Lake Lanier

[Ross]

I have lumber samples that I have saved

that have annual growth rings of 6-8 per inch for most of the width but a small section of 5-20 rings in an 1/8 of an inch. Droughts happen, not very often, but often enough to sometimes show 2 droughts in a 2x12 plank. The other posibility is that "god " is punishing Georgia for her sins. :{

 

[Bob]

Very True!

Desalination would be wonderful, but one season of heavy rain (hopefully) this spring and the great drought becomes nothing more then a statistic! What they are doing here is scoping out areas north of Lanier to expand potable supply source capacity with constucting new dams and reservoirs. With a rapidly increasing population and small watershed area, soon a network of reservoirs will stretch all the way to Tennessee. When you look at a map of Georgia and where it borders the state of Tennessee, the state line of Georgia does not expand into the "Tennessee River" area. The founders of Georgia never would have known the troubles ahead. We would be draining Tennessee right now, if the border was a bit more to the north. Nothing personal of course.Taking water from the Atlantic and piping to Atlanta requires traveling a rise in elevation of over 1,000 feet! We are afterall over 1,000 feet above sea level here. That would take alot of lift stations along the way and plenty-o-money to power them. Nice idea in principal, but this parallels Mars colonization, dilithium crystals and Moon Base Alpha! No, we are at the mercy of simply, La Nina, but what is amazing is the incredible dynamic in the weather patterns around the country. Its as if we had a massive wall surrounding us here. It is almost perfect! But, that does not let us here go sailing, and that is what this is all about for now.Bob

 

[madmariner]

This is Stunning

Somebody recently turned me on to this forum, and to the problems on Lake Lanier. It really is stunning what is happening. I run a site called MadMariner.com (we cover boating) and I'd like to bring some attention to the issue. I'm not sure it will help, but I know it can't hurt. I wrote a blog post and published some photos (see link) and we'll definitely do more. If anybody has information or photos, I'm all ears.Good Luck and Thanks,Glen

 

[Bob]

Beyond Significant!

Thanks Glen for the the input. That photo in your link was at Aqualand if I am not mistaken and probably "A" dock. The boats on that dock are gone and I believe the dock was moved. As the water recedes many docks at many marinas find themselves partially encircled as land mass starts showing up. The photo was a perfect example of what you see when driving around the marinas. You never know though what the form of that exposed land might be. The other photos are more of the private docks belonging to lakeside homeowners who have the capability to move their vessels out into deeper water or until those coves run dry.I was up on my boat on saturday and I was shocked to see that Lanier is worse now then the week before. They moved the floating office and anchored it behind my boat. Several more land masses (islands) were present and its just sickening to see. Move stuff is showing up out of the water now in the way of concrete blocks, tree stumps and land. The angle of the ramp to the dock was too much for my wife to handle (over 60 degrees now), so in a month or so at the current level drop rate, it will be extremely hazardous to venture down to the boat.Its in the 70's today, balmy, sunny, record breaking and as forecasted (higher then normal temperatures this season). Weather forecasters have been right-on so far as the drought and mild winter is concerned. Needles to say the weather is perfect here for sailing, but we are all stuck now and will continue to be.To say this is not surrealistic at this point is an understatement!!! Bob

 

[madmariner]

Ugh

Man, that is one tough situation.I'm really sorry ya'll are going through this. I sure hope the lake comes back and I'm sure it will. I remember a few years back that Lake Tahoe, in CA and NV, had a similar run. IUt wasn't going dry, obviously, but it severely receded. My in-laws live out there and it was really strange to see.The receding water exposed a bunch of railroads and other strange stuff.Please keep me posted. I want to do what I can to keep attention on the situation.

 

[Bob]

Good Time For Projects

You'll see folks on the weekends taking on projects on their bosts, while we all wait this out at our docks. What else can you do?! I plan on having my bimini repaired, so thats coming up soon; however, its going to be tough carrying that frame up that ramp. Scum adhering to the boat bottoms has to be accelerating since the lake began receding. Suspended sediment coming off the shore either from wind erosion of rain must have some affect, especially inj shallower depths. Remember, these are'nt barnacles sticking to our bottoms!! Lanier has only two boat yards that provide lifts for the larger vessels. One is a do-it-yourself yard at Aqualand. If spring and summer rains save us, I would imagine the yard will be backlogged for hull cleaning and painting for quite awhile. I was planning on doing my bottom and waxing the hull this spring/summer anyways. With the record breaking warmth this week (78 degrees tomorrow)lake evaporation is accelerated. I suspect that aside from the Corps operated slow hemorrage, we might see a greater rate of evaporation. Always wonderful news!! From Lake LanierBob

 

[Bob]

Lake Levels

The attached link is the Army Corps of Engineers lake level chart, day-by-day for those who might be interested. Go to Lake Level then hit Lake Lanier level. Once the chart is open go to Buford - elevation and then to the year 2008. Its all there.............

 

[MoonSailer]

Time to Dig???

It would seem that now is a good time for marinas to improve their access to deep water. Digging channels so that the next drought won't be so difficult. They were talking on the news this morning about how all of Birmingham's water sources are critically low and if rain doesn't come soon even more drastic water savings measures will be necessary. I also read about a group of northern alabama counties trying to protect the tennessee river. Apparently both Birmingham and Atlanta have began lusting after tennessee river water. One company tried to build a pumping station to pump Lake Guntersville water for rural users. Then it came out that they were planning to sell water to Birmingham!!!! Much of the Tennessee valley is under drought conditions. I doubt that the TN river could sustain enough pumping to satisfy Atlanta and Bham's thirsts. If droughts in the SE become a part of the new climate due to global warming changes in water use will be the only long term solution.

 

[Bob]

Drain Tennessee!!?

All it would take is a 100-mile long 12-inch line to run from the Tennessee River to North Georgia! Tennessee is getting more rain then Georgia and the Tennessee is vast. That would go over big!!!! Water wars.............A few ramps here at Lanier that are closed and high and dry are getting extended so when the water does come back boats can be launched and retrieved early. A good business decision by many here. Dredging? Thats a tough one because the majority of vessels are still docked in relatively deep water as the coves occupied by the marinas are deep, relatively speaking. Its those outer docks nestled close to the shoreline that are getting impacted. So whats to dredge? Even if you deepen the area around the fuel docks at many marinas that are now high and dry, the outer approaches to the fuel docks will not be deep enough. Its a fascinating situation which is full of intrigue and suspense for those watching. We are afterall at the mercy of the forces of nature. Look what has happened in the last few months regarding the drop in Lanier levels despite a shower now and then. It is predicted by the Corps that we will be at the 1047.8 foot level by January 4, 2008, according to their website. Today we are at 1051.30 feet. Stay tuned.Bob

 

[Bob]

Another Chance at Rain? Its a Big Deal Here....

We will experience another balmy and warm day today. Windows open in the house, short sleeved shirts, just a beautiful day in the south; however, the meteorologists predict a "chance" of rain again for tomorrow and into the weekend. There is this enthusiasm in the air, like a kid in the candy store when any rain is predicted that will dampen our flora and add to our watershed. Will we be saved by the rain in time? CNN ran a very interesintg article today on the demise of the artic and rapid decline in the sea ice. Alarming!! The greatest decline in one year since records were started. Why talk of the artic? Because cold artic air tends to collide with warm moist gulf air and thats the origin of our winter moisture. Add La Nina to steer away those currents and you have the makings of this record drought. A pattern that many say will be part of our standard regime. Nightly TV news has a "Drought Watch" feature each night that presents photos of Lanier and Lake Allatoona that brings the drought conditions to a very hard reality. From a reporter standing in firm clay 15-feet below the end of a concrete boat ramp to photos of a worn wooden piling with the "Caution Reef" sign posted 15-feet up in the air against a beautiful sunset all can make you cry! For the Lanier boater, its a tough one to watch. Water vanishes from Lanier each day and each day is a day that keeps me from heading out into the lake to sail. I equate it to driving toward the end of the cliff, rapidly! A few lucky sailors manage to find a passage out to the deeper river channel and get out while the depth allows, but you see fewer each weekend now. I am heading to Savannah this weekend to get an "ocean fix" and explore marinas where I might keep my boat in the future. It has been something we have been talking about for years. Now its really an issue of just when the boat can be pulled!!Always the optimist Bob

 

[Bob]

Twenty-seven days to lower one-foot!

Somethings brewing and it isn't rain!!!!According to the Army Corps website that displays a day-by-day measurement of Lake Lanier levels, the latest recordings shows it took twenty-seven days for the lake level to go down a foot. Thats very encouraging when you compare prior results where the lake was receding at a rate of one-foot per week! Driving over the Chattahoochee River twice a day, I also noted that the river does not look so swollen as in the past. I sort of compare this to "slow flight" where you are just barely staying airborne but maintaining momentum. Still, the lake is lowering. The issue still remains the replenishment of the watershed and although everyone else east of the Mississippi seems to be enjoying lots of precipitation, we are getting NOTHING! NOTHING! NOTHING!So, although the hemorrage is in "slow flight" for now, our drought continues to impact the probability of replenishment. No threats from the city, county or state government so far on conservation measures aside from the "no-watering bans". If this drought continues into the spring we will have reached the deadpool (1035 ft) and the Corps will probably use massive pumps to send the water over the damn into the Chattahoochee. What a site that will be!! The deadpool (919 feet/bottom to 1035 ft/dam sleuce) they claim is the reserve. Lots of water, but of course the marinas and the boats will be ignored as well as the impact on lakeside property values, let alone all businesses that use water or are around the lake area. Things may never be the same again. Consumption, power station cooling and endangered species protection will take precedent over recreation. The hopes are that the spring rains will replenish the watershed. Same old song and dance, but the discharge reduction is noteworthy for now. The day I can get out of my dock, raise my sails, feel the wind and take a deep sigh of relief on Lanier will be the day I will finally shut up! Someone needs to speak up about a potential disaster in the making and 4,000+ folks reading this thread shows your concerns. Your interest in us southern sailors/boaters has always been appreciated.Bob

 

[Bob]

Twenty-seven days to lower one-foot!

Somethings brewing and it isn't rain!!!!According to the Army Corps website that displays a day-by-day measurement of Lake Lanier levels, the latest recordings shows it took twenty-seven days for the lake level to go down a foot. Thats very encouraging when you compare prior results where the lake was receding at a rate of one-foot per week! Driving over the Chattahoochee River twice a day, I also noted that the river does not look so swollen as in the past. I sort of compare this to "slow flight" where you are just barely staying airborne but maintaining momentum. Still, the lake is lowering. The issue still remains the replenishment of the watershed and although everyone else east of the Mississippi seems to be enjoying lots of precipitation, we are getting NOTHING! NOTHING! NOTHING!So, although the hemorrage is in "slow flight" for now, our drought continues to impact the probability of replenishment. No threats from the city, county or state government so far on conservation measures aside from the "no-watering bans". If this drought continues into the spring we will have reached the deadpool (1035 ft) and the Corps will probably use massive pumps to send the water over the damn into the Chattahoochee. What a site that will be!! The deadpool (919 feet/bottom to 1035 ft/dam sleuce) they claim is the reserve. Lots of water, but of course the marinas and the boats will be ignored as well as the impact on lakeside property values, let alone all businesses that use water or are around the lake area. Things may never be the same again. Consumption, power station cooling and endangered species protection will take precedent over recreation. The hopes are that the spring rains will replenish the watershed. Same old song and dance, but the discharge reduction is noteworthy for now. The day I can get out of my dock, raise my sails, feel the wind and take a deep sigh of relief on Lanier will be the day I will finally shut up! Someone needs to speak up about a potential disaster in the making and 4,000+ folks reading this thread shows your concerns. Your interest in us southern sailors/boaters has always been appreciated.Bob

 

[Brian M H23]

Spring Rains!?

What you guys need is the remanants of a couple very late hurricanes to wander up and dump a few feet on you!

 

[Brian M H23]

Spring Rains!?

What you guys need is the remanants of a couple very late hurricanes to wander up and dump a few feet on you!

 

[Ray Bowles]

Bob, too bad we can't give you some of our runoff.

We're up here behind Grand Coulee Dam. Starting in January the powers that be lower Lake Roosevelt by up to 75 feet with 50 about average. It goes down by about a foot a day with periods where it is held static. In late April and May it is brought up by up to 5 feet a day. The lake is 135 miles long and we are at mile 102. Our end will be a foot or more higher than the dam as the lake fills. This is due to the friction and back pressure of all that water trying to push itself south. It simply backs up.Sadly, with the ammount of runoff water we have after a good winter in the mountains, it would fill your lake in way less than a week.Good luck with your shortage. I'm afraid this is just the start although all the dry sand will allow one hell of a lot of officials and politicians to bury their heads.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Bob, too bad we can't give you some of our runoff.

We're up here behind Grand Coulee Dam. Starting in January the powers that be lower Lake Roosevelt by up to 75 feet with 50 about average. It goes down by about a foot a day with periods where it is held static. In late April and May it is brought up by up to 5 feet a day. The lake is 135 miles long and we are at mile 102. Our end will be a foot or more higher than the dam as the lake fills. This is due to the friction and back pressure of all that water trying to push itself south. It simply backs up.Sadly, with the ammount of runoff water we have after a good winter in the mountains, it would fill your lake in way less than a week.Good luck with your shortage. I'm afraid this is just the start although all the dry sand will allow one hell of a lot of officials and politicians to bury their heads.

 

[Bob]

Rain Here Helps Well Below Lanier

We had a nice steady rain yesterday in Atlanta, with stronger thunderstorms toward the south. Since we have two large reservoirs (Lake George and Sinclair) to our south that are all part of the Chattahoochee River system, this means that the Corps should ease the hemmorage a little from Lanier. It does not necessarily have to rain north of Atlanta to provide some benefit here. Lanier HAS TO discharge to feed all in the city and points south, but the reprieve is also measured in what falls to the south as well and they seem to get more precipitation then us up here. That factor alone may well be what will save Lanier and the "dead pool" purge!The prediction for a warmer and drier then normal winter for the southeast with the center on Atlanta still holds and spring is not any better. In fact the whole of 2008 will stink!Bob

 

[Tim]

Thread drift...

....sorry!Does anyone know if John Doyle is still around Lanier? He did a survey for me in 2003 and I'd like to get in touch with him again. The email I have for him comes back undeliverable.Thanks,Tim

 

[Bob]

Not Sure

Sorry Tim, I do not know him. Their are about half a dozen or so surveyors who work Lanier. I do not recall this gentlemans name.BobJust hangin around for rain!

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

That name doesn't ring a bell with me

And I was on Lanier for 20+ years. Bolling Douglas is/was? (she has to be pushing 80 and may have retired) one of the top surveyors in the country and, last I heard, lives on a houseboat at UYC. Try to find a phone # for her in Flowery Branch or call the UYC office. Even if she has retired, she'll know who the good surveyors are and who to avoid.