Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) announced new plans on Wednesday for his legislation to prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from restricting access to the tailwaters near Cumberland River Dams.
The language was included as part of the recently unveiled Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013.
“This legislation is the result of the Corps’ failure to listen to the people of Kentucky on an issue that impacts our livelihoods, way of life and local economy of western Kentucky,” Whitfield, the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, said.
The Corps announced in 2012 that it was finalizing plans to restrict boat access to hazardous waters directly upstream and downstream of all hydroelectric power plant facilities along the Cumberland River and its tributaries. Congress approved a two-year moratorium on the plans in June that was spearheaded by Whitfield.
“While I am pleased we were able to enact a two year delay on the Corps’ plan to restrict access to fishing, I am now focused on enacting a permanent solution to stop the Corps’ overreach,” Whitefield said.
Whitefield also added other provisions to WWRDA, including an increase in authorization for the Paducah Flood Wall project. He also inserted funding tools for inland waterways, small ports and harbor maintenance and dredging.