February 2023 Governor’s Asian Carp Advisory Commission Meeting

Dear Congressman Burchett,

I am sending this email on behalf of Dr. Timothy Joseph, Chairman of the Watts Bar Ecology and Fishery Council (WBEFC).

Thank you,

Janice Moody

Secretary of WBEFC

Date:    February 18, 2023

To:        Congressman Tim Burchett

From:   Dr. Timothy Joseph, Chairman, Watts Bar Ecology and Fishery Council

Re:     February 2023 Governor’s Asian Carp Advisory Commission Meeting

Dear Congressman Burchett:

After watching the Governor’s Asian Carp Advisory Commission Meeting, one thing is quite clear. The Commission, TWRA, TFWC are only concerned with silver carp infested lakes. Not once during the meeting did, they even mention the silver carp free lakes in your jurisdiction, let alone even ask if they are worth protecting. Nearly the entire meeting was a discussion of commercial fishing to reduce population numbers in overrun lakes, how good the fish taste, and they even gave time to a vendor to talk about building liquid fertilizer plants as if this is an answer.

            Years ago, I gave expert testimony in Nashville on “Preventing” the silver carp from reaching the four-silver carp free lakes in the upper TN river basin. I explained how critical it is to follow the USFWS and MICRA guidance, and the recommendations of our nation’s foremost silver carp experts, Dr. Peter Sorensen and Jerry Rasmussen and put the first barriers “In Front” of them at Watts Bar Lock to prevent an annual billion dollar/year economic hit and prevent an ecological catastrophe, rather than behind them to reduce the number of silver carp entering already silver carp infested lakes. During the past three years I have written more than a dozen letters reconfirming that need and asking TWRA/TFWC why they are ignoring the USFWS and MICRA guidance. I have asked them to show me any research, studies, or science that shows barriers behind the carp will protect our lakes. TWRA/TFWC has only replied that they are following a USGS plan, even though I have explained that the plan was ONLY designed to address lowering the population of silver carp in infested lakes.

            TWRA/TFWC refuse to answer specific questions of WBEFC.  These answers are critical to the lives and livelihoods of our 700+ stakeholders; and tens of thousands of other impacted and concerned citizens.  TWRA/TFWC simply tell me they are taking care of the entire river basin, and that I am asking them to sacrifice the invaded lakes for the sake of our carp free lakes. This could not be further from the truth. I fully agree with the need to reduce population levels in infested lakes. But, if they can’t protect carp free lakes at the same time, then protection must come first, and mitigation second. However, they never even address how to best protect our carp free lakes.

            I met with you twice to discuss this, and you fully understood the biology/science of why our lakes will be destroyed if barriers are not placed in front of the silver carp. The WBEFC has no power, and the TWRA/TFWC continue to ignore our questions and/or give us meaningless replies. The WBEFC is asking you to question TWRA/TFWC and request that they answer our questions directly. They have been sent to them four different times. I will rephrase to only four questions. These are reasonable questions and requests. We ask that you have TWRA/TFWC answer them with specific detail, studies, and scientific information. Or we need   proof of an actual situation involving lakes where a plan like theirs (barriers downstream from carp infested lakes) has been successful at protecting uninvaded lakes located upstream when no barriers separate the carp infested lakes from the un-infested lakes.

  1. Will a barrier at Wilson Lock, behind the silver carp, prevent the silver carp from reaching the silver carp free lakes in the Upper basin? If so, please provide the science/studies that show this.
  2. The USFWS guidance (30-professionals), and MICRA guidance (50-professionals) state clearly that the first course of action must be to “Prevent” the invasive silver carp from entering new lakes. Why are TWRA/TFWC/Governor Lee’s Asian Carp Advisory Commission not following this guidance by recommending barriers in front of the carp? Please provide any studies showing why this guidance is not applicable to the Upper TN River Basin.
  3. Dr. Peter Sorensen is the foremost silver carp population modeler in the U.S. (his modeling studies are published), and Jerry Rasmussen, with more than 40-years of silver carp experience and the MICRA coordinator for 18 years, have both stated that a barrier at Watts Bar lock stands an “Excellent” chance of keeping the four upper lakes silver carp free. Does TWRA/TFWC disagree? If so, please explain and identify the experts and their education and experience.
  4. Mitigation is important but will not stop the silver carp moving into the carp free lakes.

Why has TWRA/TFWC or the Commission not prioritized prevention over mitigation?

Speaking for the 700+ WBEFC stakeholders and others, I thank you for your understanding and your effort to save Watts Bar, Melton Hill, Fort Loudon, and Tellico Lakes from economic and ecological devastation. I would be pleased to meet with you again on this and explain in detail what we face and why, should you wish.

We need your support if our lakes are to be saved.

Genuine Appreciation,

Dr. Tim Joseph