this is a transcript of the T.V. show "Reservoir Project" from Louisiana Public Broadcasting's website.
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SWI 2910
04-Nov-05
Reservoir Project
>>:STATE BOND COMMISION HAS DRAWN FIRE FROM EDITORIAL
WRITERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THE RESULT OF A
DECISION IT MADE 2 WEEKS AGO. IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE
THE FINANCING PANEL AGREED TO REDIRECT 45 MILLION
DOLLARS IN CONSTRUCTION SPENDING FROM HURRICANE
RAVAGED AREAS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. CRITICS
SAY THE MOVE TOLLS THE REST OF THE NATION LOUISIANA
CAN'T GET ITS POST STORM PRIORITIES IN ORDER. OVER 3
MILLION OF THE FUNDS WILL PAY FOR LANDING AND
COMPLETION OF RESERVOIR PROJECTS, PROJECTS THAT HAD
ALREADY HAD PLENTY OF TURBULENCE OF THEIR OWN. IT'S
A PEACEFUL WEEKDAY MORNING ON POVERTY POINT
RESERVOIR, ALL IS QUIET IN PREPARATION FOR THE
WEEKEND CROWD THAT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE
BENEFITS OF THIS MAN-MADE LAKE. 4,000 ACRES OF UNDER
USED FLOODED FARM LAND THAT SUPPORTERS SAY WILL SPARK
AN ECONOMIC REVIVAL FOR THE IMPOVERISHED DELTA
REGION. WHY IS THE LEGISLATOR WHO SHEPHARDED THIS
PROJECT THROUGH 30 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT SO UPSET.
>>:HUM BUG.
>>:WHY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE IN THE FLORIDA
PARISHES IS THIS FAMILY FIGHTING A FIERCE BATTLE TO
PROTECT THEIR ANCESTRAL HOME.
>>:IT IS TERRIBLE. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO CRY NOW BUT
I AM NOT. I HAVEN'T BEEN CRYING. BUT IT IS ENOUGH
TO MAKE YOU CRY.
>>:WELCOME TO THE EMOTIONAL AND OFTEN COMPLEX WORLD
OF RESERVOIR BUILDING IN LOUISIANA. JUST ASK
ENGINEER TERRY DEN MAN WHAT HE THINKS OF IT ALL.
>>:I AM RATHER AMAZED AT THE AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION
THAT'S OUT THERE, YOU KNOW. APPARENTLY WE WILL HAVE
TO GO IN THE P R BUSINESS JUST TO FURNISH FACTUAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS.
>>:IT ALL DID BEGIN WITH POVERTY POINT NOW PARTIALLY
A STATE PARK AND PARTLY A DEVELOPMENT FOR HIGH END
HOMES, RESERVOIR HAS COST THE STATE 40 MILLION
DOLLARS IN PLANNING, PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTION
COSTS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS. DELHI REPRESENTATIVE
FRANCIS THOMPSON MANAGED TO SELL LAWMAKERS AND
SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS ON THE VALUE OF THE PROJECT
AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL. IT HAS SPARKED
OTHER LEGISLATORS TO REQUEST MAN-MADE LAKES OF THEIR
OWN IN 14 OTHER LOCATIONS ACROSS LOUISIANA.
>>:LOUISIANA HAS MORE THAN 150 NATURAL LAKES. IT
SHARES WITH TEXAS AT TOLEDO BEND THE 4TH LARGEST
MAN-MADE LAKE IN THE NATION. THE STATE IS ALSO FED
BY AT LEAST 5 MAJOR SYSTEM AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
MILES OF BAYOUS CREEKS AND STREAMS.
>>:THE STATE'S BEING WASHED AWAY AND WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT FLOODING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN
INTERIOR. IT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WE HAVE 150
NATURAL LAKES, 30 MAN-MADE LAKES. AND WE GOT 15
LAKES ON THE BOOKS TO BE CREATED NOW. IT DON'T MAKE
ANY SENSE.
>>:RESIDENT JAMES MOORE HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CRITIC
OF THE MOVEMENT. SO FAR HE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL
FIGHTING A LAKE THAT WOULD FLOOD THE LAND NEAR HIS
HOME AND TAKE SOME OF HIS FAMILY'S PROPERTY.
>>:THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A
LAKE THEY COULD GO FISHING AT THAT WOULD BE CLOSER
BUT WE CAN BE TO ANY LAKE IN 30 MINUTES FROM WHERE WE
ARE AT. WE CAN BE TO TOLEDO BEND IN AN HOUR.
>>:PROJECTS ARE SOLD AS SOURCES OF POTABLE WATER AND
WHILE POVERTY POINT IS GEARED TO PROVIDE THAT NO
DRINKING WATER HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM HERE.
>>:OUR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL DRINKING WATER IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN A SHORT TIME LINE, YOU
KNOW. FROM ALL THE NEWS THAT YOU SEE, YOU KNOW,
GROUND WATER IS BECOMING SCARCE ALL OVER LOUISIANA
AND ESPECIALLY ALL OVER NORTH LOUISIANA BUT ALL OVER
LOTS OF PARTS OF SOUTH LOUISIANA TOO. IT WILL TAKE
SOME PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE RUN SHORT OF SUPPLY
OF WATER THEY HAVE NOW AND THERE HAS TO BE AN
ALTERNATE SUPPLY OF WATER AVAILABLE TO THEM AT THAT
TIME.
>>:IN WASHINGTON PARISH WHERE THERE WAS WIDESPREAD
DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE KATRINA RESIDENTS IN THE OAK
GROVE COMMUNITY ARE FIGHTING A PLANNED RESERVOIR THAT
WILL SPAN OVER 3000 ACRES. THE AREA INVOLVED
INCLUDES MORE THAN A DOZEN HOMES AND 7 CEMETERIES.
THE PATENTS WHOSE FAMILY HAS OWNED LAND IN THE
RESERVOIR'S FOOTPRINT FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS ARE
FIGHTING MAD.
>>:THINK OF HOW MUCH, HOW MANY REPAIRS AND HOW MANY
HOMES COULD HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH THAT AND FIXED UP.
WE NEED THAT MONEY IN THIS PARISH TO REBUILD THIS
PARISH, NOT TO MAKE IT GLORIFIED MUDHOLE.
>>:IT IS UNFAIR TO THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE PUT LOVED
ONES HERE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TURMOIL AND GRIEF
OF SEEING THEIR FAMILIES DUG UP SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
WATER SKI, FISH AND JUST GO BOATING FOR PLEASURE OVER
WHERE THEY PLACED THEIR LOVED ONES FOR BURIAL.
>>:BOGALUSA SENATOR BEN NEVERS A SUPPORTER OF THE
PROJECT SAYS KATRINA DID TEACH A LESSON AND IT WAS
ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT RESERVOIRS ARE.
>>:IF WE USE LEVEE SYSTEM IN NEW ORLEANS AS AN
EXAMPLE, IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO
25 OR 30 YEARS AGO TO PROTECT THAT CITY LIKE WE
SHOULD HAVE, THE DISASTER WE FACE TODAY WOULD HAVE
BEEN VERY SMALL IN COMPARISON. I WILL SAY TO YOU
THAT IF IN FACT WE DO NOT PROTECT THE IN LOUISIANA
FOR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY WE WILL FIND OUR SELF IN A
WORSE SITUATION BECAUSE WITHOUT WATER NOTHING LIVES.
>>:NEVERS SAYS HE WILL WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON THE
PATH THE RESERVOIR WILL TAKE.
>>:WOULD I THINK EVERY PART OF THE STATE NEEDS LAKES
AND RESERVOIRS? NOT NECESSARILY. BUT THAT OUGHT TO
BE A DECISION OF THE PEOPLE OF THOSE AREAS. AND THEY
HAVE TO PRIORITIZE WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THEIR
AREA,. FOR OUR AREA, THAT WAS THE BEST THING I COULD
DO.
>>:REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF
ADVICE FOR OTHER LEGISLATORS WANTING LAKE PROJECTS.
HE HAS ALSO INTRODUCED SOME OF THE BILLS THAT WOULD
ALLOW SOME OF THOSE PLANS TO MOVE AHEAD. HE IS UNDER
FIRE FOR ANOTHER REASON, HIS BROTHER MIKE IS A
CONSULTANT TO SEVERAL OF THE PENDING PROPOSALS AND
TERRY BEN MAN CAN ALSO BE FOUND AS THE ENGINEER FOR
THESE PROJECTS.
>>:I THINK WE HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH
MR. THOMPSON'S A LEGISLATOR, BROTHER'S OUT PROMOTING
LAKES AND HE IS WRITING TO LEGISLATION TO CREATE
THEM. THEN HIS FRIEND TERRY DEN MAN IS BUILDING
THEM. I THINK WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE OLD STYLE
LOUISIANA POLITICS THERE THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH
CRONYISM GOING ON.
>>:I THINK THAT'S A TERRIBLE MISCONCEPTION FOR HIM.
>>:MIKE THOMPSON SAYS EXPERTISE IN RESERVOIR
CONSTRUCTION QUALIFIES HIM FOR THE JOB WITHOUT HIS
BROTHER'S HELP.
>>:OBVIOUSLY FRANCIS HAS HIS JOB AS A RESERVOIR AND
HE EFFECTS RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE. HE HAS NEVER
BEEN IN MY BUSINESS. WE DON'T DISCUSS IT MUCH EITHER
BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN LIVES.
>>:NEVER, NEVER HAVE I BEEN OUT PROMOTING HIM. HE IS
QUALIFIED TO PROMOTE HIS OWN ENDEAVORS AND HIS OWN
INTERESTS. BUT THAT IS PROBABLY BEEN SOME OF THE
PROBLEM THERE. THE PERCEPTION THAT EXTENDS BEYOND
HIS EFFORTS. BUT I CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO PROVE
ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT I HAVE SAID THAT ABSOLUTELY
NOT AM I INVOLVED IN ANY OTHER ACTIVITY PROMOTING IT
OR OTHERWISE. SO IT IS NOT A PORT BARREL PROJECT.
ONLY BY THOSE THAT HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT CLOSELY,
LOOKED AT THE INVESTMENT, LOOKED AT THE WORTH OF THE
PROJECT NOW.
>>:THEY MUST HAVE A HORRIBLE FEELING IN THEIR HEART
TO DO THIS TO PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T OF DONE ANYTHING TO
THEM.
>>:THE SIERRA CLUB HAS JOINED OPPOSITION. SPOKES
WOMAN LESLIE MARKS POINTS OUT THERE HAS BEEN NO STUDY
TO SEE WHERE AND WHY RESERVOIRS ARE BEING BUILT.
>>:ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING THE STATE
DO A STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT POTABLE WATER WE DO
NEED. WE WOULD NOT BE AGAINST RESERVOIRS IF WE
REALLY NEED THEM FOR DRINKING WATER AND IF WE WERE
ABLE TO FILL THEM WITH AN UNDERSTANDING TO THE
ENVIRONMENT, NOT FLOODING PEOPLE'S HOMES OR
CEMETERIES AS WE ARE STANDING IN A CEMETERY HERE. WE
COULD SUPPORT THAT IF THERE WAS DATA THERE THAT
SUPPORTED THE FACT THAT LOUISIANA NEEDS DRINKING
WATER.
>>:AS FAR AS THE STATE, AS FAR AS I CAN FIGURE OUT ON
WHAT THE LAW SAYS NOW, THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
THEY GET NO REVENUES OUT OF IT. I CAN'T SEE WHY THEY
NEED IT. YET THEY'RE FINANCING. THE STATE DOES.
>>:IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE
NEEDS SO WE CAN THE LEVEES BACK SO WE CAN REBUILD AND
REVITALIZE THE WHOLE COAST BUT NEW ORLEANS MORE
SPECIFICALLY. WE WILL HAVE TO REALLY DO HARD WORK
AND PLAN WELL. HOW DO WE DO THIS? DO WE TAKE A
POVERTY POINT RESERVOIR WHICH IS A PRISTINE PART IN A
PRISTINE AREA THAT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL AND NOT FINISH
THE PROJECT? HOW FOOLISH WOULD THAT BE?
>>:IF YOU ARE THIRSTY FOR CONTROVERSY THERE IS PLENTY
TO DRINK HERE. BOTH SIDES ARE DIGGING IN AND THAT'S
NOT FOR THE GROUND BREAKING OF THE NEXT RESERVOIR IN
LOUISIANA.
>>:TO THINK ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE 50 MILLION
GALLONS OF POTABLE WATER A DAY TO THE CITIZENS IN
THAT AREA AND FOR THEM TO BENEFIT FROM THAT ABILITY
IS MIND BOGGLING.
>>:WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL THE POLITICIANS?
>>:WELL ALL I CAN SAY IS THEY HAVE A RECKONING DAY
COMING.
>>:THE RESERVOIR PLANNING HAS ALSO CREATED CONCERN
WITHIN THE STATE'S TIMBER INDUSTRY. MOST OF THE
LAKES ARE BEING BUILT ON AGRICULTURAL OR FORESTED
LAND AND LIKE SIERRA CLUB LOUISIANA FORESTRY
ASSOCIATION SAYS THERE SHOULD BE A COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY TO SEE IF THE MAN-MADE LAKES ARE NEEDED.
>>:CONSULTANT MIKE THOMPSON SAYS HE DOES NOT THINK
ALL THE RESERVOIRS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED WILL BE
BUILT.====
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