Tourism stung by
lost revenue,
cancelled fishing
tournaments

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Features Editor
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – Tourism in western Kentucky counties with ties to Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley is a multi-million dollar operation. However, severe flooding in Nashville, Tenn., has put a slight pinch in the agenda of those planning to hit the water.

Last Wednesday, large debris washing down from Nashville, Tenn., through the Cumberland River prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to declare Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, and both the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers a safety zone. And for the first time in history, the lakes were closed to recreational use vehicles.

“The dangers created by these high [water] discharge rates are many, including swift river currents, heavy debris flows, spilled hazardous materials and submerged objects including break walls, boat docks and piers,” the U.S. Coast Guard issued in a statement issued to the media. “These extreme flows have also made the navigation buoys in the area unreliable.”

The closure resulted in the cancellation of two major fishing tournaments on the lake scheduled for the weekend. The BFL tournament intended to be held at Moors resort has been temporarily cancelled, though is expected to be rescheduled for a later date. The USA Bassin Tournament originally set to launch from Kentucky Dam Marina has been cancelled indefinitely. An estimated 425 boats were slated for the events.

Still, director of the Marshall County Tourist Commission Randy Newcomb said it was a necessary evil.

“We understand why they did it,” Newcomb said. “There’s stuff you can’t see under the water, and we certainly don’t want anyone hurt or killed out there.”

However, the county is taking a considerable hit financially. According to the most recent data, at the close of 2008 tourism was a $60 million industry in Marshall County. Newcomb said to put things into perspective, stretching that money into 52 weeks in a given year, direct spending in Marshall County tourism dollars averages to approximately $1.15 million per week.

“So, if we’re closed six days, that’s a loss of about $1.15 million for the week,” Newcomb said. “Of course, that’s not factoring in the winter months, where business is considerably slower or now that the weather is nicer, traffic is heavier. In all reality, we’re probably losing more.”

The Coast Guard has been sweeping the area, doing overhead flights, to reevaluate the status of the lake and the necessity of its closure, Newcomb said. On Friday, certain areas of the lake in access bays and inlets up to Little Bear had been reopened to recreational use.

“They’re primarily concerned with the main lake,” Newcomb said. “They’ve been continually checking the bays and inlets for potential use.”

As of now, portions of both the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers were opened to recreational boaters two miles above and below Kentucky and Barkley Dams. Still, boaters are urged to use caution when setting out for the water.

“Boaters are reminded that any wake given off by their vessel during high water can be extremely dangerous and damaging,” the Coast Guard advised in a statement to the media. “Vessels should operate at the slowest safe speed while transiting in and out of bays and marinas. Boaters are highly encouraged to operate during daylight hours only due to the hazards associated with submerged objects.”

The Coast Guard also urged boaters to always where their life jackets, file a float plan with a family member, friend or marina, to carry a marine radio and possess emergency signaling devices.

“It’s not our perfect scenario by any stretch of the imagination,” Newcomb said. “But I think the Coast Guard made the correct call. Does it hurt us? Yes. Can we make it up? Yeah, I’m sure we can. We don’t have it anywhere near as bad a Nashville [Tenn.]. Where we’re shut down for six days, they’re going to be shut down for something like 10 months.

“At least most people around here are safe,” Newcomb added. “For that we should be grateful.”