RALLS COUNTY, Mo. – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today joined members of the Mark Twain Lake Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other local leaders to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake. In his remarks, the Senator highlighted the tremendous impact the Lake has had on the area.

 

            “It hardly seems possible that it has been 25 years since we celebrated the completion of the flood control project that created the Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake,” said Bond, who as Governor attended the dedication ceremony for the project in 1984. “At that time we looked forward to the new dam and lake providing the area with additional power generation, water supply, fish and wildlife and recreational opportunities. We succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.”

 

            Originally authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1962, it took nearly 22 years to purchase the necessary land and to relocate communities and landowners from the site where the lake now sits. The Clarence Cannon Dam was eventually installed in 1984 along the Salt River to alleviate massive flooding problems. Since that time, the lake has become a premier boating, camping, fishing and hiking destination for Missourians and tourists from across the Nation.

 

             Named for former U.S. Representative Clarence Cannon, the dam and the lake it created provide numerous infrastructure and economic benefits to the people of Northeast Missouri. Bond noted that energy demands in the region are better met due to the clean, renewable, hydropower produced during peak demand periods by the Clarence Cannon Power Plant. Annually, enough electricity is produced to power 20,000 households. The Senator also noted that water needs are being better met as the lake provides 13 counties with drinking water needed to supplement the shortage of existing ground water that often occurs in the area.

 

            Surrounded by nearly 36,000 acres of public land, the lake covers more than 18,600 acres. In recent years, both the lake and the Mark Twain State Park surrounding it have been designated as home to one of America’s “Top 25” fishing spots, hiking trails and “Top 100” family camp grounds. These designations have aided in attracting more than 2 million visitors each year who, by some estimates, spend more than $63 million in the area. Earlier this morning, officials broke ground for the new Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center at the lake which the Senator and his staff have been instrumental in building support for.

 

Despite the positive infrastructure and economic impact projects like the dam and lake have, Bond stressed that there are many in Congress who still fail to see the benefit of such critical projects.  

 

            “Unfortunately, there are plenty of people in Washington who would rather spend your money on almost anything other than flood control, roads, bridges and other infrastructure,” Bond said. “Infrastructure is literally the foundation of day-to-day living. I am a huge proponent of spending to improve America’s infrastructure and projects like this are part of the reason why.”

 

            Over the last 10 years, Bond, ranking member and former chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the nation’s transportation and infrastructure programs, has secured more than $20.5 million for needed improvements and upgrades to the Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake. Earlier this year, Bond secured an additional $5.986 million in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill which will be used to provide flood damage reduction, hydropower, water supply, navigation storage, pollution abatement, fish and wildlife conservation and recreation. The Senator secured these funds in conjunction with former Congressman Kenny Hulshof.

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