Take the time to write to the proper authorites, I did, took about 10 minutes. See you in Paradise! See below for addresses and email contacts. Capt. Sterling _SterlingLadyIII_ (http://floridakeys.homestead.com/sterlingladyIII.html) In a message dated 12/7/2011 9:17:32 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, vquince@comcast.net writes: FYI This is the first I’ve heard about Hoppies having problems (came from Active Captain email) We stopped there on our trip down the inland rivers..... Two years ago, the ACoE constructed three new dikes south of Hoppies Marina. The effect of these dikes has been that the water depths at the marina have silted over from 12 feet to 4 feet. Owners Charles and Fern Hopkins have already been forced to greatly shorten their dock space. If something is not done, their marina which has been in business for 77 years, will be forced to close altogether. suggested action.... We have spoken with Fern to determine how the ActiveCaptain community might help. She stated that they have been meeting with Senators to gain support but that the cause could be helped greatly by boaters contacting the players involved also. So if you have done the Loop, hope to do it one day, or just do not want to see a boating landmark close, please take a moment and send a message of support to the following Senators and to the ACoE: Missouri: Honorable Roy Blunt (US Senator), www.blunt.senate.gov Honorable Claire McCaskill (US Senator), www.mccaskill.senate.gov Illinois: Honorable Richard Durbin (US Senator), www.durbin.senate.gov Honorable Mark Kirk (US Senator), www.kirk.senate.gov Army Corp of Engineers: Thomas E. O’Hara, Jr., Colonel, U. S. Army, District Commander, TeamSTL-PAO@usace.army.mil Let's make sure that Hoppies Marina is there to help the next generation of boaters safely experience the Great Loop. Let's put a bunch of emails into Colonel O'Hara's inbox letting their organization know that this is just, plain, wrong. _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com