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Forum: BoaterTalk
Re: POLL :Setting up a Bank Account and PayPal account to help save the Calfkiller and Tellico gauges ditchbitch New
Date: Oct 01 2008, 14:26 GMT
From: cdd

	i think it's a bad idea to resort to direct boater funding of gauges at this point. firstly, there's no way that boaters could even raise enough money to pay for all the relevant gauges. secondly, this just encourages state agencies to look to boaters when funding is short. if boating access to a river was threatened, would it be smart to right off the bat suggest the establishment of a fee? the notion that they might cut off "100%" of funding is not plausible, that would eliminate all gauges. river gauges first protect public safety by protecting lives and property from flood damage, then managing shipping, water supplies, other forms of recreation, etc. the economic significance of boaters as a user group of gauges is low, we are way down the totem pole. although i don't live in TN it seems to me it is a state very prone to flooding, particularly because of its proximity to the gulf and huricanes. there's no chance that 100% of funding will be cut off by the state because the first time there was a major flood a bunch of politicians would be thrown out of office. similarly, in WV there is no way that boaters alone could have paid for all of the gauges we use, and then how about the rain gauges? creek boaters in the know use rain gauges first to decide where to head. could be pay for those too? it would make more economic sense for us to simply set up a web-site and have locals post river levels and rain totals. we could not and should not take direct financial responsibility for basic weather and hydrologic readings. its important for boaters to respond aggressively when gauges are threatened, although its a quaint idea that our efforts single-handedly save the gauge system in general, or even the gauges monitoring a large river-shed such as the head-waters of the cheat where there has been a history of catastrophic loss of life and property. i think you should take the cue from the persons you spoke to (who are first interested in protecting their jobs) and keep encouraging boaters to communicate their support for the program. direct funding by boaters should be a last resort approach, employed very selectively. direct funding sets a dangerous precedent, this is a slipperly slope we should step onto only as a last ditch measure.

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oh, i forgot, flame on! <NT> cdd New

There is no way a boaters will post water levels to a web site regularly rangerrob New

i get regular stream level and rain totals from friends by phone.... cdd New

<ignores cdd and post anyway> Here is the latest from USGS ditchbitch New

hope you succeed, i appreciate how important gauges are. cdd New

<ditchy swims by shiny bait and swims on> <NT> ditchbitch New

i only troll when i fish, and i use dark lures when the water's murky... cdd New

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