I spent approximately two hours last Friday with new GRDA CEO Dan Sullivan. This was my second meeting with him since his appointment and I’m very optimistic about his approach to lake management and dealing with the FERC. He will be a speaker at our meeting and I expect him to address a number of issues including the lake patrol, a Blue/Green Algae advisory system, the status of restoring the lake to a minimum level of 742’and some organizational changes which should improve access to the authority. We know he has been involved in meetings with FERC and the Corps of Engineers on the lake level issue as well as being instrumental in recruiting Oklahoma’s senior senator, Jim Inhofe into the process.
He has also discussed the possible formation of a citizen’s based group to provide Lake User input to the authority with respect to management practices and other concerns. He’s been a busy guy since taking over the helm of GRDA and should provide some much needed insight regarding lake management and the future direction of the Grand River Dam Authority.
Grand Lakers United Enterprise, GLUE, was formed in 2006, at the suggestion of State Representative Dr. Doug Cox, to represent moderate thinking Grand Lakers in the Shoreline Management Plan process dictated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It was the organization’s belief then and now that the silent majority of Grand Lakers should have a voice in decisions affecting the issues related to Grand Lake.
The organization was active in impacting the formulation of the language contained in the SMP, which was submitted to the federal bureaucracy over three years ago, and continues to work on issues relevant to Grand Lake like restoration of a minimum lake level, water quality, safety issues and serving as a liaison between lake users and the Grand River Dam Authority.
Joe Harwood and Cherokee are providing the pancakes for breakfast so the event might serve as a fund raiser and the possible recruitment of new members. Membership applications and other information will be made available to prospective new members, but with no arm twisting promised. No charge for admission, but the jar will be on the front desk. It would help, if you could e-mail reservations to this address if you plan on attending. Looking forward to seeing you there.
See Ya’Around the Pond!!
