Upper Yough Summer Releases Threatened !!

[PAC]

A lot of cboats hit this run so take a few minutes to act to give back & protect it.....

Info provided by Charlie Walbridge.
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Upper Yough Summer Releases Threatened !!

There's trouble on the Upper Yough, one of the finest expert whitewater runs in the country and one of the rare few with a predictable summer release schedule. The current permit for the Deep Creek Hydro Plant allows Brookfield Power to operate profitably while maintaining a desirable lake level, providing a healthy environment for trout, and allowing regular whitewater releases. All of this benefits the Town of Friendsville.

Recently a handful of property owners on the back coves of Deep Creek Lake have been agitating to raise the "lower rule band", the minimum level for the lake at a given time. Jess Whittemore, Friendsville Town Councilman, sums the threat up this way: "The Deep Creek Policy & Review Board plan will damage Friendsville's economy, do away with 70% of whitewater releases on drought years, and kill most of the trout in the Youghiogheny River."

We need your help to combat this plan! First, go to to the American Whitewater web site and read the editorial. The link: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... eid/31195/

Next, write the editor of the Garrett County Republican at newsroom@therepublicannews.com supporting their editorial.

Good letters to the editor are 300- 400 words focusing on your personal experience. If you travel to the Upper Yough from a distance, tell them how often and how much it means to you. If you are a Garrett County property owner, them how whitewater impacted your decision to buy real estate there! There's a sample letter here to give you ideas.

Next, send copies of your letter to these local officials:

George Edwards, Garrett County State Senator:
george.edwards@senate.state.md.us

Wendell Beitzel,, Garrett County State Representative: wendell.beitzel@house.state.md.us

Bob Gatto, Garrett County Commissioner:
bgatto@garrettcounty.org

Nicole Christian, Garret County Chamber of Commerce CEO: nicole@garrettchamber.com

Your letters will make an important difference!

Thanks!

Charlie Walbridge
American Whitewater Board Member
Bruceton Mills, WV

[Craig Smerda]

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... eid/31195/


Now THAT sucks AND it's stupid... I'll be doing some typing manana and I might only get there once every blue moon...

[FullGnarlzOC]

Yeah - I read about that earlier - we need to all get on that - need as much support as we can get. This is not something to be messed with...for a lot of people Friday, Saturday, Monday runs are a way of life in the summer - myself included - I would hate to see that significantly reduced.

Please take the time to send a letter in - it is worth the fight for anyone that HAS ever, or MAY ever, or DREAM about running the Upper Yough...

I'm gonna send two in for Tommy Hagg and Eddy McGnarlz.

[jatakasawa]

I just e-mailed a letter directly to the all of the senators, reps and commissioners mentioned above. If anyone wants a copy to use as an idea, just PM me. Let's take action, folks!

[PAC]

Update as to UY Release issue... Friendsville is truly paddler friendly.....

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... eid/31197/

Keep an eye on this one since many of the Deep Creek land owners that are applying pressure are connected to the DC (as in Washington) area.

[Craig Smerda]

... and don't forget to thank those that fought the good fight and won!

[BigNasty]

ditto on that! Thanks AWA, TU and all the others.

[gumpy]

hades yeah! Big thanks!