trainfan1 wrote:
wrote:
On Oct 19, 12:12 am, trainfan1 wrote:
wrote:
On Oct 17, 9:42 pm, trainfan1 wrote:
wrote:
On Oct 16, 11:03 pm, trainfan1 wrote:
wrote:
On Oct 15, 9:25 pm, trainfan1 wrote:
HK wrote:
JimH wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
news Jack Redington wrote:
HK wrote:
CNN had a feature on Lake Lanier this morning. Apparently
water
levels are way, way down, and if there isn't some serious
protracted rain soon,
a goodly portion of Georgia will be facing drought.
Meanwhile, the video showed the shorelines of the lake
line with
dead shellfish and fish, left behind as the water receded.
What's the impact on boating?
While I no longer boat on Lanier, from the news many ramps are
closed. At the present time that lake is about 12 below
full pool.
At least that was the last time I checked. Projections do
not look
good.
Georgia has been in drought conditions all of this year.
Spring
rains were slight and every month has been a short. So it
is not
really news anymore. Lanier has several problems when rain
is short.
For one the drainage basin is small for a lake it's size.
And about
6 million people in the Atlanta area depend on it. There is
also the
fact this this lake is under the Army Corps managment. At
present
they are letting out about twice the amount of water that
is coming
in. This has alot to do with the tri-state water war that
has been
going on since I have been here (about 10 years)
The Corps has stated that they are keeping the discharge
rate as it
is to protect some shellfish that need it in in Florida.
That being
where the water hit the ocean. Alabama also uses/needs this
water.
Thus the tri-state angle on the water resources war.
As far as impact on boating - Some ramps are closed and
there are
hazzards to navigation that would not normally exist. But
that is
what happens when water gets lower them normal.
If you are really interested:
http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/Pre...07_BoatersCaut...

Capt Jack R..
I was looking earlier for a current aerial or low satellite
photo of
the lake, but then I was distracted by work. With all the
dead marine
life now on the edges of the lake, there must be an insect
and rat
problem.
I don't pay attention to Atlanta weather patterns. Is there
a winter
rainy season? If not, then the city may be reduced to Homeland
Security bringing in water trucks.
Not from our Lakes.........the Great Lakes.....the largest
amount of
fresh water in the world and quite a resource for the
Canadians and
Americans living close enough to enjoy the Lakes.
Let Lanier dry up. After all, it is nothing more than a
recreational
lake.........correct?
First and foremost, I believe, it is a reservoir.
No. Flood Control.
Rob- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
From Lake Lanier Army Corp of Engineers website:
Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950's, Lake
Lanier is a multi-purpose lake that provides for flood protection,
power production, water supply, navigation, recreation and fish and
wildlife management.
In that order. Flood control first. Water supply is down the list.
Rob- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
Who ever told you that it's in that order?? The power generated at
Lake Lanier, which in your order is #2, is very little,
Correct - drinking water supply is below power generation in priority,
which is below flood control in priority. You got it right!
Since the lake's construction, metro Atlanta has been taking water
from
the lake to use for municipal drinking water, which was only
authorized
by Congress as an INCIDENTAL use, secondary to hydroelectricity.
The lake's original and authorized purposes were to provide
hydroelectricity and flood control.
Who told you any different?
Rob
Where did you get this information from? It surely isn't from the Army
Corp of Engineers, who operate the system!
See:
http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/
Nowhere on that site will you see one single reason above all others
for the construction of the lake. There are several reasons, none of
which is paramount over any other.
Google is your friend... but I'll go with the order of importance your
reference presents:

http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/purposes.htm

The "major function" is flood control. Indicating 50% for flood
control. I can't find any reference that puts it any other way. You
say they don't produce much hydro power there. I'll go along with
that too.

Rob- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Need to really find out?
http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/vis...cfm?Id=K502200

which simply calls it a simply "multipurpose" without identifying any
one particular reason over another:

"Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950 s, Lake
Lanier is a multi-purpose lake that provides for flood protection,
power production, water supply, navigation, recreation and fish and
wildlife management. Lake Lanier is one of 464 lakes in 43 states
constructed and operated by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. It has
won the best operated lake of the year award in 1990, 1997 and 2002."


Assuming this paragraph is mil spec, the purposes are listed in order of
decreasing importance. I'll accept that too.

I really don't know any more than you on this, but flood control comes
up first in every reference. Power production wasn't a priority in
1950, & water supply for that region was certainly lower in priority
than power in 1950.

One interesting point made is that it took 3 years, 1956 to 1959, to
reach full pool... even w/o modern demands. Lanier is in trouble.

Rob

If they had a year of normal rain, the lake could be back to full
levels in a year. While this is the lowest level, we have had other
years when it was very low.