Hayes: We have permit for dredging

By JOHN BRANNON
Messenger Staff Reporter
Shades of Cool Hand Luke. “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”
That famous line from the 1960s movie aptly applies to a situation right here at home, according to former Obion County commissioner Mike Hayes of Blue Bank.
“We’ve already got a permit to do dredge work on Bayou du Chien,” he said.
At its last meeting, the Obion County Commission voted to send a letter asking support and action to clear about a mile of Bayou du Chien in the Walnut Log area of Reelfoot Lake. The little creek has become clogged with silt and fallen trees and such, all of which impedes boat traffic and access to the lake.
The commission’s letter was to be sent to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and state Sen. Roy Herron and state Rep. Phillip Pinion.
Hayes, a member of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission, said the state wildlife agency turned its attention to the problem last year.
“And we started work on it, but the water level of the lake got so low, we had to quit,” he said. “Our dredge is sitting there now. Plans are to go ahead and finish the work. But the water level has got to come up before we can start again. It might be later this winter, but we’ll start up again when the water level comes up and the big machine can move around.
“We have a permit to do this work. I hate for people to think we’re not taking care of business.” Published in The Messenger 10.25.07

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