Name:	Fsb -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/13/2021 10:03:02 AM

I just noticed that the rule curve on the lake level chart for 2021 does not reflect the additional 3' drawdown for the winter. Alabama Power's license to operate Lake Martin requires that the drawdown will be increased from 7' to 10' once every six years.  2021 is the year for that increased drawdown. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/16/2021 9:24:24 AM

It's a little unclear how this will work.  The new permit was issued in December 2015 and they stated it was effective when issued.  The permit states that the 10-foot drawdown will occur every six years.  Six years would be December 2021 but the extra drawdown could not occur until December of this year.  It may be that they will start it in the fall of 2022.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/16/2021 9:55:40 AM

When the 7’ drawdown was approved the old 10’ drawdown curve was exactly followed, just cut off at 7’, so I’m pretty sure APC will follow the old 10’ curve, which will mean this year the lake will reach 10’ down around the week before Christmas and start back up about 2/15.

Yes, the lake will draw down 10’ this coming fall (2021).

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/16/2021 10:21:04 AM

I think what prompted the question is if you go to the lake level chart on this website it shows the rule curve through 12/31/21 and shows the draw down as only being 7 feet (to 484').  I went to APCO shorelines and could not find a similar chart but they do show the one from the FERC permit which only shows the normal draw down to 484'.  I suspect you may be right about them doing it this fall but that's not what the rule curves show.

Name:	George -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/16/2021 12:26:46 PM

Do you recall if they plan on using the old "drain" & "plug" dates to hold the 10' level longer?

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/16/2021 1:27:02 PM

Not sure but think it will go up and down with the new extended full pool....hopefully.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/16/2021 1:42:47 PM

You have to have the secret decoder ring theese days to know what the level may be after Labor Day and it is kept in an underground vault under the headquarters in B'ham...lol

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/16/2021 4:12:59 PM (updated 3/16/2021 4:16:07 PM)

The license document doesn’t show a chart for the 10’ down, but I’m pretty sure they will follow the old one....if they don’t the gubment would require them to do all kinds of studies, etc., to change it!

It’s going to be real interesting this fall if we qualify for the extended full pool till 10/15.  Hopefully they will still honor it, but there are no clear instructions in the license doc.

Name:	RodBillett -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/17/2021 7:23:52 AM

The periodic drawdown has nothing to do with nor would it impact the conditional fall extension.   The FERC license is pretty specific in its dates.  The way I read this is that 3rd week of nov (when we normally hit 484) it will then continue down to 481 and it will be raised so that on Feb 28 it will be back at 484.  Or as WIX stated, it means that it will reach 481 ion 3rd week of Nov and remain until Feb 28th, it will only impact those dates by a couple of weeks

Copied from FERC License...

"Accordingly, Article 402 authorizes Alabama Power to lower the reservoir to elevation 481 feet every 6 years between the third week of November and February 28, and requires Alabama Power to provide public notice at least 30 days in advance of the draw down."

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/17/2021 4:21:14 PM (updated 3/17/2021 4:47:35 PM)

Rod, your copy of 402 is news to me.  I have always thought the 10’ drawdown would follow the old 10’ curve, but it will hit 10’ down quicker than the old curve.  It will be interesting to see if that’s a typo or if APC plans to drop the lake 10’ in 5 weeks (if extended summer level is in place this fall).  

Name:	RodBillett -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/19/2021 7:40:51 AM

Copied it straight from the FERC License...  Copied article 402 below, the entire license is located here.  (look at the document to see the 3 curves on a chart)

https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20151217-3024

Article 402. Lake Martin Water Level Management. The licensee must operate
the Martin Dam Project in accordance with the guide curves and elevations shown in the
figure below and described herein to protect the ecological and recreational values of
Lake Martin and provide for flood control and downstream navigation:
Document Accession #: 20151217-3024 Filed Date: 12/17/2015
Project No. 349-173 - 81 -
Flood Control Curve. The flood control curve reflects the maximum elevation at
which the lake may be maintained before implementing the flood control
provisions in Article 404. On January 1, the curve is at elevation 484 feet mean
sea level (msl) and remains at this elevation until February 28, when filling
begins. The curve gradually rises until it reaches elevation 491 feet msl on
April 28. The curve remains at 491 feet msl until September 2, then is gradually
lowered to 484 feet msl by the third week in November, and remains at 484 feet
msl until December 31, except when the conditional fall extension is implemented.
Conditional Fall Extension. If the conditions specified in Article 403 are met,
the flood control curve remains at 491 feet msl to October 15; thereafter the flood
control curve gradually declines until it reaches elevation 484 feet msl by the
third week in November, and remains at 484 feet msl until December 31.
Operating Curve. The area between the flood control curve and operating curve
represents the range in which the lake must be maintained under normal flow
conditions. On January 1, the curve is at elevation 480 feet msl and gradually
rises to elevation 483 feet msl by the middle of March. The curve then gradually
rises to elevation 487 feet msl by April 3, 490 feet msl by May 1, and remains at
490 feet msl until July 7. On July 7, the curve begins declining to 489.7 feet msl
Document Accession #: 20151217-3024 Filed Date: 12/17/2015
Project No. 349-173 - 82 -
by August 1, 486.9 feet msl by October 1, 486 feet msl by November 1, 483 feet
msl by November 20, and 480 feet msl by December 31.
Drought Curve. Reservoir elevations below the drought curve generally indicate
that Lake Martin is in drought condition and the drought management provisions
of Article 405 may need to be implemented. On January 1, the curve is at
elevation 480 feet msl and remains at this elevation until March 1. On this date
the curve gradually rises to elevation 487 feet msl by May 1, then gradually lowers
to elevation 480 feet msl by October 1. The curve remains at elevation 480 feet
msl October 1 through December 31.
To the extent possible, the licensee must maintain the lake level between the flood
control and operating curves, except as provided in Article 404 for flood control and
Article 405 for drought management.
The licensee must notify the Commission when Lake Martin is at or below
488 feet msl for a consecutive 7-day period between June 1 and Labor Day, or 2 feet
below the operating curve for a consecutive 7-day period between Labor Day and May
31.
To the extent possible and in coordination with weather conditions, the licensee
must lower the reservoir to elevation 481 feet msl every 6 years, beginning in 2021,
between the third week of November and February 28, to enable the construction and
maintenance of shoreline structures. The licensee must provide public notice at least
30 days in advance of the draw down, and file documentation of the public notice with
the Commission prior to the drawdown.
The lake level requirements may be temporarily modified if required by operating
emergencies beyond the control of the licensee, and for short periods upon mutual
agreement among the licensee, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alabama Department
of Environmental Management, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources. If the lake level is so modified, the licensee must notify the Commission in
writing as soon as possible, but no later than 10 days after each such incident, and must
provide the reason for the change in lake levels.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Rule Curve
Date:	3/19/2021 11:22:50 AM

The paragraph that is news to me is that the 10' drawdown is effective from third week of November till March 1.  That's not following the old flood curve, but it will give homeowners much more time to complete maintenance on docks and seawalls.  The info you posted dealing with Flood Curve applies to operations important to homeowners.  The info on Operating Curve can be confusing because it deals with max and min levels, not daily operations.