|
|
||
John W. Warner rapids bill moving along Date published: 9/23/2008
By RUSTY DENNEN The Rappahannock River is so beloved that even its rapids have names. There's about a dozen in all, including "Bob's Glasses," where local paddler, musician and conservationist Bob Gramann lost his specs one day while paddling. And there's "Brumble's Delight," honoring George Brumble, a local veterinarian who was instrumental in helping stop the Salem Dam proposed in the 1960s. Soon, Sen. John Warner will join the exclusive club. But while all the other rapids' names are unofficial, the John W. Warner Rapids would be proclaimed by an act of Congress. Senate Bill 3482, introduced by Warner's colleague, Sen. Joe Lieberman, was recently approved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb., is now headed to the full Senate. First District Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, is expected to introduce a companion bill in the House this week. If the bill passes as expected, the John W. Warner Rapids would be listed on U.S. Geological Survey maps and other official government publications. "We wanted to recognize Sen. Warner's contribution in removing the Embrey Dam and opening up that stretch of the Rappahannock," said Kirk Havens, president of the American Canoe Association, headquartered in Fredericksburg. The ACA, the nation's oldest and largest paddling organization, contacted Lieberman, the Connecticut independent, who agreed to sponsor the legislation. The stretch of rapids just upstream from where the Embrey Dam stood was unofficially named after Warner in July 2005 during a city celebration of the dam's demise. It appears as "Warner Rapids" in the Rappahannock River Water Trail Guide, put out by Friends of the Rappahannock. Warner was present in February 2004 when the dam was breached by an Army and Air Force demolition team. Within a year, the structure was demolished and the river ran free, with no manmade obstructions. The $10 million project, undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city, was expressly for reopening the river to spawning shad, herring and rockfish. An avid angler who has fished the river for smallmouth bass and shad, Warner personally endorsed the project, helping to secure funding, and shepherding it along.
Date published: 9/23/2008
It should be named for the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Wow, Congress got some work done! Nice accomplishment oh great leaders of ours. They spend so much time on renaming things like Post Offices that is sickening. I hope this helps the Senator's ego. How about we name the rapids "under 10" to represent the abyssmal, under 10% approval rating our "Leaders" have earned from thier constituents.
Yes, the Salem Church Dam was defeated since it was only a political football. With hydroelectric power you don't have a fuel surcharge but we love to burn stuff especially money!.So far as the Embrey Dam, those wanting its' removal never would admit there was a fish ladder in it allowing fish to go up stream nor do the same want to admit the silt from it is clogging the river. Wonder what the next bright idea will be?
It is close to Central Park shopping.
At least the Congress accomplished something this year. Go us.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
