June 19, 2008: Lake Lanier Political Forum

Dear List Members,

The Lake Lanier Association Political Forum will take place tomorrow,  Thursday, June 19 at 6 pm at the LakeviewCenter in Dawsonville.

http://www.lakeviewcentercomplex.com/contact.html

The meeting will begin with light refreshments at 6 pm and the program will start at 6:30.  We are expecting 20 candidates, including two for US Congress, several for state house or senate and for county commission positions: Several Forsyth County Commission candidates have committed to attend.

The candidates will have the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves and then they will answer YOUR questions.  If you are unable to attend, but would like to submit a question, please email me with your question indicating which office should respond.

We have learned today that State Representative Mark Hamilton, District 23, will be representing Senator Saxby Chambliss and will address Lake Lanier issues on the Senator’s behalf.

We hope you will attend this event and look forwarding to seeing you tomorrow.

June 9, 2008: 6th Annual Golf Tournament, June 16

Dear List Members,

We are looking for more members to play golf at the Lake Lanier Association’s 6th Annual Golf Tournament which takes place on Monday, June 16 at PineIsle Golf Resort on Lake Lanier Islands. Entry fee includes the gate fee, greens fee, cart rental, lunch and appreciation reception. Cost is

$1000 – Corporate Sponsor (includes signage and four players)
$400 – Sign Sponsor
$150 – Per Person

Registration starts at 10:00 a.m., the range opens at 10:30 a.m., and the shotgun start is at 11:30 a.m. We have great raffle prizes to be awarded at the appreciation barbeque after the tournament. If you like to play golf and would like to support your association, please email us or register at http://www.lakelanier.org/ev_lla_golf_tournament.php

Political Forum June 19

The Lake Lanier Association will hold a political forum on Thursday, June 19 at the Lakeview Center, 2057 Dawson Forest Rd., E, Dawsonville..
The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm with light refreshments followed by the program from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm. Elected officials up for re-election this year and candidates for federal, state senate, state house and county commission seats in the districts and counties surrounding Lake Lanier and its watershed will answer questions from the audience on their policies related to the protection of Lake Lanier.
The meeting is open to all association members and is open to non-members intererested in Lake Lanier issues. Attendees at the forum on June 19 will be able to submit written questions to candidates.

Submit your candidate questions in advance -
http://www.lakelanier.org/ev_lla_political_forums.php

Annual Meeting

The Lake Lanier Association held its annual membership meeting on May 19, 2008 at the Lakeview Center in Dawsonville.

We were pleased to have Brigadier General Joseph Schroedel, head of the Atlantic District of the US Army Corps of Engineers as our guest speaker who was accompanied by other Corps officials.
General Schroedel covered the status of the major drought that we are experiencing in Georgia, and its impact on Lake Lanier. James Hathorn gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basin. Questions from the audience were strong and frequent, ranging from issues about the flushing so much of Lanier’s water to Florida to the status of water levels expected for this summer. Some of the statements from the General and his staff included:
Lanier water levels will drop another two to six feet by the end of September 2008. We believe that this will be more dramatic unless a major change in operation is implemented
The new Modified Interim Operation Plan (MIOP) will go into effect June 1st and the CORPS claims it will provide some relief for Lanier. We will study the implications of this new plan and present the results in our next newsletter.
A major new water management plan (finally replacing the current plan after 30 years) is being worked on by the CORPS, and it should be completed in less than three years. The LLA was urged to participate in the development of the plan, and we will have representation on the various committees.
The General has set up a meeting with the LLA and others for June 19th, where apparent disagreements on the CORPS management of the Chattahoochee water system will be debated and hopefully resolved. We will report on the outcome of that meeting in our next newsletter.
The audience asked many more questions, and the CORPS has responded to us with the answers.

As usual, the LLA is soliciting donations to assist with our legal work that continues to be very expensive.

We look forward to seeing you at a future event and thank you for your continued support.

Vicki Barnhorst
Executive Director

May 10, 2008: Annual Membership Meeting – May 19

The Lake Lanier Association’s annual membership meeting will take place on Monday, May 19 at the Lakeview Center in Dawsonville. The meeting will begin at 6 pm with refreshments generously provided by Longhorns Steakhouse in Dawsonville and music provided by the Good Time Singers.

A cash wine and beer bar will be available.

The program begins at 6:30 pm and includes updates by board members on Lake Lanier Association initiatives and programs. The guest speaker will be Brigadier General Joe Schroedel, commander of the Corps’ South Atlantic Division. General Schroedel will answer questions after his presentation.

The membership meeting is also open to members of the public interested Lake Lanier issues. The Lakeview Center’s address is

2057 Dawson Forest Rd., E, Dawsonville, and directions are on their Web site, http://www.lakeviewcentercomplex.com/contact.html

6th Annual Lake Lanier Association Golf Tournament – June 16

The Lake Lanier Association hosts its annual golf tournament on Monday, June 16, 2008. The event is open to the public, and this year marks its sixth consecutive year. The lakefront site of the event will be PineIsle Golf Club located on Lake Lanier Islands in Buford.

The golf range opens at 10:30 a.m. and the shotgun start will be at 11:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for best score, second best score and challenge winners. The Hole in One prize is a Chevy Silverado truck from Bill Heard Chevrolet in Buford. Players will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for great prizes. The entry fee is $150 cost per person and includes greens fees, cart rental, a boxed lunch, an appreciation barbeque reception and all taxes and gratuities. Sign sponsorships are available for $400 and Corporate sponsorships are available for $1,000 and include signage and four players.
Players may register on the association’s Web site, http://www.lakelanier.org/ev_lla_golf_tournament.php or call 770-503-7757 for more information.

Political Forum – June 19

The Lake Lanier Association will hold a political forum on Thursday, June 19 at the Lakeview Center, 2057 Dawson Forest Rd., E, Dawsonville..

The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm with light refreshments followed by the program from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm. Elected officials up for re-election this year and candidates for federal, state senate, state house and county commission seats in the districts and counties surrounding Lake Lanier and its watershed will answer questions from the audience on their policies related to the protection of Lake Lanier.

The meeting is open to all association members to members of the public interested in issues affecting the lake.
For more information, please contact the Lake Lanier Association at 770.503.7757.

Courtesy Anouncement – US Coast Guard Auxiliary course – June 21
Flotilla 29 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Lake Lanier, announces a 1-day 7-lesson ABOUT BOATING SAFELY course. The course is set for June 21, 2008, at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Operations Center, Lights Ferry Road, on the left just before entering Aqualand Marina. This course also serves as a PWC certified course for children under the age of 16.

Classes run from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM, and cost is $30. Class size is limited. Contact Dave Wall at 770-904-6340 or email auxiliaryclass@bellsouth.net for more information.

April 4, 2008: BoatUS Alert and Shore Super Sweep Information

Dear List Members,

We have received more information from BoatUS on the proposed EPA discharge permit for all boats. Please read this on our Web site at http://www.lakelanier.org/downloads/epa_0408.pdf

The Lake Lanier Association announces cleanups at four locations on Lake Lanier on Saturday, April 12, 2008 as part of its Shore Super Sweep program, an ongoing volunteer program to clean up trash on the shoreline of Lake Lanier exposed due to the low water levels.

The targeted areas are Flat Creek, Holiday Road/Lake Lanier Islands, Yellow Creek in Murrayville, and Nix Bridge in Dawsonville. Details on times and directions are posted on the association’s Web site http://www.lakelanier.org/ev_ss_lla_shore_super_sweep.php

In cooperation with the Buford office of the US Army Corps of Engineers, a dumpster is available at Van Pugh Park South, Flowery Branch. Dumpsters will be on site for the Yellow Creek and Holiday Road/Lake Lanier Islands cleanups and a dumpster will be available at Gainesville Marina (public boat ramp). Tires may not be placed in dumpsters and must be taken to Van Pugh South Park and placed next to that dumpster for special handling.

These cleanups mark the end of the Shore Super Sweep effort which has been in place since December 2007. All dumpsters will be removed by April 15. To date both individual volunteers and groups have collected at least 30 tons of trash. We appreciate everyone’s support in cleaning up the shoreline and hope you will mark your calendars for September 27, 2008 when we will celebrate the association’s 20th annual Shore Sweep.

The association thanks J & J Disposal in Gainesville for providing the roll-off dumpsters for Shore Super Sweep and S & Ace Hardware and Super Wal-Mart in Buford, and Home Depot in Gainesville for providing trash bags.

Thank you.

March 19, 2008: BoatUS Alert: Your help is needed in: GA, MD, OH, TN, VA

March 19, 2008

Dear BoatUS Member,

We need your help now to pass NEW federal legislation in the Senate that would provide a permanent exemption for recreational boats from the upcoming EPA discharge permit requirement. Remember that if we don’t get legislation passed, we all need to get EPA permits to operate our boats effective 9/30/08!

We appreciate the time that many of you have already taken to let your Senators or Representatives know your support of S. 2067 or HR 2550 “The Recreational Boating Act of 2007.” Now there is a new Senate Bill #2766 “The Clean Boating Act of 2008″, which is more politically viable, and our best chance to eliminate the permit requirement before it comes in effect on September 30, 2008.

Please pick up the phone or email today and ask your Senators to sponsor and vote YES for S 2766. Although Congress is on recess this week and next, we need their staff to hear from us so that this bill can move as soon as the Senators are back in Washington.

Remember to contact both of your Senators: (Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia)

Visit BoatBlue.org

Georiga

• Senator Saxby Chambliss (R)
  (202) 224-3521
• Senator Johnny Isakson (R)
  (202) 224-3643

Maryland

• Senator Ben Cardin (D)
  (202) 224-4524
• Senator Barbara Mikulksi (D)
  (202) 224-4654

Ohio

• Senator George Voinovich (R)
  (202) 224-3353
• Senator Sherrod Brown (D)
  (202) 224-2315

Tennessee

• Senator Lamar Alexander (R)
  (202) 224-4944
• Senator Bob Corker (R)
  (202) 224-3344

Virginia

• Senator John Warner (R)
  (202) 224-2023
• Senator Jim Webb (D)
  (202) 224-4024

Your Senator that is in bold print is especially important to contact because they are a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Thanks for your ongoing help with this issue.

Margaret Podlich
Vice President, Government Affairs
BoatUS
GovtAffairs@BoatUS.com
703-461-2878 x8355

February 26, 2008: Call to Action to support reduced flows at Peachtree Creek.

Dear List Members,
The Georgia EPD has requested that the US Army CORPS of Engineers reduce the water
flow releases from Buford Dam on an emergency basis due to the current drought situation.
EPD assessed the minimum flows at Peachtree Creek on the Chattahoochee in Fulton County
and determined that 550 CFS (cubic feet per second), down from current minimum of 750 CFS
can handle necessary requirements for dissolved oxygen and downstream flows due to
substantial rain events below Buford Dam. EPD has requested that this flow reduction be implemented immediately and be maintained through April 2008, when it will be reevaluated. The Lake Lanier Association supports this request initiated by EPD. Although it will not fill the Lake, it will modestly increase the Lake levels as we get prepared for the summer continuation of the drought.

The purpose of this CALL TO ACTION is to ask the Lanier Stakeholders to inform
the CORPS that you support the reduced flows at Peachtree Creek from 750 to
550 CFS.

This will reduce the outflow at Buford Dam (Lanier) and allow more water
storage in Lanier rather than sending it down stream unnecessarily. The input of Lanier
stakeholders is due to the CORPS by close of business Thursday, February 28, 2008.
A large response to this request will show the CORPS how many of us are concerned
about their management of the water levels in Lanier.

A brief note to the CORPS supporting the EPD request can be electronically transmitted using the following email address: cesam-pd-ea@usace.army.mil

Drought information can be found on the Corps’ Web site,www.sam.usace.army.mil.

The Corps’ email and the letter from the EPD to the Corps of Engineers will be on our site tomorrow, www.lakelanier.org

February 12, 2008: Tri-States Water Rights Litigation

Dear List Members,

We would like to update you on the following:

Tri-States Water Rights Litigation
As you know, the eighteen year old struggle between Georgia, Florida and Alabama continues in a Jacksonville federal court. Florida and Alabama are trying to obtain a permanent commitment of more water from the Chattahoochee system.

The Lake Lanier Association has successfully intervened in two additional lawsuits in the Tri-States Water Rights Litigation to protect the association’s and its members’ interests in management issues of the Corps’ and US Fish and Wildlife Services’ management of federal reservoirs and biological resources in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin (ACF) including Lake Lanier. Both of these documents can be read on our Web site at

http://www.lakelanier.org/downloads/tristate_waterrights.pdf

We appreciate the support and contributions of our members in response to our request for assistance with legal fees. As these cases move forward, more funds will be needed to cover additional filings, responses etc. If you have not had a chance to contribute, you may do so on our Web site at www.lakelanier.org, or mail a check to the association at the address below.

Bethel Park
The Corps’ deadline for comments on the possible development of this park is February 19. Comments on either leasing the park to Forsyth County or its possible conversion to a YMCA facility may be submitted at
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/pd/pd1.htm

It is our understanding that part of Corps’ decision will be based on the comments received from the public. The Lake Lanier Association’s position on its concerns on the leasing of public parks can be found at http://www.lakelanier.org/downloads/Park_Leasing_Position_Statement.pdf

Details on Bethel Park can be found at http://www.savebethelpark.com/

Upcoming Lake Lanier Association Events

Please mark your calendars for the following events:
April 12 – Shore Super Sweep at different locations around the lake
May 19 – Annual membership meeting with guest speaker, Brigadier General Joe
Schroedel, US Army Corps of Engineers
June 16 -6th Annual Lake Lanier Association Golf Tournament
June 19 -Political Forum

Details on all these events will be placed on our Web site in the near future.

July 20, 2006: LLA Golf Outing and Shore Sweep

LLA Golf Outing and Shore Sweep

Golf Tournament: The LLA’s 4th Annual Golf Outing will be held on Monday, July 31 at PineIsle Golf Course on Lake Lanier Islands.  Registration for this event begins at 10:00 a.m. Fees are $150 per player or $600 for a foursome: feesinclude gate and greens fees, cart rental, lunch and appreciation reception/awards.  Sponsorships are also available:

• Tournament Sponsor: $1,000 – includes 4 players, hole signage, banner, recognition at award ceremony
• Hole Sponsor: $400 includes hole signage and recognition at award ceremony

To register, please visit our web site at www.lakelanier.org

Shore Sweep

The LLA is in the process of planning the association’s 18th Annual Shore Sweep which will be held on Saturday, September 30.

If you are interested in helping plan this event, please email us at lakeinfo@lakelanier.org.  Volunteers are needed to work on the appreciation party, to work at the participating marinas and parks, and to sign up sponsors.

Sponsorships for Shore Sweep are:

• Creek Sponsor: $250:recognition in newsletter, web site and poster
• River Sponsor: $500: recognition in newsletter, web site and poster,name on back of event T-shirt
• Lake Sponsor: $1,000: recognition in newsletter, web site and poster,featured placement on back of event T-shirt, poster and all outreach materials.

For more information on either of these events or to volunteer to help the association, please call 770-503-7757 or email lakeinfo@lakelanier.org.

July 30, 2006: Public Meeting Reminder

Public Meeting Reminder

Important Meeting about Lake Lanier Management

Senators Saxby Chambliss & Johnny Isakson and Congressman Nathan Deal are hosting a town hall meeting to discuss the management of Lake Lanier and Georgia’s water resource needs on Tuesday, August 8 at 10:00 am at Riverside Military Academy’s Sandy Beaver Center, 2001 Riverside Drive Gainesville, GA 30501.

A representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ South Atlantic Division will be present.

Directions: from Atlanta via I-85: take I-85 north to I-985 and make a left on Hwy 129 at Exit 22. Follow Hwy 129 through downtown Gainesville and take the right fork on 129 after 129 and 60 split at the end of Green Street. Take second left after fork on to Riverside Drive and Riverside Academy is one mile ahead. From GA 400: take Hwy 369 into Gainesville and turn left on Hwy 129 at the Best Western Lanier Center; follow directions on Hwy 129 as above.

- August 8 at 10:00 AM – An opportunity to voice your concerns

January 19, 2008: Jan 19 Lake Lanier Islands Shoreline Cleanup Postponed

Dear List Members,

Due to the likelihood of snow tomorrow, the trash cleanup scheduled tomorrow at Lake Lanier Islands from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. has been postponed until next Saturday, January 26.

Volunteers at the Flat Creek cleanup on January 5 removed 7 pickup truck loads of trash and the designated dumpsters are being filled by volunteers.

Future Shore Super Sweep cleanups are being tentatively scheduled for
Two Mile Creek, Thompson Creek, Van Pugh, Yellow Creek, Bald Ridge Creek, McEver Bridge and Flat Creek.

Thank you for your support!

Vicki Barnhorst
The Lake Lanier Association