Action Alert: Help Improve Fishing Access to the Okefenokee Swamp and Suwannee River.

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Help Improve Fishing Access to the Okefenokee Swamp and Suwannee River. You can take action on this alert by reading the information below and following the directions at the bottom. Send your message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that you support restoring the Suwannee and Okefenokee to its natural connection while assuring and securing long term access for fishing. Remember when you used to hunt or used to fish in those places that are no longer the same? Some of those places are not even there anymore…yet we remember “how it used to be.” Help bring back the good ‘ol days of great fishing access to the Suwannee River and Okefenokee Swamp. Send your message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that you support restoring the Suwannee and Okefenokee to its natural connection while assuring and securing long term access for fishing. Whether it is largemouth bass, catfish, warmouth perch, flyers or the occasional tackle thrashing mudfish (bowfin by some, grinner by others), the waters of the Okefenokee and Suwannee River are a fisherman’s paradise. Join fellow sportsmen in supporting efforts by the Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in creating good fishing and boating access for sportsmen. Some of us remember how it used to be in the Okefenokee when free flowing water from the swamp fed the Suwannee River. Rich, tannic stained waters provided sportsmen with boundless opportunities. That was until 50 years ago when the federal government thought it was doing the right thing to build a wall, technically a “sill”, to stop the natural sheet flow of water from Georgia’s “river of grass” which created the source of one of the South’s most notable rivers, the mighty Suwannee. The river still flowed, but things had changed, they were no longer as they “used to be”. Flowing in a SW direction across Florida to the Gulf of Mexico, the Suwannee has beckoned fishermen, paddlers, campers, hunters, historians and untold thousands to enjoy her waters. But 50 years ago that changed. The reason behind building yet another Federal project sounded reasonable at the time. The Sill, a 4.8 mile long earthen dam with two water control structures, was supposed to assist in suppressing wildfires. Unfortunately, it has not been effective. As recent as 2007, we have witnessed some of the largest wildfires in U.S. history impacting hundreds of thousands of acres. The sill did not, and will not, suppress these fires, only good land management practices coupled with the continued use of prescribed fire and public safety education can reduce future threats of wildfire. In 1998 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized the need to restore the natural hydrology of the Suwannee River and returning the Okefenokee to its historic and treasured wildlife landscape. As funding was not available to pursue and complete the restoration project, interim steps were taken to reduce the impacts of the sill, but this made access to the South Branch of the Suwannee River difficult. Now that funding is in place, there are plans to remove the two water control structures; excavate three breeches in the Sill to restore natural hydrology in the north section of the Sill; and improve recreational opportunities by providing safe, all-season/year round public vehicle and boating access to the Suwannee River. This will also improve passage from the Okefenokee into the Suwannee River for those who fish from small boats, canoes, and kayaks. A critical component of getting this project done is by demonstrating broad support for this project. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will soon be applying for permits for both the boat ramp and the three breeches. The permits can be quickly issued and work started this summer if the Corps of Engineers knows there is a broad base of support for this work. Help secure future access for quality fishing by telling the refuge manager you support this boating and sportsman access effort. Once securing these permits, work should start this June and hopefully be completed in 2011. Your message will be sent to each of the following targets: Mr. George Constantino A sample message appears below, which you may edit before sending. Please Pursue Permits for Safe Access to the Okefenokee and Suwannee River. Dear Mr. Constantino, As a Georgia sportsman, I support your efforts to provide year round, safe access to both the Okefenokee Swamp and the Suwannee River. Fishing is an outdoor tradition for me, my family and thousands of other Georgians .Your efforts to enhance fishing and recreational opportunities for thousands of Georgia fishermen and their families is much needed. Please pursue the necessary permits and begin the work needed to complete these improvements that will benefit Georgia sportsmen, our visiting anglers and other recreational users from across the Unite States. Sincerely, Your name and address here This Action Alert Campaign is Closed.

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