland.

            “This is strictly a precautionary measure,” said Benjy Kinman, director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We anticipate water quality and water quantity issues due to the drawdown of Lake Cumberland. We want anglers to enjoy these fish instead of potentially losing them at the hatchery.”

The hatchery draws its water from the dam at Lake Cumberland. Because the lake is being maintained 43 feet below normal summer pool this year while repairs are being made to Wolf Creek Dam, the volume of water going into the hatchery has been reduced significantly. Spring trout stockings have been advanced two months to help ensure the health of the trout remaining in the hatchery.

            Over 286,000 rainbow trout and 67,000 brown trout will be stocked by the end of March. Fisheries officials will stock roughly 112,000 trout this week in Laurel River Lake, followed by stockings of 20,000 trout in the Cumberland River next week.

            “These two stockings will significantly reduce the total number of trout currently held at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery,” Buynak said. “The Laurel River Lake stockings are normally scheduled stockings, but the Cumberland River stockings are what we normally stock in the month of April.”

            To help reduce pounds of trout in the hatchery, officials plan to begin stocking trout that are one inch smaller than normal. This reduction in size will not be noticed until April and the numbers of trout stocked will not change.

COLUMN/LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM TOURISM COMMISSIONER RANDY FIVEASH

When you’re faced with a problem, you have to deal with the problem immediately while at the same time finding a longer-term solution. That’s what the Lake Cumberland hospitality industry is doing, and we in the Kentucky Department of Tourism are committed to do our part.

The immediate issue we’re attacking is dispelling myths. As you well know, there is plenty of water now, and there will still be plenty of water when the drawdown is complete. Lake Cumberland will still have more than 35 thousand acres of water, maintaining a place as one of the largest lakes in Kentucky.

To combat this myth, we are putting together an aggressive marketing plan, including radio, television and print ads, Web updates and other promotional efforts. We also are providing constant updates to the news media and to members of the local hospitality industry in the form of a regular newsletter, available online to everyone under “News” at www.commerce.ky.gov.

Also right now, the Fletcher Administration is working to get boat ramps extended, water levels consistent and constantly updated information flowing from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Kentucky Congressional delegation is working diligently to ensure that federal assistance is approved quickly.

For the longer term, the most important thing we can do right now is to listen. We have to listen to the issues that the local hospitality industry brings to us. That’s why we have been meeting – and will continue to meet – often with local tourism representatives and with anyone else who has issues or ideas that can be implemented. The marketing plans that are being developed right now will be revised and updated as we learn more about the problems and opportunities that arise in the coming months. 

Let me be clear. Lake Cumberland is a top priority of the Fletcher Administration. Every single day, we are reviewing options that will dispel myths and increase tourism for the area. While the situation with the dam will be an inconvenience for the local hospitality industry, we want to ensure that the average visitor will not notice a huge difference and will still have a great experience at Lake Cumberland.

Make this the year that you invite your family and friends to visit you here at Lake Cumberland. Plan your own family vacation, reunion, church trip or convention right here. Tell everyone you know how wonderful this area is to live, work and play.

Tourism in this region accounts for more than  $150 million annually. The outstanding tourism and recreation assets of the lake region are not going away, and this is the message we all need to emphasize forcefully in the months ahead. I can assure you that your county tourism representatives are working diligently to keep those tourism dollars flowing in. And I can promise you that we in Frankfort will continue to do everything we can to ensure Lake Cumberland’s success. As always, thanks for your support.

Title: Bid for ramp extensions to be opened next week
Date: 02/14/2007
Source: Commonwealth Journal
Writer: BILL MARDIS
Lead:

Bids will be received and opened Tuesday to extend 10 landlocked boat ramps into the low water of Lake Cumberland.

Article:

Bids will be received and opened Tuesday to extend 10 landlocked boat ramps into the low water of Lake Cumberland.

Craig Shoe, resource manager for the lake, said 16 contractors attended a meeting yesterday with Corps officials to discuss extending the ramps. The contractors received specifications on which the bids will be based, he indicated.

“There was a tremendous amount of interest,” said Shoe. The bids will be evaluated after the proposals are opened Tuesday and “ ... we hope to be letting contracts really soon,” he remarked.

Shoe said last week that potential bidders have been told that “... if you can’t go to work soon, don’t bid.”

Bids are being received on only the 10 ramps that the Corps is authorized to extend. These include marinas and Corps-operated ramps.

Shoe said he doesn’t want to mention specific ramps involved in the project “ ... because we might not be able to do all of them.” He said as soon as contracts are awarded the individual ramps will be made public.

The ramps are out of the water because Lake Cumberland has been lowered 43 feet below the tree line to relieve pressure on Wolf Creek Dam. The giant structure that impounds Lake Cumberland is leaking and has been classified as a “high risk” of failure.

Ramps that the Corps is trying to improve do not include state, county or private boat-launching areas. Pulaski Fiscal Court moved yesterday to extend county-operated ramps and state government has pledged assistance to extend state-operated facilities.

END