I recently had the opportunity to tour some of our lakes with the Corps of Engineers to see first hand the importance of each and what we need to do to preserve these treasures for future generations.

   Many of you might have spent an afternoon or weekend at Lake DeGray, but while you were skiing, hiking or camping, thousands of Arkansans were also able to benefit from electricity this beautiful treasure provides because the Corps of Engineers runs a hydropower plant at the lake.  If you have gone fishing at Lake Greeson or Millwood Lake or boating on Lake Ouachita, you’ve experienced the beauty of these Arkansas treasures as well.  But these lakes also provide rural and municipal water to businesses and households in a number of communities in surrounding areas.

   Our natural resources are precious commodities and we as a state and a nation must remain committed to funding the Corps of Engineers and support those who work hard each and every day to help provide the water and electricity supplied by these lakes.  As your member of Congress, I will continue to work to ensure such projects receive the funding necessary to keep them operational for our local economies, and so all Arkansans can continue to enjoy the tremendous recreational opportunities they bring.