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Name:	preserveLM -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 12:00:38 AM

Why, Oh WHY is the lake level dropping and it is not even Labor Day? We have had PLENTY of rain, even now! Why can we not keep the levels as posted to close to 490' until AFTER Labor Day? There are so many of us who must rally to move or store some of our boats way too early in August when later in September or early October would be preferable, as long as there is, as this year, rain to support the fill guideline!!!! Come on.....follow the fill guide!!!!

Name:	Pontoonfisher -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 7:38:05 AM

Wa, Wa, Wa!!!! I laugh at all thoe posters about the Lake level. Should have bought a lot where you could enjoy the level year round or make provisions for it. Just means less people on the lake and I love it.

Name:	FLgirl -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 8:30:50 AM

Not everyone's price point is year-round, big water. There is also a lot to be said for the privacy and calm of being in a protected cove. I'm just thankful we are fortunate enough to have a place at Lake Martin. That being said, there was a lot of talk about changing the winter lake level to 483' a while back. Does anyone have an update?

Name:	Council Roc Doc -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 9:51:43 AM

Most likely creating retention volume for the peak of hurricane season. Although El Nino should create enough wind shear to tear apart alot of storms this year and decrease the # of predicted storms, it typically has little effect on tropical systems that form in the GOM. With the ground being a tad more saturated that in past years, a tropical system that potentially comes ashore similar to where Claudette did that has had more time to develop, could pose significant flooding problems down stream.

Name:	Feb -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 10:18:39 AM

I mentioned this in an earlier thread, but it is worth repeating.

Obtain a copy of the July "Lake Magazine". There is an excelent article which sumarizes the study/analysis conducted on the future of Lake Martin and various recommendations. (Article Title: "$3.4 Billion and Growing" and is on page 34)

This study was initiated and paid for by a coalition of Lake Martin organizations. I believe the study has been provided to Alabama Power to use in their future relicence with FERC. (???)

The article discusses a proposal to increase the number of days when the Level of Lake Martin is kept at full pool by 62 percent. It would stretch the full pool period from April 1st to Oct. 15th. Currently Alabama Power maintains a full pool from May through August. (with exception like now and other recent years - LOL)

Some of the above maybe a personal assumption, so read the article and form your view. There are many issues discussed to include future developments, property values, economics for the area, and etc.

I would also recommend eveyone join and support any one or all of the various Lake Martin organizations supporting the Lake whether it be LMRA, HOBOs, and others. This way your views can be expressed. Discussing it on this Forum might be interesting, but it will not change or influence anything

Name:	noagenda -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels-waddabout 483?
Date:	8/18/2009 10:50:43 AM

is it a go for the winter?

Name:	Osms -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 12:08:40 PM

Thanks for being concerned about our lake levels. We (HOBOs) have requested that the lake be raised in the spring to achieve 490' by March 1. APCo has requested and received persmission from FERC to raise the spring level early the past two years by March 1, because of the continuing drought. The drought has subsided so we don't know what will happen in 2010.

We requested that the new licensing also require leaving the lake at or near full pool until at least November 1, and that the winter level be changed to 485'. The lake would begin rising from winter level about January 15.

FERC has required APCo to study the effects of raising the winter levels one foot at a time to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts. These studies are on going and will end next year. The final submission is targeted for 2011 with approval and implementation scheduled for 2013. By the way, the approval for the Coosa River system is two years behind schedule.

FERC ordered APCo to fund an economic impact study of the three county area for raising the winter level of the lake; cost is stated at $500K. This study will examine practically all aspects of the lake's impact on the area, so we are very proud of APCo and FERC for undertaking this unique effort. Although certainly valuable to the area, the recently completed study only looked at the real estate value impacts of keep the lake up longer in the fall and raising it earlier.

As an interesting sidelite, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled this spring that Lake Martin was not licensed with a primary function of flood control, nor was it designed as such. The case was brought by down stream farmers, who planted crops in nature's flood plain--they lost.

We encourage all stakeholders to stay knowledgeable and involved with the lake and the relicensing process. The HOBOs represent many lake stakeholders and we try to keep them informed.

Name:	Pier Pressure -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 5:34:24 PM

Has it ever occurred to you that August and September are very hot months and that the power company could benefit (and it's customers) by adding hydroelectric power to the grid?

Name:	Pontoonfisher -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 6:56:08 PM

Hey PP, that insight you just made would require others to think. Many forget that this lake was developed for APCO's use. I just can't understand why people can't live with the fact that the lake will fluctuate based on downstream activity, rainfall amounts and power usage. People wan't to complain when power rates go up but when they choose to use a cheap source of power generation they compalin too. Lake Martin goes up and down, DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!

Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Very good post, but
Date:	8/18/2009 6:57:08 PM

and I have been pretty involved with the discussion for several years, being a lake resident and a stakeholder with relicensing. As I understand, the posted "Rule" graph is actually considered "maximum" capacity for the lake, for a variety of reasons per federal, state and AL power interests. Seasonal downstream release, being a primary concern. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I heard this at one of the 'stakeholders' meetings this past fall. In any case, 488.3' for mid August works fine for us..

Name:	Nancy Christine II -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/18/2009 8:54:45 PM

I don't mind when the lake goes down and it's still kinda warm. The reason is, I can find and map a lot of sunken boats that can be recovered during this time.

Name:	Osms -	Reply
Subject:	alahusker
Date:	8/18/2009 10:12:21 PM

APCo does begin their annual drawdown about this time of the year, even in wet years like this one. This year downstream requirements are probably not needed since minimum flows can be maintained without abnormal releases. APCo derives about 6% of its electricity from hydrogeneration and most of that comes from the Coosa system. It appears that the flow rates on the Coosa are about 3 times that of the Tallapoosa and there are several more dams on that river. We don't know what percentage of the total hydro power comes from the Tallapoosa, it is small, but APCo does have an obligation to save money for customers where they can, so they use hydro as much as possible. Hopefully, we won't have to deal with minimum flows this year.

Name:	FullPool -	Reply
Subject:	Lake levels
Date:	8/24/2009 10:05:39 AM

I agree with PreserveLM. Before we purchased our lot - we researched the lake levels and were told by the real estate agent about the "guidelines" . We were fine with the level going down AFTER labor day - which was what the quidelines indiciated. We also knew there would be times when the level would fluctuate as necessary during the year - which we are OK wiht as well. HOWEVER - in the ten years that we have been at the lake - the water level has NEVER ONCE followed the guidelines. We haven't complained until now - but with all the rain we have had - we are simply asking for the guidelines to be followed. Nothing more. Also - IF the quidelines were followed, families could plan their vacations and weekends at the lake. Now... no one knows how to plan and therefore - the local businesses suffer as well - when no one is at the lake.

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