Posted on February 16, 2019
Augusta,Ga (WJBF) – Corp of Engineer officials were giving the Savannah the once over gauging the impacts of the draw down, in the end saying there were no surprises.
“We’re seeing about exactly what we expected to see our models predicted there would be shallow areas and in those areas they are shallow, and in some areas that will be showing mud. and those areas are showing mud,” said Russell Wicke U.S Army Corp of Engineers Spokesman
But Many are not taking the shallow areas and mud flats as well. not wanting to live with this water level in the future.
“This would require some pretty significant mitigation some dredging out of docks maybe extensions getting use to things looking a little different,” said Tonya Bonitatibus the Savannah Riverkeeper.
That’s not what the Augusta Commission has in mind it’s passed a resolution in December in opposing to the Corps plan in favor of fixing up the old dam and building a fish ladder an option referred to as 1-1
But the corps the law requires the most cost effective plan to selected.
“That plan that you are referring to 1-1 and that plan almost costs double of what it costs to constructed the current recommended plan,” said Wicke.
The Corp’s says a 30 day public comment period will begin Friday where the local governments and concern citizens can make suggestions to alter the corps plan.
“If things are not brought forth as issues during this 30 day time period legally they don’t have to be considered after that so it crucially important that all of the issues be brought to the table as factually as possible and as much detail as possible so we can try to make a better solution,” says Bonitatibus.
Corp of Engineers officials also dismissed suggestions to increase the size of the fixed wear as a way to increase water levels saying a higher one would create flooding issues,
The corp says there will be a public hearing March 6th where the citizens can weigh in on the plan the location of that is stil being worked out.
Source: wjbf.com
