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Martinsville <br /> <br />A CITY WITHOUT LIMITS <br /> <br />April 26, 2005 <br /> <br />The Honorable <br />House Office Building <br /> <br />Washington, DC <br /> <br />Dcar <br /> <br /> The City of Martinsville has recently received requests from area sportsmen, environmental <br />groups and concerned citizens worth forwarding to you. They are asking that we urge our congressional <br />delegation to request funding to study changing Philpott Lake's power generation cycle and create a <br />better fishery in the Smith River. <br /> <br /> Unfortunately. President Bush's introduced 2006 budget does not include funds to match the <br />state's portion of the $2.5 million study. On behalf of the city and its residents. I urge you to make every <br />effort to add funding to the federal budget to cover this "Section 216" study by the U.S. Army Corps of <br />Engineers. <br /> <br /> The daily flow regime related to power generation at Philpott Lake - with the combination of <br />dramatically fluctuating temperature changes and scouring flows - creates a stressful environment for the <br />fish habitat. In order to correct the situation and change dam operations, the U.S. Army Corps of <br />Engineers must complete a "Section 216 study." Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. <br />Wilmington. N.C. and the Commonwealth of Virginia are cost sharing partners for the 216 study, which <br />has been in the "reconnaissance" phase, but the Corps needs $2.5 million to continue the three-year study. <br /> <br /> We believe this study will show significant benefits not only in growth of the fishery and use of the <br />Smith River as a continued and growing tourist attraction, but that slower flows and longer releases from <br />the Philpott Lake hydroelectric dam will allow the city's hydro plant to generate more electricity over <br />longer periods of time. <br /> <br /> On behalf of the City of Martinsville, I request that you make every effort to include a $1.25 million <br />appropriation in the 2006 budget. The total federal-state cost would be $2.5 million, and the state has <br />committed to providing its share. We hope we can count on the federal government to do the same. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Robe~R. Collins <br />City Manager <br /> <br /> <br />