Re post of Lake Allatoona article.

[rufishin]

This article is from the September 2007 Around Acworth magazine. I highlighted a couple of points of interest.

WHERE IS THE LAKE GOING?
by Ron Papaleoni of Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority

Summer is upon us and we are, experiencing one of the hottest seasons in history. Demands on Lake Allatoona are significant and we are struggling with the holistic management of this valuable resource.
Hundred plus degrees with no rain, stretches our ability to meet all of the designated uses for Lake Allatoona. Lake Allatoona is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake and is driven by federally mandated uses which include: flood control, hydropower, water supply and recreation. These "designated uses" are strongly tied to water quality, downstream flows, biodiversity and drought management.

Let's talk about "drought management". Lake Allatoona is at the headwaters of a water system that stretches from here to Mobile Bay. It is the beginning of a series of lakes and waterways that makes up the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin or ACT. The water from Allatoona (on the Etowah) and Carters (on the Oostanaula) flow into Rome, Georgia and merges with the Coosa River that flows in Alabama.

Downstream in Alabama are a number of lakes that are owned by Alabama Power. Lakes Weiss, H. Neely Henry Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell and Jordan Bouldin are part of the total system along with Lakes Harris and Martin, on the Tallapoosa River. These lakes are used to produce electricity for the folks in Alabama.

So here's the dilemma. Alabama and Georgia are experiencing extreme drought conditions. The demands for hydropower in Alabama are extreme and Alabama Power wants to ensure that they are getting enough water from Georgia to meet those demands. Alabama Power asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release more water from Allatoona and Carters lakes while allowing them to decrease their outflows. The Corps agreed to double the releases from Allatoona and Carters and continue to monitor the effect of that decision.

The normal "summer pool" is 840 feet. We normally reach that in mid May. This year in mid May we only reached 837.8 feet and slowly dropped to 836.02 by the last week in July. That is just under two feet in two months. Since the Corps doubled the releases from Allatoona in late July, the lake has dropped over three feet in four weeks to an elevation of 832.13 on August 24. It is estimated that these levels will drop even more over the next month.

We continue to work with the Corps; Alabama Power; Georgia EPD; Georgia Power and many more stakeholders to find solutions during this drought. For the past two years, the State of Georgia has imposed water restrictions statewide while Alabama has not imposed any water restrictions.

So "Where is the lake going? The answer is Alabama.

[Ron288]

thanks for sharing

[rufishin]

Not quite sure how to take these statements. Sounds like we are getting the short stick!

*Alabama Power asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release more water from Allatoona and Carters lakes while allowing them to decrease their outflows.

*For the past two years, the State of Georgia has imposed water restrictions statewide while Alabama has not imposed any water restrictions.

Rufishin

[Ron288]

something not right about that picture for sure.

[Mike Bucca]

Guys, Maybe it's just me. My habits haven't changed much and probably won't based on wherever the water goes. I will have to incorporate plan B when the ramps are not deemed usuable. I'd like to see the water go down 30ft for once just to see some cool stuff

Mike

[soretoe]

Hey Mike, you going to park your boat on the lake if it gets that low. Guides will have a tough way to go if it gets too low to launch a boat...

[Mike Bucca]

Lou, I got a plan B .

Mike

[Shadowfax]

Yeah, where there is a will...

It will take more than closed ramps to keep a lot of us off of that lake.

[waterworld]

IT WONT KEEP ME OFF THE LAKE MY BACKYARD GOES TO THE LAKE.

[Shadowfax]

waterworld said:

IT WONT KEEP ME OFF THE LAKE MY BACKYARD GOES TO THE LAKE.

Okay, some of us aren't that lucky LOL! Hey everybody, let's meet at HIS house! Maybe if we pool enough money, we can put a ramp in his yard (LOL)!

Seriously, it almost seems like a good time to let our representatives know that we don't appreciate having to drain our lakes and go on watering restrictions, but the neighbors to the west don't have any restrictions. Mike, I know that you like the levels low, but the reduced revenue it causes is not going to be viewed properly. When budget time comes, they won't look at the levels, just the drop in ramp fees. "If it isn't busy during these months, we don't have to spend money on "X" during that time". Some number crunchers can't see past the paper. Just my thoughts.

[bfriendly]

I am still waiting to hear what "Plan B" is..........come on Mike, SUP?!? If Mike gets his wish(He just might) and the lake does go down 30', will there be ANY boat ramps open?......I am hearing that ALL of them at Carters Lake are CLOSED...... I dont mind driving the trailer off the end of the ramp, ( I have a few strips of plywood ready for that), so long as my truck tires stay on the concrete.....no 4x4 here

I have to agree that it is rediculous that Bama does not have any water restrictions.........

[Mike Bucca]

Don't get me wrong guys, I think it's ludicrus that we have to "GIVE" Alabama "OUR" water. I understand they get power from our water and we have to go on a water ban. The water ban ain't that big of a deal "to me" but if it was I would have a problem with it. In my eyes I gain more from learning with the water being 30ft low than being on a water ban. I'm dying to see what the lake looks like being that low. I do realize that it might be a long while before we see anything close to full pool come spring if this drought continues. But if you think back to Lanier when it was 12ft low. When Lanier was 12ft low during the spring ALL sorts of plant growth came up through the sand and rocks in the form of fish habitat. Then the fishery boomed thereafter. Now the plant growth alone wasn't the only thing going for Lanier but it was a good part of it. Just thinking out loud here long term.

Mike