(Lake Martin Specific)
111,143 messages
Updated 4/25/2024 7:30:23 PM
Lakes Online Forum
83,605 messages
Updated 4/25/2024 9:33:24 PM
Lakes Online Forum
5,193 messages
Updated 4/3/2024 3:47:36 AM
(Lake Martin Specific)
4,169 messages
Updated 4/16/2024 3:16:57 AM
Lakes Online Forum
4,169 messages
Updated 4/15/2024 11:05:05 PM
Lakes Online Forum
4,260 messages
Updated 3/24/2024 9:24:45 AM
Lakes Online Forum
2,976 messages
Updated 3/20/2024 11:53:43 PM
(Lake Martin Specific)
169 messages
Updated 5/31/2023 1:39:35 PM
Lakes Online Forum
98 messages
Updated 4/15/2024 1:00:58 AM
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
riverratt
- 
|
|
Subject:
|
Lake Level
|
|
Date:
|
8/30/2007 12:49:07 PM
|
|
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The guidelines used to manage the water flow are outdated and obsolete.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.
|
|
Reply
Back
Search
Lake Martin Topics Forum
»
Alabama Lakes
»
Lake Martin
Login
|
Home
