You can imagine what devastation these farmers are facing from this exceptional drought preceded by a very late freeze. The already weakened trees and crops died early in the drought. Many second plantings are totally dead.

The ‘official’ rain gauge in Manchester, TN read 0.1” of rain in the past 45 days on the 15th day of October. Coupled with record breaking heat, very few agriculture commodities are profiting.

 No pastures mean farmers are selling their stock to market sooner at a loss. It’s cheaper to do this than to feed hay that is approaching $7-8 dollars a bale-if you can find it at all.

This estimated $750 million dollar lost will have broad rippling effects. People who transport and broker commodities, harvest them, and raise them will see job losses. These job losses will spin into yet another level of loss, for dining establishments, gas stations and recreational venues. These establishments once frequented by people with disposable income will have no clientele.

That $750 million dollars in lost income would have put close to $75 million in the state’s coffers.  This is without taking into account the rippling effects of that money providing additional tax revenue as it makes its way down the money pyramid.

Duck River

I attended a meeting in Shelbyville today hosted by The Duck River Agency. Also in attendance were Rep. Curt Cobb and many other officials from agencies that include the TVA, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Geological Survey, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, The Nature Conservancy and several others. 

We met to come up with a current assessment of where the situation is now and what we need to do to mitigate it as much as possible as quickly as possible.  Just this Monday the Environmental Assessment (EA), (35 pages) has finally triggered the authorization to reduce the cubic feet per second of water released from the Reservoir in Normandy into the Duck River. 

The traditional (and current) flow is about 155cuft sec.  The new EA, which was codified in record time by the various state and federal agencies, allows us to drop the rate of discharge to 120 cuft sec.   We all agreed another EA must be completed as soon as possible that will pave the way for a further reduction, perhaps as low as 80 cuft sec.  The sooner we can do this the better, as we’re losing 70+ million gallons of water a day at the current rate.  It is anticipated we might hit a Dec. 1, 2007 goal to get this second part approved and implemented.  

There was no real objection to doing it immediately…which could save us several weeks of water in a real crunch, should it arise.  However, because of concern for mussels and other species that live in the Duck River this process will take some time.

  There is absolutely no danger that this process creates, that I am aware of, that will begin killing off species anytime soon…or for months to come.  I believe humans are more important than mussels and other species in the Duck and I will make every effort to ensure that the human population is protected and safe.

The Normandy lake level is currently at 856.5 feet. That means we are in a moderate shortage and we need to pay close attention and do the type of due diligence in advance that is needed if further reductions are warranted. When the reservoir reaches 850 feet, we can perhaps expect some mandatory water restrictions.

When the lake hits 844 feet, more than likely we will have some emergency water restrictions. Without significant rainfall this fall and winter it is possible to see some emergency restrictions.

Our goal is to make the best plan possible by combining the best heads in their respective fields and doing all we can to divert any public health issue.  We can do it and still feed our livestock, operate our businesses and remain healthy-we just have to do it a little less. 

Keep in mind, the people in my district are going dry slowly, but some towns are OUT of water and Atlanta, GA is 90 days away from no water.  Can you imagine an economic engine like Atlanta shuddering?  The ripple effects of that one would be incalculable.

I will keep you posted on what is happening with this issue.  I know TVA gets accused quite often of being a lumbering bureaucracy, but they have gotten my district through the worse drought we have recorded so far, and we still have a lot of headroom.  Someone at TVA has been vigilant in making sure we have water, and obviously keeping enough in reserve to ride out the drought relatively comfortable so far.

By the way, it’s raining right now.