| Name: |
greycove
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| Subject: |
Future water levels?
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Date:
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11/4/2007 9:10:27 PM
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We have heard a lot of different stories. Some time back, was posted that we would be at 465 by Halloween. Not close. Know APC has requested to begin filling in January. Has anyone seen any reliable estimates of where we are going for the remainder of November, December and January?
Was at the Union ramp Sunday morning (Nov. 4). Sign said ramp was closed due to drought. However, 5-7 trucks were in parking lot with water dripping from their empty trailers. Saw a ski boat and smaller bass boat being launched. You have to back out onto the rocks a few feet that are mounded up beyond the pavement. Then a very steep drop onto more rocks, but seems no one was having any real problems.
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| Name: |
Nutin Bitein
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| Subject: |
Future water levels?
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Date:
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11/5/2007 11:07:13 AM
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Grey, I wish we had more interest on this very subject. From the last letter sent out to Mav they will decide on 483 as new temp winter pool later this month. And if you look at the charts it will start to fill up. I'm tring to time my boat ramp. and would like to know if it going down further or is this it. Seems like dropping slower and could go up even without rain. ( if they want to) Alabama Power Co. needs the water to make power next summer. Just food for thought
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| Name: |
8hcap
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| Subject: |
Future water levels?
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Date:
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11/5/2007 11:39:59 AM
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not sure how much filling can occur if we do not get some rain. And what will happen if it rains big time in December. They going to just send it dpwn the river because the "fill date" has not been reached?
8
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| Name: |
Nutin Bitein
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| Subject: |
Future water levels?
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Date:
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11/5/2007 12:09:20 PM
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8 I'm not sure what you mean by fill date. I dont understand why they did not hold back more water with the last rainfall. We look at a chart that reads lake level. Does the power company follow the lake level chart or a flow chart ? If it is a flow chart then the lake level chart would be a result with flows and standard rain fall. Does anyone know which one it is?
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| Name: |
8hcap
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| Subject: |
Future water levels?
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Date:
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11/5/2007 5:09:12 PM
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They have asked to temporarily move the date they put the plug in to January 15 from Feb 19 and to raise the winter pool to 483. MY question is with the level at 475, how do we get to a new winter pool of 483 without putting the plug in before 1/15. And how do we get there without rain?
LTL - where you been? we need your input here.
8
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| Name: |
mckaygmc
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| Subject: |
Future water levels?
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Date:
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11/5/2007 5:23:15 PM
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I passed over the Tallapoosa this morning, Very low.
Lowest I have seen it in the last month.
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| Name: |
Lakeman
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| Subject: |
Future water levels?
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Date:
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11/5/2007 5:51:11 PM
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I think everyone should read the request again.
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
River down stream
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Date:
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11/5/2007 6:17:33 PM
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I rode the Alabama River Sunday, Prattville Montgomery area. The River is the lowest I have seen in many, many years. Cooters Pond ramp barely usable.
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
Since you asked 8
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Date:
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11/5/2007 6:39:13 PM
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Stirrin' the puddin' is just a hobby, and you know how it is, sometimes life just keeps you too busy to enjoy your hobbies as much as you would like.
I will try to explain. I think the problem is nomenclature. When we say 'put the plug in', most folks take that literally. Like it is the same as putting the plug in a sink drain. It is not. The term, as it applies here, simply means the date to start raising the level. What APCO has proposed is that in November they start to rasie the level back up. This will be done by cutting downstream flows (now that the dredging is done). They have asked to bring the lake to 483. This will de done by holding any rainfall along with cutting the outflow. Once the lake reaches 483 it will be held there until January 15th. At that time they will continue to hold more water back on a 'curve' until April 1st. It will be basically the same number af days, but start a month early and only have to raise 7 feet, instead of the typical 10. Computer models using rainfall data from the last 2 years show this is very feasable.
Every spring there is MUCH more rain that falls than is needed to fill the lake, but it is not all held back. Most of it passes through and is used to generate power, or simply sent downstream. This is because of the 'rule curve'. The rule curve only allows the lake to be raised so much on any given day. If all rain that falls was held back the lake could fill with just one or two rain events each year. A storm that dumps 5-6 inches of rain could raise the lake several FEET. This is NOT allowed to happen. It is raised on a predictable timeline. Trust me, you want it this way. What if you left your boats tied your pier, and three days later the level was 3 feet higher? Not a pretty sight. Also, if the lake was allowed to fill with the first couple of rains the flood control aspect goes out the window in later spring. Tallassee would get washed away eventually. Flood control will be the biggest deciding factor in a permanent raising of the winter level.
Maybe seeing it in numbers will help some folks. Lets assume that APCO gets the approval for the temporary plan. I can't speak on specifics of getting to the 483. By that I mean what time line, but lets say they do. It is now January 15th. and they have to raise the lake 7ft by April 1st. That is say 75 days. The seven feet is 84 inches. So 84/75 = 1.12 inches a day that the lake will be raised. Now that is not ABSOLUTE. A good rain may come and they may raise it 2-4 inches in a day, but in the next coming days they may not raise but 1/2 an inch a day.
I hope this helps. The main thing is to remember that it is not like filling a bathtub. Theoretically it could be, but it is NOT. The lake is filled in a controlled manner with only slight variances allowed for 'local weather'.
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lets do a rain dance and get to fillin' this leaky bathtub! If that doesn't work, we can always have "Saturday mud wrestling" at my place.
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there is plenty of room under my pontoon for snoozing if someone needs a break from the mud.
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| Name: |
JIM
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| Subject: |
Since you asked 8
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Date:
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11/5/2007 7:09:43 PM
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Burran, you continue to brainwash these people. You are a Genius.
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| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
LTL Excellent Analogy
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Date:
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11/5/2007 7:35:48 PM
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Well said and easy to follow and comprehend.
Only thing we all need to understand is without sufficient rain, the temporary variance APCo is seeking could be for not.
So pray for rain !!!
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| Name: |
Smitty
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| Subject: |
Since you asked 8
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Date:
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11/5/2007 7:44:14 PM
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Thanks LTL....good to hear from you
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| Name: |
LifeTime Laker
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| Subject: |
Thanks Mav et al
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Date:
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11/5/2007 7:52:40 PM
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If I remember correctly APCO said they used the rainfall data from the past two years MINUS 10%. I feel certain that using those figures the lake will fill. That is not to say that we shouldn't pray for rain. We need the rain for many reasons other than filling our playpen.
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
LTL....
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Date:
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11/5/2007 9:46:32 PM
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You have grown much more civil, and direct. Your knowledge is directed in a much more positive way. Is it time for another visit? Ice down a few, I'll be there!
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| Name: |
NautiMinded
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| Subject: |
River down stream
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Date:
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11/6/2007 9:39:51 AM
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We rode it Friday and Monday. It was 2-3 feet lower on Monday from Friday. The launches that are still OK are Dewey's and Gold Star Park in Wetumpka. The good news is we have way more beach than we have had, so you can pull the cat up on the sand and not impede walking. HaHa :)
We'll be out Sunday on the river.
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| Name: |
8hcap
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| Subject: |
Since you asked 8
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Date:
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11/6/2007 9:56:47 AM
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thanks LTL - that answers a lot of questions I have.
8
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| Name: |
Nutin Bitein
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| Subject: |
Thanks
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Date:
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11/6/2007 10:36:35 AM
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If I read what your saying correct. The lake could start to fill up with very little or no rain. Starting early would give them more time resulting in less of a flow change. Causing less harm downstream. Thanks for the info
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