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Obama Calls on Forest Service Chief to Examine Big Muddy Levee

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today sent the following letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Gail Kimball after learning that land owned by the Forest Service may be contributing to slides at the Big Muddy Levee in Grand Tower, Illinois. Recently, Obama's Senate staff toured the site to assess the damage attributed to high water levels in March, and witnessed more than 70 slide sites. Obama's staff is scheduled to meet with the Forest Service this week to better understand the situation.

In the letter, Obama calls on Chief Kimball to evaluate the Forest Service's practices on the land in Grand Tower, which may be adversely affecting the Big Muddy Levee.

"Safeguarding our communities is a top priority, and we must ensure these levees are structurally sound," said Senator Obama. "I look forward to working with the Forest Service and other local, state, and federal agencies to develop a plan to strengthen our levee system and keep Illinoisans safe."

The text of the letter is below:

Chief Kimball,

Recently members of my staff met with representatives of the Big Muddy Levee District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess damage caused by the March 2008 high waters. During this tour my staff witnessed 71 separate slide sites on the Big Muddy Levee, with many slides being adjacent to another. Also during this tour representatives of the levee district and the Corps expressed concern that lands owned by the Forest Service may be contributing to the levee slide problem.

The purpose of this letter is to express my commitment to the safety and security of Grand Tower's residents and their property and to seek your assistance in evaluating U.S. Forest Service practices which may adversely affect the Big Muddy Levee.

The specific concerns include:

1.) Land owned and maintained by the Forest Service has an existing tree line growing too close to the base of the levee and as a result the levee's structural integrity is threatened

2.) Forest Service practices to regularly flood land adjacent to the Big Muddy Levee may be contributing to the levee's diminished structural integrity

3.) The Forestry Service has recently planted replacement trees which are at the base of the levee and as a result threaten the levee toe

To address these concerns, my staff is scheduled to meet with U.S. Forest Service representatives on April 25, 2008 at your Vienna Ranger Station. It is my hope that a mutual understanding can be gained and potential solutions agreed upon.

I will follow up on this matter with your office as developments occur. In the interim, should you have any questions please contact my office in Marion, Illinois.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator