American Rivers Alert
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American Rivers Alert |
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AMRIVERS Alert: Help Save Clear Creek
Clear Creek was listed by American Rivers as one of the most endangered rivers of 2000 because of a proposal that would destroy one of Houston's last remaining bayous. See
http://www.amrivers.org/endanger.html
Write to local and state and urge them to reject development of Clear Creek's floodplain and instead promote a non-structural flood control plan.
To take action other Most Endangered Rivers of 2000, visit
http://www.actionnetwork.org/home.tcl?domain=AMRIVERS
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB: If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this alert by going to the following URL:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=541618A6391B955378475C15019
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program, and edit the letter below as you wish. If your email program does not have a "reply to sender" option, you can copy and paste the letter below into a new email message and mail it to
alert-response-541618A6391B955378475C15019@actionnetwork.org.
You must include the whole letter in your response including "-YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW-" and "-END OF LETTER-".
Please do not add your name and address to your letter. Action Network automatically does this for you. We STRONGLY encourage you to make edits directly to our sample letter below, and put the alert talking points into your own words. An individualized letter is worth ten computer generated letters. Of course, hundreds of unedited letters will still create a large impact, so please reply even if you don't have time to personalize the letter.
Your letter will be addressed and sent to: Judge Robert Eckels Congressman Nicholas Lampson
-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------
I am writing to urge you to protect Clear Creek, one of Houston's last remaining bayous. Instead of pursuing the Army Corps of Engineers proposal to deepen and widen the river, I urge you to seek a non-structural alternative that will provide a much greater level of flood protection and protect this important and valuable resource.
The health of Clear Creek and its floodplain is very important to the region. The river and its floodplain support a wide variety of river wildlife, protect communities during periods of high water by storing and slowly releasing floodwaters, improve water quality, prevent erosion, and create new opportunities for fishing, boating, and other types of recreation and nature-based tourism.
The Corps' $122 million project would destroy this treasure in order to contain only a 10-year flood. More than 50 homes would continue to be threatened by flooding after the project is completed. In addition, the Corps' study underestimates the impacts of the project during high tides and storm surges on homes around Clear Lake. Harris County's proposal to spend $115 million on an alternative channelization project does feature a smaller channel, but would still destroy 190 acres of forests and wetlands.
Both projects would destroy the ecological value and natural beauty of Clear Creek and much of its floodplain for a small amount of flood protection. The natural functions the floodplain currently performs would disappear. Important wildlife habitat, such as tidal pools that nourish speckled trout, red fish, flounder shrimp and blue crabs would be lost.
Instead, county and municipal officials should work with the Corps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify and relocate repeatedly flooded homes and businesses and to reform zoning laws to direct new development away from flood-prone areas. Acquiring approximately 400 homes in Clear Creek's 100-year floodplain would provide a much greater level of flood protection, cost only $60 million, and protect Clear Creek's natural resources.
-------END OF LETTER-------------------------
You can take action on this alert either by email or preferably on the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=541618A6392B955378558C11158.
Here's what this alert is about: > HELP SAVE CLEAR CREEK -- PART II ---------------------
Clear Creek was listed by American Rivers as one of the most endangered rivers of 2000 because of a proposal that would destroy one of Houston's last remaining bayous. See
http://www.amrivers.org/endanger.html
Write your Members of Congress and the Clinton Administration and urge them to continue to refom national flood control policies to promote non-structural alternatives.
To take action other Most Endangered Rivers of 2000, visit
http://www.actionnetwork.org/home.tcl?domain=AMRIVERS
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB: If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this alert by going to the following URL:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=541618A6392B955378558C11158
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program, and edit the letter below as you wish. If your email program does not have a "reply to sender" option, you can copy and paste the letter below into a new email message and mail it to
alert-response-541618A6392B955378558C11158@actionnetwork.org.
You must include the whole letter in your response including "-YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW-" and "-END OF LETTER-". Please do not add your name and address to your letter. Action Network automatically does this for you.
We STRONGLY encourage you to make edits directly to our sample letter below, and put the alert talking points into your own words. An individualized letter is worth ten computer generated letters. Of course, hundreds of unedited letters will still create a large impact, so please reply even if you don't have time to personalize the letter.
Your letter will be addressed and sent to: Senator Phil Gramm
Senator
Kay Hutchison
Representative Nick Lampson
President William Clinton
Vice President Al Gore
-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------
I am writing to urge you to reform national flood control policies to promote non-structural flood control alternatives like relocation and land acquisition. In particular, I urge the Administration and Congress to reform Corps planning guidance to empahsize the benefits of non-structural projects - such as flood storage, improved water quality, wildlife habitat, and opportunities for recreation.
My immediate concern focuses on the situation on Clear Creek, one of Houston's last remaining bayous, which is threatened by a $122 million Army Corps of Engineers proposal to deepen and widen the river. Instead, area officials should pursue a non-structural alternative that will provide a much greater level of flood protection and protect this important and valuable resource.
Like many other rivers, Clear Creek's floodplain performs many valuable functions for our nation's communities. The rivers and its floodplains support a wide variety of river wildlife, protect communities during periods of high water by storing and slowly releasing floodwaters, improve water quality, prevent erosion, and create new opportunities for fishing, boating, and other types of recreation and nature- based tourism.
The Corps' $122 million project would destroy this treasure in order to contain only a 10-year flood. More than 50 homes would continue to be threatened by flooding after the project is completed. In addition, the Corps' study underestimates the impacts of the project during high tides and storm surges on homes around Clear Lake. Both projects would destroy the ecological value and natural beauty of Clear Creek and much of its floodplain for a small amount of flood protection.
I urge you to work support and promote innovative programs such as Challenge 21, a new Corps relocation program created by Congress in 1999. More than 20,000 flooded homes have been relocated nationally since the Great Flood of 1993.
-------END OF LETTER-------------------------