I just got off the phone with a VERY NICE man who works for the USGS and his name was posted on the USGS site , and he is very helpful. His name was Scott Gain of the USGS Tennessee Water Science Center
He is trying to work for everyone’s interest .The Tellico River and Calfkiller Gauges are on the chopping block , and were suppose to be already turned off. They are under the radar until noticed by his management. If you haven’t heard of the Calfkiller it feeds the virtual gauges of the Sequatchie Valley runs of Tennessee.
Here is the problem, due to the Tennessee Budget problems they are cutting gauges.
Each gauge takes $14000 to maintain and run…so in turn $7000 a year for each gauge is needed. Private parties can raise the money, but the money HAS to come from a state or local agency in Tennessee. Money can raised , and then donated to a local /state agency.
Also next year more gauges are on the chopping block.( I have a list being e-mailed to me)
I need to note Mr.Gain was more than helpful. So I asked bluntly..”do emails help in this situtation?” “His answer was that legislators and local agencies need to know….it helps”
I also asked “Have you been getting a lot of emails?” “No I haven’t” was Mr. Cain’s response.
So WE NEED TO SEND EMAILS OUT.
Also Mr. Cain was kind enough to e-mail me and here is his response.
Also noted, this is a dry e-mail he is a very nice helpful person and is wanting to help, the reasoning I am mentioning this , after the Headwaters fight, some may think “they are out to get us” this isn’t the case , and we need to get going. There are some out there that want to help.
Mark,
We appreciate your interest in the streamgaging program in Tennessee. I
am sorry to say that we may have little recourse but to discontinue this
gage if we fail to find a new partner to share the cost in the near
future. Budget shortfalls in Tennessee State government this year have
forced the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to cut
support for streamgaging by 50% in the current budget cycle and perhaps by
as much as 100% next year. These cuts may ultimately result in the loss
of as many as 26 streamgages across the State of Tennessee. This is not
something that the USGS or the State of Tennessee wants to see happen.
Unfortunately, the USGS cooperative streamgaging program requires by law
that at least 50% of the cost of each of our gages be provided by a state
or local governmental match. In coming months, we in the USGS will
continue to work with our state and local partners to find new support for
this and other gages in Tennessee. In the meantime, you can contribute to
this effort by helping others to understand the value of streamgaging
information in Tennessee and by indicating your support for those State
programs that help to provide it.
Sincerely,
W. Scott Gain
Director, USGS Tennessee Water Science Center
US Geological Survey
640 Grassmere Park, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 837-4701
cell (615) 347-9894 |
Tellico and Calfkiller gauge update. New 
BoaterTalk 
