20030179 Ver 6_Public Notice Comments_20071018 (4)

Lets keep the ball rolling please
Subject: Lets keep the ball rolling please
From: William Jones <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:04:39 -0700 (PDT)
To: [e-mail]
In the fall of 2003, American Whitewater signed a robust and comprehensive settlement agreement
with Duke Power and dozens of other stakeholders that calls for the removal of Dillsboro Dam, and a
suite of other environmental and recreational mitigation measures. We fully anticipated a timely
licensing by the FERC in early 2006, and anxiously prepared to implement the settlement agreement.
Thus far however, FERC has not accepted the license surrender for Dillsboro Dam or issued the
licenses for the other projects. The delay has resulted in an annual license and the delay of valuable
recreational mitigation that our members are anxious to take part in.
Right now, Whitewater paddlers should be putting the finishing touches on a trail into the beautiful
High Falls of the Tuckasegee, and gearing up to use that trail to access the West Fork of the
Tuckasegee on the first recreational releases on this dewatered gem. They should be working with
local stakeholders to prepare for recreational releases on the Upper Nantahala. This spring, multiple
river sections should be benefiting from restored flows, with more aquatic organisms breeding with
more success than they have in decades. Dillsboro Dam should be on the way out, soon to reconnect
dozens of miles of aquatic habitat. None of this is happening. Procedural delays have very real impacts
on the ground, and on the rivers.
Please promptly take whatever steps are necessary to usher in the removal of Dillsboro Dam and the
licensing of the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Projects as requested in the comprehensive settlement
agreement filed by Duke Power and signed by American Whitewater and dozens of other groups. I
would greatly appreciate movement on these very important projects.
Sincerely,
William T. Jones
Waynesville, NC
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