Any sailers on Lake Lanier have an update on the status of Aqualand or Holiday Marina. Are your boats in or out of the water and if in are you still in enough water?? looking for info Ron Chels-A-Bella Catalina 30 3532
Lake Lanier
- Thread starter chelsabella
- Start date
- Status
Depends on your slip
Marinas are taking steps to keep boats afloat, or if the owner's prefer, getting the boat on the hard or a trailer. As your slip gets shallow, or the path from your slip to open water gets shallow, they are reassigning boats to side ties, empty slips, etc. Talk of temporary moorings or moving entire floating docks out into deeper water, with ferry service to get you to your boat. We have 4.5 ft under the keel in the slip and counting down. Link is more info than anyone could want on water level data at Lanier.
Marinas are taking steps to keep boats afloat, or if the owner's prefer, getting the boat on the hard or a trailer. As your slip gets shallow, or the path from your slip to open water gets shallow, they are reassigning boats to side ties, empty slips, etc. Talk of temporary moorings or moving entire floating docks out into deeper water, with ferry service to get you to your boat. We have 4.5 ft under the keel in the slip and counting down. Link is more info than anyone could want on water level data at Lanier.
Looks Bad in Parts
Hey Ron... If you go to the docks in the rear of Aqualand, dozens if not hundred of boats are being blocked by a ridge encircling the docks with barely enough room to escape. The sailboats here appear to be in the 20-25 foot range. Thats pretty much the picture at Lanier these days. As the water recedes everyone is in jeopardy. I have a Catalina 30 (winged keel - 3'10" draft) at Sunrise Cove Marina north of Aqualand. Presently, I have 36.9 feet of water under my keel. I guess I am lucky to be in a deeper mountain valley. Based on current water level drop rates I would have months (5-6) of water left to keep me afloat; however, the passageway out to open water from my dock is closing as a ridge will appear soon and any chance of getting to Aqualand or Holiday Marina for a haul out is like going through a landmine in a War zone! I will assume that the lifts at Aqualand and Holiday will be shutting down soon based on shallowing at the takeout locations. Its a risk to go anywhere as tree stumps, mud ridges and even concrete can stop you dead in your tracks and then who will rescue you? Boat US and Seatow operate on the lake, but the wise mariner will not venture out these days for fear of grounding or sinking. I check out my boat every weekend and see differnces in water depth each time. Its painful. So I stay at my dock, keep an ear on the depressing news of more drought and wonder what a dried lake would look like with 23,000 boats aground! Afterall, where is there to go? My prediction is that based on the lowering level (1-foot plus per week now) the marina owners will have no choice but to get everyone out in deeper water over time, even if that means rafting dozens of vessels together on one mooring as a last ditch effort til the rains come and provide some relief. Sounds desparate and the reality is simply, ITS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER! Got any water to send down? Bob
Hey Ron... If you go to the docks in the rear of Aqualand, dozens if not hundred of boats are being blocked by a ridge encircling the docks with barely enough room to escape. The sailboats here appear to be in the 20-25 foot range. Thats pretty much the picture at Lanier these days. As the water recedes everyone is in jeopardy. I have a Catalina 30 (winged keel - 3'10" draft) at Sunrise Cove Marina north of Aqualand. Presently, I have 36.9 feet of water under my keel. I guess I am lucky to be in a deeper mountain valley. Based on current water level drop rates I would have months (5-6) of water left to keep me afloat; however, the passageway out to open water from my dock is closing as a ridge will appear soon and any chance of getting to Aqualand or Holiday Marina for a haul out is like going through a landmine in a War zone! I will assume that the lifts at Aqualand and Holiday will be shutting down soon based on shallowing at the takeout locations. Its a risk to go anywhere as tree stumps, mud ridges and even concrete can stop you dead in your tracks and then who will rescue you? Boat US and Seatow operate on the lake, but the wise mariner will not venture out these days for fear of grounding or sinking. I check out my boat every weekend and see differnces in water depth each time. Its painful. So I stay at my dock, keep an ear on the depressing news of more drought and wonder what a dried lake would look like with 23,000 boats aground! Afterall, where is there to go? My prediction is that based on the lowering level (1-foot plus per week now) the marina owners will have no choice but to get everyone out in deeper water over time, even if that means rafting dozens of vessels together on one mooring as a last ditch effort til the rains come and provide some relief. Sounds desparate and the reality is simply, ITS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER! Got any water to send down? Bob
Be careful what you wish for ....
you may get it. We had a drought in N. Texas in 2006 which brough the lake levels WAY down. Although there was plenty of water under my slip, I couldn't get out due to submerged stumps, etc. Spent the summer in the slip praying for rain. Well, it rained, and rained, and rained, and rained... The lake flooded and all the marinas had to close. I could only see my boat with binoculars! Spent this summer wishing the rain would stop. It was too dangerous to sail as the amount of junk in the water was amazing (old logs, propane tanks, chicken coops, etc.) Finally got in some sailing late in the summer. Meanwhile, I feel your pain brother. May the Lord bless you with plenty of rain in the near future...just not all at once. Jack
you may get it. We had a drought in N. Texas in 2006 which brough the lake levels WAY down. Although there was plenty of water under my slip, I couldn't get out due to submerged stumps, etc. Spent the summer in the slip praying for rain. Well, it rained, and rained, and rained, and rained... The lake flooded and all the marinas had to close. I could only see my boat with binoculars! Spent this summer wishing the rain would stop. It was too dangerous to sail as the amount of junk in the water was amazing (old logs, propane tanks, chicken coops, etc.) Finally got in some sailing late in the summer. Meanwhile, I feel your pain brother. May the Lord bless you with plenty of rain in the near future...just not all at once. Jack
Thanks Lucky Jack....
Well Jack, looks like that storm in the Bahamas will not even get close to Georgia to wet us down, so the hurricane season provided nothing for north Georgia. I doubt that Lanier could ever get too much rain! Its dam controlled and least we forget that the small but powerful Chattahoochee River that flows from Lanier feeds several cities (Columbus and LaGrange for example) as well cooling water for coal fired power plants and our loving and precious endangered mussels and Bay Sturgeons in the Appalachacola basin in Florida. Plenty of water for all if it rained for "forty days and forty nights". By the way one suggestion in the paper today was to trench and set pipe along the Colonial Pipeline coming from Texas and take all that extra water you folks have and send it our way. Lake Texoma, heh? Of course it was an insane idea that would cost as much as the Apollo space program! Lots of imagination in getting this resolved. But for now we know its just a matter of precipitation and drought cycles. I have to wonder how the insurance companies would view this if boats by the number began to settle in the muck? Act of god? Man-made disaster? Bob
Well Jack, looks like that storm in the Bahamas will not even get close to Georgia to wet us down, so the hurricane season provided nothing for north Georgia. I doubt that Lanier could ever get too much rain! Its dam controlled and least we forget that the small but powerful Chattahoochee River that flows from Lanier feeds several cities (Columbus and LaGrange for example) as well cooling water for coal fired power plants and our loving and precious endangered mussels and Bay Sturgeons in the Appalachacola basin in Florida. Plenty of water for all if it rained for "forty days and forty nights". By the way one suggestion in the paper today was to trench and set pipe along the Colonial Pipeline coming from Texas and take all that extra water you folks have and send it our way. Lake Texoma, heh? Of course it was an insane idea that would cost as much as the Apollo space program! Lots of imagination in getting this resolved. But for now we know its just a matter of precipitation and drought cycles. I have to wonder how the insurance companies would view this if boats by the number began to settle in the muck? Act of god? Man-made disaster? Bob
Bleak Future???
I was looking at the long range forcasts and they are calling for below normal precipitation through January. So far the drought hasn't affected Wheeler too much but unless it rains soon even the mighty Tennessee river will start to run dry. A TN-river feeder lake South Holston in NE TN was the lowest that I have ever seen it a couple of weeks ago. At some point they will have to greatly reduce the outflow from the feeder lakes and the TN river will fall. But they say that Kentucky lake can hold more water than all of the other lakes combined!!! I was told that one reason that Wheeler lake is not very low is that they need cooler water to keep Brown's Ferry Nuclear power plant operating. The only source of cooler water is water from Lake Guntersville!!!!
I was looking at the long range forcasts and they are calling for below normal precipitation through January. So far the drought hasn't affected Wheeler too much but unless it rains soon even the mighty Tennessee river will start to run dry. A TN-river feeder lake South Holston in NE TN was the lowest that I have ever seen it a couple of weeks ago. At some point they will have to greatly reduce the outflow from the feeder lakes and the TN river will fall. But they say that Kentucky lake can hold more water than all of the other lakes combined!!! I was told that one reason that Wheeler lake is not very low is that they need cooler water to keep Brown's Ferry Nuclear power plant operating. The only source of cooler water is water from Lake Guntersville!!!!
How dry is it in Georgia?
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
How dry is it in Georgia?
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
How dry is it in Georgia?
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
How dry is it in Georgia?
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
HOW DRY IS IT IN GEORGIA? It is so dry in Georgia that ... the Baptist are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water Sorry to get political, I just couldn't resist. Tom s/v Orion's Child
Bad, but
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
Bad, but
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
Bad, but
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
Bad, but
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
I was out this past weekend. My slip is at Sunrise Cove (one dock over from Bob). I am very lucky to have 26 ft under my 3'10" keel (Catalina 30) and a clean shot out of my fairway to the "lake". The marina has put at least 30 mooring balls out in deeper water with plans to move boats out as needed. I don't know how far out the fuel lines and pump out lines can go if that dock has to be moved out further. I saw many smaller boats on trailers and have heard that the yard at Aqualand is almost at full capacity. All predictions are for it to get worse before getting better. The recent cold front dumped a lot of rain in Nashville, but dried up and we won't see a drop of rain from it. There is no rain in sight in the 5 day models. While the lake is at least 15 ft down, there is lots of water in the main body to sail (if you can get out to it). This past Saturday was beautiful with 12-15 knts and I counted at least 20 other sail boats out there as well with only a couple big power boats moving around. As said earlier, there is land exposed that I have not seen before ans you do have to be on the lookout for low spots, although these are pretty easy to see with good sunglasses. Please pray for rain...not for me as this only affects my hobby, but for those whose livelihood's are being affected.
Moving Marina Operations
At my marina, the operators plan on moving off the floating office to the club house if the water gets much lower. Thats expected in the forthcoming weeks. They only have so much room to extend the fuel docks, which are now closed. A look at the NOAA Seasonal Drought forecast for the quarter calls for persistent and intensifying drought conditions through January 2008. Climatologists say we are in a two-year drought pattern right now. On the news last night, the Governor dropped his lawsuit against the Corps as they have now reached a compromise on just how much water will be released into the Chattahoochee River where Atlanta draws its potable supplies. Flow reduction is a mere 16% less! But, someone must know something, because its been quiet on the news front lately. Corps says we have 6-8 months of reserve, but that would be in the main channel and center of the lake. By the time we got down that far the marina's would be high and dry! Several municipalities are expected to supplement surface water supplies with drilling deep wells to tap into groundwater for their folks. Despite deep water levels along the main lake (Chattahoochee River)channel, navigating in shallowing waters is still a risk and will continue to get worse as water drops. Since the lifts are not operating, a damaged vessel in need of repair is screwed!! Too much risk for me. The average drop in water level is now 1.1 feet per week. By the end of the year, if NOAA is correct, that 10-12 feet of additional drop will require that a good number of vessels will have to seek deeper water in order to survive. Forty or so mooring buoys will not handle the masses, so maybe rafting will have to happen. Like Stephan I have a lot of water under my keel to last many months, but I am just weeks away from being totally trapped by dock cables. I will stay put in the 35+ feet of water under my keel for now and enjoy a few weekends aboard this fall. This past weekend many boat owners got together and the level of anxiety was evident. Its a reality no one ever would have imagined. Water levels on Lanier go up and down all the time, but never has there been so much exposed shoreline, vessels trapped, ramps and lifts closed and whole dock sections in the mud. The marina's are trying their best, but "everyone has been informed" and they take no responsibility for damages. We will have better days, but it will take a long time before we recover and get back to full pool. In the interim, its a great time to invest in a metal detector and cruise all that exposed shoreline! Bob Catalina 30
At my marina, the operators plan on moving off the floating office to the club house if the water gets much lower. Thats expected in the forthcoming weeks. They only have so much room to extend the fuel docks, which are now closed. A look at the NOAA Seasonal Drought forecast for the quarter calls for persistent and intensifying drought conditions through January 2008. Climatologists say we are in a two-year drought pattern right now. On the news last night, the Governor dropped his lawsuit against the Corps as they have now reached a compromise on just how much water will be released into the Chattahoochee River where Atlanta draws its potable supplies. Flow reduction is a mere 16% less! But, someone must know something, because its been quiet on the news front lately. Corps says we have 6-8 months of reserve, but that would be in the main channel and center of the lake. By the time we got down that far the marina's would be high and dry! Several municipalities are expected to supplement surface water supplies with drilling deep wells to tap into groundwater for their folks. Despite deep water levels along the main lake (Chattahoochee River)channel, navigating in shallowing waters is still a risk and will continue to get worse as water drops. Since the lifts are not operating, a damaged vessel in need of repair is screwed!! Too much risk for me. The average drop in water level is now 1.1 feet per week. By the end of the year, if NOAA is correct, that 10-12 feet of additional drop will require that a good number of vessels will have to seek deeper water in order to survive. Forty or so mooring buoys will not handle the masses, so maybe rafting will have to happen. Like Stephan I have a lot of water under my keel to last many months, but I am just weeks away from being totally trapped by dock cables. I will stay put in the 35+ feet of water under my keel for now and enjoy a few weekends aboard this fall. This past weekend many boat owners got together and the level of anxiety was evident. Its a reality no one ever would have imagined. Water levels on Lanier go up and down all the time, but never has there been so much exposed shoreline, vessels trapped, ramps and lifts closed and whole dock sections in the mud. The marina's are trying their best, but "everyone has been informed" and they take no responsibility for damages. We will have better days, but it will take a long time before we recover and get back to full pool. In the interim, its a great time to invest in a metal detector and cruise all that exposed shoreline! Bob Catalina 30
Current conditions
The lake is now almost 17' down. As others have stated, there is a lot of red Georgia mud showing along the shorelines and far too many exposed or hidden hazards to make me want to take her out (27 foot Hunter with 4.5 ft draft) Fortunately, I still have 36 ft of water under my keel on dock ZH at Aqualand, so I'm probably going to be able to ride this out. I occupy my free time on weekends by doing small maintenance tasks on the boat, like replacing the fuel filter and changing the crankcase and gearbox oil in the Yanmar. Also a good time to do a little cleaning and smaller maintenance work like replacing some of the running rigging. My fiancé and I used to joke about some boat owners using their vessel as a condo on the lake. That's not as funny as it used to be because that's what Testudo has become, at least for now.
The lake is now almost 17' down. As others have stated, there is a lot of red Georgia mud showing along the shorelines and far too many exposed or hidden hazards to make me want to take her out (27 foot Hunter with 4.5 ft draft) Fortunately, I still have 36 ft of water under my keel on dock ZH at Aqualand, so I'm probably going to be able to ride this out. I occupy my free time on weekends by doing small maintenance tasks on the boat, like replacing the fuel filter and changing the crankcase and gearbox oil in the Yanmar. Also a good time to do a little cleaning and smaller maintenance work like replacing some of the running rigging. My fiancé and I used to joke about some boat owners using their vessel as a condo on the lake. That's not as funny as it used to be because that's what Testudo has become, at least for now.
Man verus Mussel
I just read that the Florida Governor backed off on the tri-state agreement to reduce flows from Lake Lanier while the Fish and Game folks study the affects of less water for the Appalachacola Bay Mussels and Sturgeon. Its easy to blame the Georgia politicians for so much widespread development and population increase in the greater Atlanta area, but who could have forecasted a historical drought and how do you really plan for it? Winter precipitation forecasts are bad, so who are we kidding here? Levels go down more then a foot per week, so its just a matter of time before the populous hunkers down and is restricted in its water useage. Three months of reserve remain. Rumors abound, but the best one out there is the Gov. of Georgia using the National Guard to take over the dam! "Shut that dam door and stop the flow"! Not a bad idea actually. Man might just prevail over the mussel on this one, but the Fed. Calvary coming in for the counter attack might make it a bit dicey. What a scene that would be, heh? Photos and film of the ever exposed lake shore has to be alarming to all who view them. Now receding water uncovers structures only last seen before they flooded the valley back in 1957 when the Chatahoochee was dammed. Amazing stuff! Gas station dispenser islands and tiered seating areas for an old race track have been recently exposed and are high and dry. I guess I will be stuck in my dock in a few weeks as I am held in by exposed dock support cables and just have to wait it out. Its painful going to the lake each weekend and seeing nothing but lower water and more nervous sailors around. The walk down the ramp going to the dock has to be at 60-degrees now. Even getting to the docks will get impossible. The Atlanta Boat Show is scheduled in early January so I have to wonder how many will attend and will boats sell. After all, its just a 100-weather cycle, so whats to worry? Plenty............. Bob
I just read that the Florida Governor backed off on the tri-state agreement to reduce flows from Lake Lanier while the Fish and Game folks study the affects of less water for the Appalachacola Bay Mussels and Sturgeon. Its easy to blame the Georgia politicians for so much widespread development and population increase in the greater Atlanta area, but who could have forecasted a historical drought and how do you really plan for it? Winter precipitation forecasts are bad, so who are we kidding here? Levels go down more then a foot per week, so its just a matter of time before the populous hunkers down and is restricted in its water useage. Three months of reserve remain. Rumors abound, but the best one out there is the Gov. of Georgia using the National Guard to take over the dam! "Shut that dam door and stop the flow"! Not a bad idea actually. Man might just prevail over the mussel on this one, but the Fed. Calvary coming in for the counter attack might make it a bit dicey. What a scene that would be, heh? Photos and film of the ever exposed lake shore has to be alarming to all who view them. Now receding water uncovers structures only last seen before they flooded the valley back in 1957 when the Chatahoochee was dammed. Amazing stuff! Gas station dispenser islands and tiered seating areas for an old race track have been recently exposed and are high and dry. I guess I will be stuck in my dock in a few weeks as I am held in by exposed dock support cables and just have to wait it out. Its painful going to the lake each weekend and seeing nothing but lower water and more nervous sailors around. The walk down the ramp going to the dock has to be at 60-degrees now. Even getting to the docks will get impossible. The Atlanta Boat Show is scheduled in early January so I have to wonder how many will attend and will boats sell. After all, its just a 100-weather cycle, so whats to worry? Plenty............. Bob
A whole river below lanier
People in Ga believe that they own all of the water in lanier. Surprise that water flows through Alabama and Florida. Several lakes below Lanier. Also salt water intrusion can kill oysters etc. Don't worry when man wants something he gets it. But the people in Alabama and Floriia may put up a better fight than nature. If Atlanta is like most cities most of the water is for industry. A drought is bad and a dried up lake is bad. But Atlanta should not insist that all of the water belongs to them. There are about 400 miles of rivers and lakes below Lanier that need water too. Atlanta needs to stop growing or at least find other sources of water.
People in Ga believe that they own all of the water in lanier. Surprise that water flows through Alabama and Florida. Several lakes below Lanier. Also salt water intrusion can kill oysters etc. Don't worry when man wants something he gets it. But the people in Alabama and Floriia may put up a better fight than nature. If Atlanta is like most cities most of the water is for industry. A drought is bad and a dried up lake is bad. But Atlanta should not insist that all of the water belongs to them. There are about 400 miles of rivers and lakes below Lanier that need water too. Atlanta needs to stop growing or at least find other sources of water.
desingenious
Sorry moonsailer but you are overlooking the facts. The Corp is releasing 4 times as much water as the inflow into the lake. How well would the mussels and the people downstream fare if there was no dam? They would have to learn to deal with 1/4 the water they are receiving now. And Atlanta doesn't use most of the water for industry. Most is for residential use. The Gov of Florida ststed that the fishing industry would be hurt if less water were flowing. We have already had small businesses shut down due to the water resitrictions. So just how do you stop development without totally distroying the areas economy? Learn the facts before you shoot off your mouth. But if you're the same person I have had run ins with before and you are who I think you are, then thats typical for you.
Sorry moonsailer but you are overlooking the facts. The Corp is releasing 4 times as much water as the inflow into the lake. How well would the mussels and the people downstream fare if there was no dam? They would have to learn to deal with 1/4 the water they are receiving now. And Atlanta doesn't use most of the water for industry. Most is for residential use. The Gov of Florida ststed that the fishing industry would be hurt if less water were flowing. We have already had small businesses shut down due to the water resitrictions. So just how do you stop development without totally distroying the areas economy? Learn the facts before you shoot off your mouth. But if you're the same person I have had run ins with before and you are who I think you are, then thats typical for you.
Real Simple for now
Lake Lanier is in Georgia, the head waters of the Chattahoochee are in Georgia, the Lake Lanier watershed is the Chestatee and Chattahoochee Rivers, both in Georgia. How in the hell, it ever came to supplying Alabama or Florida goes back decades, probably over a card game!! The dam must discharge so that the Chattahoochee stays flowing so the intakes can draw to supply the greater Atlanta area. If you stop the discharge from Lanier you starve the City of Atlanta, Columbus, Lagrange and other cities downstream in Georgia. If I read it correctly, the water needed by Alabama is to feed a few coal fired power plants strictly for COOLING water. Florida needs it to keep those mussels and sturgeon alive. I so desparately tried to find them on the menu tonight to see what the fuss was over, but they were not available! And I don not beleive the oyster population in the Appalachacola Bay may even exist anymore! The Corps is acting too slow right now to slow down the flow because they fear other outside agencies will force their hand. We are entering our wet season and this will get interesting. bOB
Lake Lanier is in Georgia, the head waters of the Chattahoochee are in Georgia, the Lake Lanier watershed is the Chestatee and Chattahoochee Rivers, both in Georgia. How in the hell, it ever came to supplying Alabama or Florida goes back decades, probably over a card game!! The dam must discharge so that the Chattahoochee stays flowing so the intakes can draw to supply the greater Atlanta area. If you stop the discharge from Lanier you starve the City of Atlanta, Columbus, Lagrange and other cities downstream in Georgia. If I read it correctly, the water needed by Alabama is to feed a few coal fired power plants strictly for COOLING water. Florida needs it to keep those mussels and sturgeon alive. I so desparately tried to find them on the menu tonight to see what the fuss was over, but they were not available! And I don not beleive the oyster population in the Appalachacola Bay may even exist anymore! The Corps is acting too slow right now to slow down the flow because they fear other outside agencies will force their hand. We are entering our wet season and this will get interesting. bOB
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