Name:	John C -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/19/2019 11:16:43 AM

Hey everybody, please keep an eye on the water level - Alabama Power has announced that we could reach summer levels in the next few days: 

https://m.alexcityoutlook.com/2019/02/18/alabama-power-company-issues-rising-water-warning/?fbclid=IwAR3R0f19PQj9yPzFK0u1wcDTJgcU5ISkDY3h9kghrZPas7bwocCs6NJ0G-4

Name:	Samdog -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/20/2019 9:51:58 AM

This time they may not get it down before plug day. Might be an early boating season.

Name:	ChrisCraft -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/20/2019 6:45:25 PM

Yep. Saw this coming way back when people were clammering for longer/higher water levels. Some people wanted to keep the normal 10ft drawdown for a reason and this rainy season hasn't allowed us to do anything on the shoreline. If it had been dropped 10ft there would still be plenty of "boating" water this season and not fill up in the next few days. The best solution is one where the fewest people lose. We lived lots of decades with a 10ft drawdown beginning in Sept. JMHO.

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/20/2019 9:40:55 PM

I think that everyone needs to become more familar with the new "draw down" guidelines and plan any new building plans or repairs accordlingly.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/20/2019 10:55:54 PM

Tell us how great it was in 2007, how that 10 drawdown never let the lake get higher than 4 ft down in spring and summer, and how we were 15’ below full in Nov.  You must have loved that year.

Name:	ChrisCraft -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/20/2019 11:23:11 PM

The period has been shortened to where we are at the mercy of the weather more than ever. Not to mention the holidays are meant for other activities and with the longer drawdown there was plenty of planning time with people being more available without the packed schedule...

Name:	ChrisCraft -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/20/2019 11:28:12 PM

I knew that would be one of the 1st retorts....congrats. You win the prize. '07 is irrelevant...never happened before. Lake used to flood yards occasionally even with the old/normal drawdown....which is what's gonna happen next week if this week is repeated. The system wasn't broke...didn't need fixing. This will happen often now.

Name:	ChrisCraft -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/21/2019 8:18:52 AM

Touche'. Guess I should have said " in most of our memorable lifetime it's never happened." Too bad you aren't on my side...yer one heckuva investigative reporter. 

''

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/21/2019 9:41:57 AM

So far the levels are only up a foot so we shall see.  The reality is that significant storm systems have always been able to fill the lake even when they took it down 10 feet.  I do get your point but for those of us that are up sloughs this rule change has been great.  I now have water year round and I know that they will occasionally draw it down 10 feet to allow for repairs.  

Name:	ChrisCraft -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/21/2019 12:02:32 PM

We are also deep in a slough and enjoy the shoreline in fall/winter to clean up & hunt for "treasures". The window of opportunity for any of this has been cut down. Also, it takes time for the shore to dry in order to do maintainence. It is an annual thing to keep problems solved. Missing years exacerbates the issues caused by the extended season that beats up on the shoreline, docks and walls because of....well, we won't go there.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/21/2019 1:12:40 PM

Yep, that's one of the downsides.  For us that downside is nothing compared to having water year round.  Where you stand on this I guess depends on where you sit....so to speak.

Name:	PTClakefan -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/21/2019 5:53:17 PM

Good one Chris, though I would point out that I am on neither side.  I see both points, but I would venture to guess that the increased winter level will appeal to many people who can now boat in the winter, if they choose.  I am fortunate enough to have year-round water at either level but, since I winterize my boat in late fall, it doesn't matter to me either way. 

I do believe that the local economy will benefit more from the increased lake use that a higher winter level should bring, which is always a good thing, in my opinion.  The downside, as you point out, is a shorter period to do shoreline maintenance.  The increased risk of flooding seems to me to be pretty insignificant as APC seems to be able to control that fairly well.  However, back in the day everyone but Noah and his family probaly felt the same way so you never know.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/21/2019 9:00:06 PM

Hold your breath bubba, the lake will be taken down 10ft every 5-6 years.  Next one is 2021.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/21/2019 9:55:01 PM

You really want him to hold his breath for two years?  I wanna see this!

Name:	BigFoot -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/22/2019 6:29:04 AM

stop it Hodja...just spewwwwed Great Value coffee (can't afford Folgers) all over me 'puter....you'se guys are killin' me!

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/22/2019 12:07:31 PM

I'm ready to go out today and wade in this liquid to work on the boathouse.

Can't work on a thing like this.  Let it down to old winter every year for a bit.  My 2 cents.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/22/2019 2:22:56 PM

Project failed due to high water.

Name:	Wakely -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/22/2019 3:05:48 PM

As someone once said to me, until they change the dates of school and football season, water level won't be one of the top three things that determines lake activty in the fall and winter.

And now that we have had a few years of the new higher winter levels, I wonder if any of the businesses on or around the lake have enouogh data to tell us how much the new levels have affected business?

Name:	John C -	Reply
Subject:	watch the water level over the next several days
Date:	2/25/2019 10:27:58 AM

I agree that school is a factor but I have talked with retail (gas, stores, hotels) and other ( real estate, fishing guides etc) and they all have said business was better in the 2 fall full pool periods we have had.