IRI is threatened please read

[Plug]

The following cover letter along with a petition is being distributed throughout area tackle shops and marinas. Please visit a tackle shop and sign the petition. In addition or if you are unable to, please contact your state senator and representative to voice your opposition.

Out of state individuals who would like to support this movement may do so by contacting the DE Govenor's office informing them that you spend your out of state tourist dollars in DE and are very concerned. Contact info will follow. This proposal is in its early stages but the time to kill it is now. And the best way to do it is by letting our elected officials know we are in opposition to the proposal.

PLEASE STAND WITH US IN OPPOSING THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC TURBINES AT INDIAN RIVER INLET

UEK Corporation of Annapolis, MD., and UEK-Delaware Limited Partnership proposes to place a series of bi-directional hydroturbines suspended in one of the prime striped bass habitats on the MidAtlantic, Indian River Inlet. In addition to striped bass, the abundance of weakfish, bluefish and flounder make the inlet a highly utilized and greatly treasured resource for recreational fishermen and others who appreciate its unique and beautiful characteristics. We fear the placement of turbines will greatly harm a tremendous natural recreational resource. A public hearing is scheduled for 7pm on Wed., Feb. 18 at Lord Baltimore Elementary School, Route 26, Ocean View, Delaware.

We urge you to sign this petition opposing installation of the turbines.

Our concerns are:

- It is unclear what effects the turbines may have on the unique fisheries resource that is the Indian River Inlet.

- Navigation of the inlet may be impeded. If not the main channel certainly areas utilized by recreational fishing.

- Access issues may very well arise despite any assurances to the contrary. We may lose prime fishing areas due to recreational use interfering with operation of the turbines.

We expect a fine and rosy picture will be painted at the public hearing and elsewhere wherein attempt will be made to dispel our concerns. The proposal will likely be accompanied by a persuasive sales pitch designed to convince that only good will result from the installation of the turbines. Remember, this will come from those whose overriding interest is the economic benefit of the proposed installation. Should our concerns or other detrimental effects of the turbines prove to be true after the installation it will be too late.

If we lose the tremendous fishery that we have in the Indian River Inlet we will bear the effects and they will not care.

CONCERNED CITIZENS OPPOSED TO THE ELECTRIC TURBINE INSTALLATION AT INDIAN RIVER INLET

Governors Office (it's a small state it will get noticed)

Mark Brainard
Chief of Staff
Phone: (302) 744-4111
E-mail: mark.brainard@state.de.us

Link to find your rep
http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsSenate?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/Legislature.nsf/Lookup/Sena teHome?open

[ 02-05-2004, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: Plug ]

[Fish Wish]

Thanks for putting that together Plug.

Anyone who has fished Indian River Inlet knows the limited fishing area available to the shore bound angler. There is no other place on earth quite like it.

This project would further reduce the area accessible to the shore bound angler as well as boat access.

We can't afford to let this project go forward without having a voice in the outcome.

It is of great importance that you contact one of the links and express your oppositoin to this project. Particularly if you've fished there. There is a huge out of state contingency whose voice must be added to those who treasure Indian River Inlet and oppose this project.

[HaysWalt]

Plug- did a search on google and got UEK's web site: http://uekus.com/index.html

This looks like a think tank and I can find NO indication that they've ever built such an installation. Lots of technical papers etc., but no hard plants that I can find from their web site. However, just in case, I sent off an e mail.

Walt

[AI4WD]

Everyone that fishes or wishes to fish IR needs to wake up on this one! This will destroy any fishing in IRI especially pier or surf fishing. Do you think that they will allow any fishing near thease turbines....Think about it, 3 to 10 ounce sinkers flowing thru a bladed turbine is not a good thing. ALso, how many thousands of fish will be inhaled by these pieces of crap!

I know what a turbine in the Resovoirs does to fish, it minces them into little chum bits. NOT A GOOD THING! In Austin TX there are several Hydro Dams . WHen they start up the landlocked stripers can hear them and race up the river to eat the chum that the baitfish chewed up by the turbines produce! It is so predictable, that the folks that fish there will wait until the turbines start up to even cast a bait.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. But the ECO NUTS will think its as great as a 20 square mile wind farm. WHen it has been proven that they are worthless also. Not including how much damage they will do to the natural habitat of the sea bottom.

WE Need to FIGHT THIS ! Please, support the condemnation of such a project!

Hooks up,
Forrest

[Plug]

Walt,
IRI would be a great place for them to try. No tidal bore like it so close to Annapolis.

[JAG]

I'm up in the air about this issue!
I am entirely in favor of alternative energy sources that do not depelete our natural reserves or have the potential for mass destruction and pollution... ie..solar, wind, geothermal, tidal bore.

We have lost alot of access along the IRI shores already and I fear that with the renovations at the marina and state park and the new bridge, access to both the north and south jetties are going to be limited futher.

If they can erect these turbines across the inlet where they have already eliminated shore access, I might not mind.

I'm just wondering what it will do to all the boat traffic and the inlet drift fishing?

This issue is somewhat similiar to the offshore windmills that are still in the planning.

[Fish Wish]

From a purely selfish perspective, in so far as it would leave the Inlet untouched, I would favor the alternative windmill project. Windmills beyond the three mile mark would provide a clean source of energy, structure to hold fish and not negatively impact the 'natural' state of IRI.

[Tomasas]

At first they said it's gonna be 18 turbines... now it's 56 in their project...


this ain't happening!

[Plug]

56!!!!!!



Can you imagine 56 of those things in the inlet?!?

[Plug]

It will take a huge amount of ground tackle to keep that thing squared up and stable in IRI's deep, fast water. You won't be able to drift a BT within 100' of the things.

[Tomasas]

Originally posted by Plug:
It will take a huge amount of ground tackle to keep that thing squared up and stable in IRI's deep, fast water.

You're right about that ... even the bridge pilings couldn't survive it...

[Murf the Surf]

If they do this, they need to give us a new inlet between Dewey Beach and Old Inlet B&T..Murf

[HaysWalt]

I just got done talking to a couple of guys in the Chat Room who are very concerned about this. Perhaps we should take a better look at this project. Any ideas on how to best stifle this thing?

Walt
AKA- King of Links-

[Plug]

It is serious Walt. Some people including some politicos REALLY want to do this.

But there is some serious opposition arising also.

[HaysWalt]

Originally posted by Plug:

But there is some serious opposition arising also.

As well there should be.

Walt