Hydrilla and the Roseberry Rescue Group

Hydrilla, the culprit of choking the lake. TVA refuses to meet its legal responsibilities of River and Lake Stewardship in controlling this aquatic nuisance species.

Hydrilla in the back end of Dry Creek in December of 2008. The Roseberry Rescue Group proposes to control the hydrilla and milfoil from approximately 1/4 mile south of the Randall's Chapel Bridge on Hwy. 35 to Roseberry Creek entrance on the Tennessee River.

Hydrilla choking a cove off to native aquatic species. In areas such as this, there are very few fish present.

Alabama Representative Jeff McLaughlin, Democrat, Marshall County, Chairman of the Tennessee River Caucus has met with the TVA in a closed door session in Guntersville recently over TVA's control of Aquatic Nuisance Plant Species . (Ms. Sadie Bias, Chairman of the Jackson County Commission is to his left. This picture was taken during the press conference held in Scottsboro City Hall on the aquatic weed issue. During the press conference it was stated by State Rep. John Robinson, Democrat Jackson County, that he had heard Agent Orange was going to be brought in to control the weeds.")

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Last night the Roseberry Rescue group made a public presentation at the Council for Aging facility concerning the aquatic nuisance plants in Roseberry and Dry Creek. There was a full house, standing room only. Mayor Potter and Councilman Smith were present along with County commissioner Jack Allen. There might have been others but I did not see them. There were no representatives present from the Alabama Department of Conservation, ADEM or the TVA at last nights meeting.

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The mission statement of the group was expressed as follows: "Encourage the TVA to meet their legal and moral obligations to stake holders. Supplement TVA work to eliminate exotic, nuisance species of aquatic plants." Roseberry Rescue Group is a 501 (c), not for profit organization. The organization of concerned citizens spokesman, retired Judge Wallace Haralson, stated the group was formed as a result of TVA's recent statements concerning aquatic plant control. The TVA has recently stated they will only control nuisance aquatic plants around public boat docks and keep the navigation channels open. They will not control the nuisance plants around private boat docks and areas of private or commercial concern. (Unfortunately, the TVA is once again displaying its negligence and deceit as they are not keeping secondary navigation channels in tributaries open. They are not meeting their stewardship responsibilities.)

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It was reported recently that TVA had offered matching funds to assist in any aquatic nuisance species control project. This was stated to be unacceptable by State Representative Jeff McLaughlin of Marshall County in a recent closed door meeting with the TVA in Guntersville. Mr. McLaughlin is the Chairman of the Tennessee River Caucus of the Alabama House of Representatives.

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It has been estimated the control project will cost approximately $200,000. Judge Haralson has approached the Jackson County Commission and requested $60,000 and the City of Scottsboro's request was for $90,000. Judge Haralson also commented that the Jackson County Legislative Delegation would be requested to provide funds for this project.

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It was reported that area fisherman and guides had been consulted in this project.

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Mr. Terry Goldsby, previous TVA contractor for this area for aquatic plant control, and Mr. Craig Smith, Aquatic Products Manager, spoke concerning the application procedures and testing during application. It was reported that 5-20 parts per billion, ppb, was the desired application level to control weeds. Mr. Goldsby stated that the procedure would not harm other aquatic flora and fauna. He further stated this is a very controlled application and not all areas of the Roseberry and Dry Creek area would be treated. Apparently TVA does not use the product, Fluidone, which will be utilized for the Roseberry Creek control project. Fluridone is not effective in bodies of moving water nor will it be utilized on broad scope application for this project.

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Dr. Joe Cooney spoke concerning mosquito control and aquatic plants. Dr. Cooney is retired from the TVA as an Entomologist. He stated the control of the nuisance species would have a positive result in controlling the mosquito population in the lake area of treatment.

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Information was presented concerning lakeside home owner tax contributions. It was stated that lake shore home owners pay 10 times more property taxes than others. Also stated, lakeside property owners "deserve" the contributions by the city ($90K) and county ($60K)governments for aquatic plant control as they had paid their taxes year after year and pay more taxes than others. One citizen did not agree with their philosophy on the groups deserving the contributions from local government. The citizen spoke during the question and answer session, stating that, "we need jobs in Scottsboro before aquatic plant control." The concerned citizen stated $150,000 would go along way to bring jobs to Jackson County.

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I asked a question concerning permissions from the TVA, ADEM, and Alabama Department of Conservation. It was reported by Mr. Goldsby that no permits or permissions are required. This is contradictory to literature found concerning the Safe Drinking Water Act. In order to comply with this Federal Law a discharge permit is required as stated in the act. Citizens of Jackson County and the City of Scottsboro have not heard any comment from the Alabama Department of Conservation, ADEM concerning this proposed project. I hope our local governmental leadership checks with these agencies to determine if there is a problem. Judge Haralson commented that Ms. Sue Robertson of the TVA stated to him that no controls/permits are required or necessary.

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The TVA is slated to make a final decision as to Aquatic Nuisance Plant control by the end of this month.