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Name:
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LifeTime Laker
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Subject:
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From lakemartin.org
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Date:
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9/20/2007 3:47:28 PM
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This was published in Lake Magazine but I cut and pasted it from LakeMartin.org. Pay special attention to the first and last paragraph. This is not the article in it's entirety.
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Though the 40,000-acre Lake Martin is an enormous economical draw for its surrounding communities, first and foremost it is a hydroelectric project that provides commercial electricity and flood protection for other areas in the state of Alabama.
Watch groups such as Lake Watch of Lake Martin and CALM have already had independent meetings previously with Alabama Power, and are making sure their concerns are heard from the beginning of the relicensing process.
“We’ve already voiced concerns on major issues regarding lake levels, water quality issues and the development aspect of shoreline management,” said Dick Bronson, president of Lake Watch on Lake Martin. “I think the people that really care about Lake Martin will really take the time to get involved in the process.”
Bronson said Lake Watch’s philosophy is to take a proactive approach to protecting and enhancing the water quality of Lake Martin. It is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that conducts scientific studies in water quality monitoring, increases public awareness of water quality issues, as well as implements educational activities in the Lake Martin area.
Alabama Power recognized early on that certain agencies, groups and individuals would be participating heavily in the process, and met with them on a one-on-one basis.
“We meet with them individually because it helps to get them educated up front about the process,” Crew said. “It’s not like we work for five years getting stuff together and that’s it. As far as the process of relicensing itself, it’s FERC’s. We take the basic structure of their process and we add to it, and have an open-door relationship with our stakeholders.”
Probably the most hotly-discussed topic that has been brought to Alabama Power’s attention on more than one occasion over the last 15 years include winter pool levels on Lake Martin. Within the last couple of years, Alabama Power has received formal proposals from both CALM (Coalition of Associations at Lake Martin) and Russell Lands to look at the winter pool levels.
Crew said the possibility of keeping the water level in winter higher than it is now “appears to be feasible for consideration.” Under the current license, the water level is allowed to drop up to 10 feet below the full pool level of 491 msl (or 490 MD). The purpose of the winter draw down is to generate electricity, provide flood control for areas lower than the Martin reservoir, as well as make room for the spring rains.
Crew said Alabama Power intends to evaluate the effects the winter pool rise would have on the environmental, recreational, cultural and socioeconomic resources, as well as flood control and generation. For those hoping that will mean higher lake levels in the next couple of years, Crew said they shouldn’t hold their breath.
“Individuals want to know why we can’t just raise the level now. If the water level were to go up,” Crew said, “it wouldn’t go up until after a new license is reissued in June 2013.”
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