GLUE Report for 11-3-2011

The resistance to the FERC seems to be gaining steam nationally as more and more lakes are being discovered with similar problems. We’re fortunate the real battle is being fought on the shores of Lake of the Ozarks and in Washington. By now, most are aware the Missouri legislative delegation has taken a proactive role with the introduction of FERC targeted bills in both the house and senate. For a longer version of recent events, my column and a press release can be found at Grand Lake News Online by following these links: http://grandlakenewsonline.com/index136.htm and http://grandlakenewsonline.com/missouri-legislators-leading-the-way-in-fighting-ferc-p1291-89.htm.

I also did a radio interview with a Saturday morning radio show at Lake of the Ozarks hosted by former Grand Lake radio guy Bob May. The interview features my comments related to Grand Lake, but also contains audio segments with Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who filed the FERC legislation in the House and U.S. Senator Roy Blunt who did likewise in the Senate. The link to that interview is http://grandlakenewsonline.com/index161.htm.

The following have not been reported publicly as of yet:

1) We’re told by our new Virginia friends from Smith Mountain Lake that Missouri’s Senator Blunt is a big dog in appropriation process. They say he is lining up support in the Senate to cut the FERC’s funding related to the development and enforcement of shoreline management plans. Sounds too good to be true, but this would be huge.

2) I met yesterday with Inhofe Field Rep Michael Lee and Boren Field Rep Peggy McGehee, at their request, for a Grand Lake update. They have, unbeknownst to me, been holding meetings with other stakeholder groups and have what they believe is a consensus on the lake level issue. The key is the changing of the lowest level of the lake to 742’ as opposed to 743’. They hope to get letters of support from the other stakeholder groups and GLUE, which would be forwarded to the FERC with a requested rule curve change. The climate just might be right to get ‘r done.

3) We also discussed the support of the Oklahoma delegation for the pending FERC legislation mentioned above. The wheels are turning to get this done. Congressman Tom Cole is on board and there should be more to follow soon. Your letters asking for their support would be huge. One influential Grand Laker was in Washington this week and had a meeting with Senator Inhofe. He was armed with all the information required to bring our senior senator into the fold.

4) Visited with The Tulsa World yesterday and although we got some beforehand coverage on our trip to Washington, they seem to be taking a wait and see attitude. Seems as though until we really are threatened right here in Oklahoma, but we’ll keep working on them.

5) This morning Mike Williams and I will be recording an interview with Brian Ruth on this issue to be broadcast on Grand Lake Live this Friday night. Brian has allocated us an hour to discuss this issue and our trip in detail and how Grand Lakers can get involved.

We’ll keep you posted.

Cheers from Grays Hollow