Lake Lanier way down! Georgia CSR members are you going on the lake?

[Vokell]

For the Georgia CSR members.....Are you going out on Lake Lanier at all? I put in at Tidwell in Forsyth County by Baldridge Marina. The Corps of Engineers has blocked two of the three ramps. I know the Lake is down so much, wanted to know if anyone is going out. We tried to get out last weekend, and our friends with boat slips said it is so low that several people have "grounded out". Please let me know. thanks see you out there!

Gerry

 

[foxsealady]

I've put in at Shoal Creek and Balus Creek. It's not that bad near the damn but heading up to Balus Creek was slow. I use the GPS and stay on the river which seems to be the deepest part. At a couple of places, the depth finder beeped a couple of times. We camped at Bald Ridge Campground last weekend and it's an obstacle course going up the creek but it's still doable. The ramps are the major problems. The water is fine so far.

 

[Whimsea]

I was out a couple of weeks ago and grounded out :smt009 because I didn't stay in the main bodies of water. Luckily I didn't do any damage. I keep my boat in dry stack at Port Royale so I don't have to deal with all the ramp closings.

Will be at the marina tomorrow cleaning the boat out and getting it ready to winterize and plan to head out for an afternoon cruise around Brown's Bridge. If anyone on Lake Lanier is around that area, look me up. :thumbsup:

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

We need a rain dance in North Georgia, someone needs to go up to Cherokee and get a few Indian Medicine men and talk them into doing one for us! :thumbsup:

 

[Whimsea]

I'm with you on that one!:grin: I have relatives camping in the Smokey Mountians this weekend....will call them and relay your wishes for a rain dance. :smt043

 

[chuck1]

A rain dance in the Smokies won't help you all.:smt089 Any water/rain in north GA / western NC flow north/west to the TN river.:huh:

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Chuck, I guess no one told you about the super secret pipe line that Atlanta is digging under the mountains to get some of that Tennessee water. :wow:

Since Georgia is holding all the water we can in the Chattahoochee and Flint and drying up poor old Florida, don't put it pass someone digging a tunnel to water. :smt101


Right about now would be really really nice to get rid of those two high pressure systems and have a nice soaker of a hurricane come in and hang out for 2 or 3 weeks. :smt100

 

[Whimsea]

Come on Chuck.....can't we at least dream of rain? It's too early to put the boat up!!! :smt089:smt089:smt089

 

[chuck1]

Yep we are praying for it up this way to. Last I heard the Governor was going to file a suit to stop the CORE from pulling so much water from Lanier. Guess FL an AL are going to get drier.

 

[Searay Jim]

Last I heard the Governor was going to file a suit to stop the CORE from pulling so much water from Lanier.

Is the Gov. up for re-election soon? :smt043 If Lanier is like most lake around here, a reservoir, it has a specific purpose and recreation plays no part in it's management and use.

We have lakes that are for power generation above all else. They manage it the best they can, but even in the heat of summer, if the lake is way low, if they need it for power generation, they dump it.

Others are for water supply and the Corp. only has control over the water above a certain level, the towns/cities that get water from it control their part. They can take what's there's at any time if they want it. Luckily their part is usually above a level that's really dangerously low for boating.

It sucks that we can't distribute water. Last year was dry as can be and we had lakes almost not usable (one was down to a mud puddle) then this year we had flooding. Spillways got used that haven't seen water in 20 years. They're now down to a normal level finally but it took 3 months to get there.

 

[chuck1]

Is the Gov. up for re-election soon? :smt043 If Lanier is like most lake around here, a reservoir, it has a specific purpose and recreation plays no part in it's management and use.

It has nothing to do with Recreation or Power. They are saying if something does not happen (Major change in releases or Major rain) Lanier and Alatoona only have 4 months of drinking water left. The CORE is still dumping big time water ever day for FL rare/endangered clams. :huh:

 

[Vokell]

I heard from a neighbor today that the governor is going to file suit on Wednesday to stop the Corp of Engineers from taking any more water out of the lake. I have not taken the boat out at all in the last three weeks, several of my neighbors are saying that the "dishwasher" area over by Baldridge is about 10 - 15 feet wide where you can get from Baldridge out to the dam and cocktail cove. I haven't wanted to chance it. We are over by Baldridge and everyone continues to pray for rain. I am going to do the rain dance as well.....

Gerry

 

[chuck1]

Going to be interesting to see if MM has it's annual fall poker run / low county boil. I usually put in at the north end (Laurel Park) and run it backwards and end up at Bald Ridge. Don't think I'm going to do it this year.

 

[Presentation]

CBS evening news did a story on Lake Lanier, GA tonight.

They showed platforms that would normally be floating, hard on the ground. They did an interview with a well driller that is installing wells for private users, preparing for the event of the utility not being able to provide water.

They also covered the governor versus the ACOE and the need to keep the water in the lake for some needs like drinking water for the local utilities and the needs to keep the water flowing for others like power utilities and aquatic life.

I don’t envy you. Hope you get rain soon.

 

[Vokell]

On the local news last night the corps spokesman said that they are going to look into it and they would need four to six weeks to study the situation. In four to six weeks the lake will probably be down another 20 feet. In the meantime, they continue to open the dam up each day and dump millions of gallons of water out of the lake. Most of my neighbors have pulled their boats out of of the water. The closest marina to my home is Baldridge, I am not sure what they are going to do, many "big" boats at the marina. We are definitely doing rain dances...........

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

This will sound a little strange but when you can't see the forest for the tree's maybe it's time to do a positive thing. Instead of whinning about how low the water is right now, what about getting out and picking up the cans, tires, cars, tree stumps and other exposed items that have been hidding all these years. Sure the waters down, now you can fix that loose board like you always wanted. Pull the stumps that you knew were down there. Find that lost what ever. Pour the ramp a little longer. Lots to be done before the water comes back. :thumbsup:

 

[Whimsea]

Since I boat on Lanier I'll take a stab at this one. I recently asked my brother, who lives on the lake, the same question. His dock is dry and there are stumps around the dock, and many fallen trees around the lake. He says homeowners are not allowed to remove anything from Corp property. He would like a better view of the lake from his home, but is not allowed to even trim tree limbs from Corp property. :smt101

Since the lake is down, wonder why the Corp wouldn't send a crew out to clean up? I think the Corp would appreciate anyone picking up all the trash on the islands and in the water. It's a shame what's left....chairs, grills, garbage.

It's still a great place to boat. Stihl, if you have time, come on down and help clean up. :smt043

 

[sbw1]

I've wondered the same thing. Hopefully, this is not a case of "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you." Maybe some of the lake "activists" could work with the Corps to organize a clean up project that will benefit everyone. There have been some similar efforts conducted on Lake Michigan shores. Trash and what not are allowed to be picked up. There are limits on vegetation trimming but some removal is allowed.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

I called the Governors office and the idea was well received for a clean up. That nice lady passed me on the the Georgia EPD who advised me of a State Wide agency.

www.riversalive.org

On the right hand side is a Volunteer River Clean up link.
Click on it and then click on the "clean ups" link, a state map of Ga shows up and there are two red squares at Lake Lanier. Click on the red square and it pulls up lists of local organizations, contact phone numbers and clean up times.

I am going to get involved with a local one down here.

:smt038

 

[Dave S]

I called the Governors office and the idea was well received for a clean up. That nice lady passed me on the the Georgia EPD who advised me of a State Wide agency.

www.riversalive.org

On the right hand side is a Volunteer River Clean up link.
Click on it and then click on the "clean ups" link, a state map of Ga shows up and there are two red squares at Lake Lanier. Click on the red square and it pulls up lists of local organizations, contact phone numbers and clean up times.

I am going to get involved with a local one down here.

:smt038

Great idea Richard.

Ironically we had our annual lake cleanup called "Riversweep" on Lake Wylie a few weeks ago with the lake at low levels. You should have seen what they took out of the lake this year! The amount of trash was mind boggling. They probably pulled more old tires out of the lake than most large Tire Stores have in their inventory. :wow:

Just remember, if you don't get rid of this trash now, a lot of it will be floating around as debris once water levels rise again. Maybe you should contact the Atlanta's Mayors office too and suggest they get on the clean up bandwagon as well for Lake Lanier. :huh: