| Name: |
SandyCreekman
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| Subject: |
The lake is now down 2 feet
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Date:
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7/19/2006 12:41:52 PM
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it's been a while since I've seen it this low in July. No doubt you have places that are shallow, which are not normally shallow this time of year. Does anyone know when the lake is this low whether power company does anything to compensate with power generation, etc.
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| Name: |
MotorMan
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| Subject: |
The lake is now down 2 feet
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Date:
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7/19/2006 12:44:04 PM
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Blame whatever Higher Power you believe may alter the weather according to His wishes.
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| Name: |
Feb
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| Subject: |
more like Her Wishes.
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Date:
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7/19/2006 12:46:09 PM
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| Name: |
SandyCreekman
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| Subject: |
no doubt the higher "power"
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Date:
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7/19/2006 1:28:29 PM
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not the Alabama one ultimately responsible....hope we don't see it go much lower before Labor Day.
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| Name: |
ot
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| Subject: |
no doubt the higher "power"
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Date:
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7/19/2006 1:33:34 PM
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i believe it was 2000 when we were walking around on lake bed instead of swimming during Labor Day. had to anchor boat away from dock! looks like the same kind of summer.
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| Name: |
SandyCreekman
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| Subject: |
right...
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Date:
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7/19/2006 2:54:56 PM
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and FYI the lake is as low now as it was in early April. We need rain badly.
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| Name: |
PC Al
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| Subject: |
Where is our six inches?
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Date:
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7/19/2006 4:54:18 PM
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As a pet peeve of mine, I have posted a couple of times on this subject, but don’t get much response. My problem is: I would like to know why the people at the dam never let the lake go to what they call full pool = 490 feet. If you will look back at the lake levels, I believe it reached 489.5 about five days and has been lower than that the rest of the time. We could sure use that extra six inches right now. As a matter of fact, that 6 inches at full pool would probably be seven or eight inches at this level. All other lakes on the Alabama Power system reach full pool except Martin. Sure, we don’t need it most of the time, but in 2000 and again this year, it would have been nice to start the drought with the lake six inches higher than what it was. This is a cause we could all rally around. Flood control is one thing, but Lake Martin never, never ever floods. I don’t think it has even reached 490 feet since the drought of 2000. Who do we get to answer this question/ potential problem? Give us our extra six or eight inches in early spring until we see what kind of summer we are going to have.
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| Name: |
SandyCreekman
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| Subject: |
great point...you're right
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Date:
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7/19/2006 6:43:39 PM
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they could have been up at full pool in early May or so, but never got closer than 1/2 foot. The 1/2 foot could make huge difference if we don't get much rain over next few weeks. I would think the wealthy folks on lake have the most clout.
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
great point...you're right
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Date:
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7/19/2006 8:08:17 PM
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One huge advantage of NOT raising it to 490 is that it reduces the bank erosion caused by the excessive boat traffic on the lake. At 490 half of our smaller islands would be gone in a couple of years.
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| Name: |
Carnac
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| Subject: |
What we can all do
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Date:
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7/20/2006 8:26:27 AM
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Express our opinions to Alabama Power Company's relicensing manager for Lake Martin. Jim Crew can be reached at (205) 257-4265. You can also send him an e-mail at jfcrew@southernco.com.
Alabama Power Company's license to manage Lake Martin's hydropower operations (management of the lake level, etc) expires in several years. They are now in the early stages of gathering input from all stakeholders. That means from all of us with an interest in this lake.
Two of the many things that will go into the relicensing application concern how long the lake remains at approximate full pool and increasing the level of the lake during the off-season. The present license allows Alabama Power Company to draw down the lake eleven feet to 479' msl. Computer modeling, done by APC, has shown that this lake can continue to fulfill its purpose of flood control if it is lowered only six feet during the winter months. Even in drought years it is easier to raise the level to full pool each spring.
In all fairness to APC they have done a terrific job of managing the lake level during this moderate drought year. If they were very greedy the lake level would be much lower than it is now.
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| Name: |
HappyCamper
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| Subject: |
other lakes?
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Date:
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7/20/2006 9:24:07 AM
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Lanier and West Point worse off than we are. Does anyone know the level at Oconee?
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
other lakes?
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Date:
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7/20/2006 9:39:06 AM
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Well Lanier is 6 ft down and that is made worse by having to move the floating docks all the time. Oconee, a power co lake just cycles water daily in and out of Sinclair for power. Only varies 2 ft I think.
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| Name: |
PC Al
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| Subject: |
Great points
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Date:
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7/20/2006 10:45:13 AM
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Great info Carnac. And as far as the other posts, we are all well aware of Lanier and West Point lake levels. Those lakes will probably never be full again. You are talking about apples vs oranges. And yes, Alabama Power has done a marvelous job this year. We all know why this lake was built. All of that does not take away from the point that this lake could be 7 or 8 inches higher at this date, if it had been at full pool when this drought started. And since they never let it get to full pool, we lost that chance.
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| Name: |
roswellric
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| Subject: |
Great points
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Date:
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7/20/2006 11:14:07 AM
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During the drought of '88 they said the same thing about Lanier....no water, global warming, end of the world etc. When they asked an old country boy that lived up there on TV what he thought his answer was "well, the lake will probably be full by this winter".....it was.
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| Name: |
BigFoot
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| Subject: |
Great points
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Date:
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7/20/2006 11:31:05 AM
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I don't have a clue to what guidelines APCO adheres to in the Spring fill. I know the general plan is to reach full pool on May 1. However, if the ground is saturated from the Spring rains and much more is forecast,
that would probably play a part. I remember in the late 80's we went several inches above full pool and my pontoon boat which was just beached and tied to a tree ended up in my yard. Thankfully, my neighbor
pushed it back in as the water was receding. I also remember a major drought in '87 or '88 when the water was down around 7 feet on the 4th of July. I have been pleasantly surprised that we have as much water now as we do but it appears for all the world that we will be seeing some stumps poking their head out by Labor Day.
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
Where is our six inches?
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Date:
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7/20/2006 11:40:33 AM
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The lake level is contolled and set by the Army Corps of Engineeers, NOT Alabama Power. Alabama Power is only allowed to vary the set depth by certain percentages that are also set by the corps. Many factors determine the level at any given time, but recreation and home owner wishes are NOT ONE OF THEM.
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| Name: |
greycove
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| Subject: |
Not much satisfaction now..
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Date:
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7/20/2006 1:00:12 PM
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but I had 18 inches at the end of my dock in 2000 on labor day. Seven feet at full pool.
What is disturbing is no relief is in sight. Can we turn Beryl around?
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| Name: |
Carnac
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| Subject: |
You have bad info
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Date:
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7/20/2006 1:41:38 PM
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The Corp has nothing to do with the lake levels here. Martin's lake level is set in the license that is issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. You can see it for yourself on FERC's website. Or you can ask an Alabama Power Company hydropower official. Call or e-mail Jim Crew.
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
You have bad info
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Date:
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7/20/2006 5:03:42 PM
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My info comes from an Alabama Power (actually Southern Company) "bigwig" who spent several years at Martin Dam as well as many others in the state and one in Georgia. He also happens to be my former father-in-law. To say that the corps has nothing to do with the lake level shows your ignorance on the subject. The FERC is the lisencing agency, but the corps is responsible for engineering, water flows, and levels.
Just be glad the rule curve has changed since the inception of the dam. It was first engineered and planned for a 50 foot drawdown each year. Read a few books on the history and construction of the dam and lake and then you can argue the fine points with me.... :)
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| Name: |
Carnac
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| Subject: |
Still incorrect
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Date:
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7/20/2006 6:51:56 PM
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I've read the present license. I know how the process worked last time and I know, first hand, how the process now works. My information comes from direct involvement with the Alabama Power Company in its relicensing efforts. This is the first time in the history of this lake, my friend, that FERC is requiring Alabama Power to get input from ALL stakeholders in developing the application for its new license. And the license spells out the lake level curves.
At the time of the previous licensing APC worked only with the Corps and a few of the largest entities. This time the Corps is only ONE of many stakeholder organizations that will submit input to the license application. Other stakeholder organizations include, but are not limited to, Alabama Fish & Wildlife, Lake Watch of Lake Martin, CALM, and LMRA.
At the time of the previous license barge traffic on the Alabama River, way down south in this state, was significant. There aren't nearly as many barges working down there now. Since the previous license this lake has had much development and has become a significant recreational attraction. Lake Harris (Wedowee) didn't exist. Its construction has changed things, concerning flood control, drastically. That is one of the main reasons that the Alabama Power Company is interested in having the new license application include a higher winter pool level. Other reasons should be obvious even to you.
You would be better informed if you became active in a lake organization. Sitting on the couch and playing with your mouse hasn't taught you what you need to know if you are going to be a positive factor in protecting this lake or influencing the relicensing process. You won't listen to me and I won't bother trying to educate you further..... :).
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
Still incorrect
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Date:
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7/20/2006 7:33:56 PM
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Well my freind, you and Ben can think that your input will matter if it makes you feel better.
I will give you one point, barge traffic is not as heavy as it once was, but it still exists, and one or one hundred, they MUST FLOAT!
The concessions to recreation will be in the form of more PUBLIC access, not the whinning of us homeowners. DARE park was created after the last round to conform to guidelines for more PUBLIC access, just as projects are underway now on the Coosa basins due to the last re-lisencing. You see, when recreation is considered, it is considered in terms of EVERYONE, not just those of us lucky enough to own property.
You are obviously knowledgable, but I think you may also be somewhat blinded by your own self interest.
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| Name: |
SandyCreekman
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| Subject: |
perhaps, but...
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Date:
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7/20/2006 7:38:01 PM
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it's never at 490 long once you get into the summer. It's a trade-off from what we have this year where parts of the lake are much more dangerous to skiers and boaters.
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| Name: |
SandyCreekman
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| Subject: |
great info
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Date:
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7/20/2006 7:47:20 PM
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and you are right, the Lake as changed dramatically over the years. The money invested on the recreational side is now enormous and should be balanced with the needs of the power company and the other downstream interests. There are also some safety issues when the Lake gets this low in the summer months.
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| Name: |
Aardvark
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| Subject: |
Not much satisfaction now..
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Date:
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7/20/2006 8:13:39 PM
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1988 was much worse. The lake never came close to 490 because APCO didn't hold the spring rains when they came, then there was nothing in terms of rainfall all summer until a hurricane came in September. The lake was in the mid-480s throughout the summer, and many people(including us) were left high and dry. The bad part for those who were not familiar with the lake and could launch their boats was that there are a lot of things that are underwater at 489 that are hazards at 484. All of those rocks, points, etc that are usually under 5-6 feet of water all summer were just beneath the surface just waiting to grab some unsuspecting boater's lower unit. Drought years are just part of the equation on the lake. I wish that the lake would stay at 490 all summer long, but this is closer to what I am familiar with over the long term
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