(Logan Martin Lake Specific)
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| Name: |
riverratt
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/30/2007 12:49:07 PM
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In reference to the earlier subjet of 2008 lake levels,
I usually lurk around on this forum. I figure it is better to read and learn from those of you who have been on the lake for many years than to comment when I have only a short span of experience.
We have a place up river about a mile or so up river from the 78 bridge. This is our third year as Logan Martin property owners. One year of normal water levels, 2 years of drought.
I have an engineering background and from my standpoint APCO does an absolutely sorry job of managing water levels in the Coosa River system. The “run of the river” excuse is not a valid technical reason and most of the APCO people you talk to have no idea what it means.
The guidelines used to manage the water flow are outdated and obsolete. They were established in the 50’s and 60’s. With today’s technology and years of data on the Coosa system, they could, if they wanted to, do a much better and more equitable job.
As to Lay always being full. Lay lake brought APCO into being. It was their first lake and their very first power generating project. Before Lay Dam, there was only the Coosa River improvement association. I believe there is something to the rumors one hears about power company execs owning property on Lay as well as something to the rumors about special agreements being made when Lay was built and then again when Lay was updated from its original configuration. There is no reason under the current circumstances that Lay should be full. Period.
As to water levels in general, we are currently experiencing a 100 year drought. It covers most of the state but especially the Coosa River watershed. No one alive has ever seen or experienced anything like this. Under these extreme circumstances, there is not a body of water on the Coosa system that should be anywhere near full pool. That includes Lay Lake.
If there were no dams on the river, the effects of the drought would be felt the entire length of the stream. This should be the case now and I don’t believe you could find a legitimate hydrologist who would tell you otherwise. The fact that APCO is keeping Lay full at the expense of almost the entire river system, in particular every lake above it, is outrageous.
Look at the lake curves on the APCO web site. http://www.alabamapower.com/lakes/iframe_lakelevel.asp
Every lake above Lay is being drained to keep Lay full. To some degree Mitchell as well. The lakes below Mitchell are more river than lake. Under the current extreme circumstance, there is no reason this can be explained.
I think if our lake protection association had any political clout, something might be done about this over time. In the long run, a large group of people or someone with very deep pockets as well as technical expertise concerning hydrology behind them will have to sue, on a federal level, APCO and perhaps the Corp of Engineers (if they can be sued) before anything can or will be done about APCO’s mismanagement of the Coosa River system. Until then, I fear Logan Martin will continue to get the short end of the stick and act simply as a reservoir to keep Lay full.
Just my two cents worth.
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| Name: |
MovinFr8
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/30/2007 2:22:57 PM
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Very well said!!!!!!
Other Other Steve (Catboat) created a lawsuit last year that fought the legislation about houseboats and go fast boats. He told me that shortly after word got around of the group starting the lawsuit that they raised in excess of $100k for legal fees. I don't think the suit is over but from what I understand it is in Steve's favor.
While I did join the Logan Martin Water Protection group I have not been to a meeting to see what goes on at these meetings.
I would think that with the long shoreline of Logan Martin that there has to be a high power attorney that is upset by all of this and would devote some time to the cause of atleast getting the standards updated and all of the Run of The River BS put away.
Everyone would have to agree that this would probably sit in court for years and any flood that came along would cause memories of this year to fade away.
So what do you do????
I would be willing to join any movement that wants to at least get answers or to get regulations changed so that when the next drought comes along it does not get this far before something is done.
I will find out when the next meeting for the Lake Assoc is and let everyone know so maybe we can all go and ask some of the questions that we want answered. In reading past minutes from the meetings it seems that someone from APCO is at every meeting.
Welcome River Ratt, you may not have said much in the past but boy you hit a homer when you did speak up...........keep up the input........
Other
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| Name: |
InjunJohn
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/30/2007 3:39:13 PM
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I applaud your insight into the situation - you hit the nail on the head. I have been told by numerous people that APCO executives are abundant on Lay lake. They had inside information as to what parcel(s) to purchase long before the general public knew anything about their plans for the lake. As far as a lawsuit, I think Steve is right... by the time it reached the court system, it would be years, and would be a dead issue anyway. I do think that numbers speak volume, and I am willing to to be part of any organized group that wants to bring attention to the problem.
John
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/30/2007 6:17:30 PM
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If yall do file. Get ready for a ride. And, don;'t be surprised at things you will uncover.......
Steve
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| Name: |
twc
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/30/2007 10:06:51 PM
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Wow! Another great point and well said.
Someone suggested something interesting today as to a possible reason Lay is always full. Any of you around in the mid '70's early 80's remember what was going on down that way? Has Lay always stayed full year round? I seem to remember it dropping in winter years ago but I was much younger then.
<><
TC
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| Name: |
MovinFr8
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/30/2007 10:31:31 PM
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Cat
If it ever starts down that path we will definitely get some advise from you on how to proceed.
Have a good Holiday Weekend!!!!
Other
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| Name: |
RatherBeSkiing
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/31/2007 11:19:23 AM
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If that's two cents I can't wait to see a dollars worth. Maybe for two dollars you could draft us a class action suit? I'm in. Remember, it took years but Monsanto eventually did pay us something. Even if it was a paltry sum - they did pay.
I guess I need to read up on how the whole public utility system in Alabama works.
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| Name: |
BIGWORMK
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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8/31/2007 2:07:54 PM
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I THINK THIS ONE WILL BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU GUYS THAN MONSANTO WAS....JUST TWO MORE CENTS..
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| Name: |
rugercrzy
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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9/1/2007 10:06:07 AM
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I do not like it either. Both boats in dry storage. The difference here is APCO owns the property/lake. The other biggie is everyone has been staying cool with air conditioners which run on power which LM dam generates alot of.
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| Name: |
skiantique
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| Subject: |
Lake Level
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Date:
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9/1/2007 12:36:11 PM
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Well, not according to APCO themselves. They even stated in today's article in the B'ham news that they really don't generate much electricity from the hydroelectric plants.
I've been pretty ok with the whole thing considering it's a drought of the century kind of thing until I see articles like in today's paper. There are claims like all of the alabama rivers are at levels never seen before at this time of year, city's will have a hard time pumping water for usage, blah, blah, blah. All except Lay Lake where many, many, APCO execs have homes. Somehow every lake in the chain is at historical low levels, but not Lay, it's brimming to the top with water!!!!!
Something seems a bit fishy if you ask me.
chris
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