March 19, 2024

Answer to House Government Oversight Committee

The recent open letter to Clarke County Reservoir Commission must be some sort of joke, but it is not even close to being funny. It is absurd.

First, it is clear the writer of the letter to the reservoir commission is convinced the only reason for the lake is recreation. It has always been for drinking water.

When the lake was being proposed in the 1990s, the only way to apply for federal help was to plan a lake that would meet two of the three criteria, namely drinking water source, flood control or recreation.

Flood control was not a viable consideration. Therefore, drinking water and recreation were the basis for asking for federal assistance.

When the federal money dried up, the recreational portion of the plan was dropped. There the House committee gets its information is a mystery. The plan has always been to develop a drinking water source.

In Aug. 2006, I saw the bottom of the spillway and the bottom of the lake. We had a one month supply of water. Since then, we have had exceptional rains and have had adequate water. But, we need to be prepared.

Planning for the future is what this is all about. We do not want to be standing on the edge of an empty lake and wishing we had an option.

Second, the options have been studied.

A pipeline from Des Moines or Lake Rathbun would cost $70-80 million. We would be dependent on those supplies. If we were in a drought, so would they. If would cost twice as much as a lake and no be reliable.

The Jordan Aquifer is another option. That would be a deep well and the water is terrible. Ask the citizens of Leon if they would like to drink the water they used to. It would require reverse osmosis to make the water useable, a cost of $80 million and much more to keep it running.

That is, if we could use the Jordan as a source. It is now heavily regulated.

Recycling was also considered, but the DNR said that it would not consider it. Dredging the present lake would not increase its capacity significantly and would only stir up the chemicals that are now entombed in the lake bed.

Third, eminent domain has always been a concern. We all respect personal property. No property would be taken without compensation. The people who are involved need to be dealt with in a swift and adequate manner, not have the process drawn out for several years.

What are we to do? The need to develop an adequate water source remains. We could invite the oversight committee to visit our community and become informed, rather than being inflammatory.

They could help us plan for the future. We are not the only community that has this problem. They could recognize that laws need to apply to all, not just one county.

We can remain resolved that we will continue to work for a future for our community despite their actions.