.png)
GUEST OPINION
We are writing to express our pressing and serious concerns regarding the refill of Lake Pend Oreille this spring, this summer, and in upcoming years. The economy of our waterfront community rises and falls with the level of the lake and impacts every business and person. While we enjoy both passive and active recreational opportunities all year round, the summer season is what we depend on and what sustains our economy through slow times.
While we certainly understand that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needs to exercise a high degree of caution regarding the spillway gate defect now being studied, our greater concern is the impact these lower-than-normal lake levels will have on the communities that surround the lake. Our hope is to help foster interest from the public on this issue and send that feedback to the Governor of Idaho, the Idaho Attorney General, and all elected officials tasked with representing the people of Idaho, the economy of Idaho, and holding the federal government accountable to the laws they promised to uphold when Albeni Falls Dam was built.
The Corps of Engineers, and specifically local staff at Albeni Falls Dam, have kindly held stakeholder meetings and are sending out regular updates, however the facts presented demonstrate this is a long-term situation and those facts don’t alleviate the impacts we are experiencing now or the potential impacts to come, which include the inability to plan and predict from month to month and year to year.
As residents of this beautiful and remarkable place, we know from firsthand experience that maintaining high water quality and quantity in our lakes, rivers and streams is paramount to the overall health of Bonner County and Idaho.
We would ask that you contact our governmental representatives including Governor Brad Little, Attorney General Raul Labrador, Senator Mike Crapo, Senator James Risch, Congressman Mike Simpson and Congressman Russ Fulcher, and let them know your specific concerns. See below for contact information for these and other key representatives.
NOTE: The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is holding a public meeting Thurs May 30th at 6 p.m. at the Ponderay Event Center. They have recently provided a virtual option, at www.nws.usace.army.mil, under the Media drop down menu, News Releases. Please plan to attend if you can.
Governmental Contacts
Governor Little U.S. Senator Mike Crapo U.S. Senator James Risch Attorney General Raul Labrador Email: [email protected] Telephone: 208-334-2400
Congressman Russ Fulcher Email: fulcher.house.gov/email-me Telephone: (208) 667-0127 Congressman Mike Simpson Email: simpson.house.gov/contact/ Telephone: 208-334-1953 Rep Sage Dixon
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 208-610-4800 Senator Scott Herndon
Email: [email protected] [email protected] Telephone: 208-610-2680 Rep Mark Sauter
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 208-332-1035 Email: gov.idaho.gov/contact/contact-us/ Telephone: 208-334-2100 Email: /www.crapo.senate.gov/contact/email-me Telephone: 208-664-5493 Email: www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email Telephone: 208-667-6130
