November 2, 2007: LLA submits a Memorandum of Law

In the Lake Lanier Association’s ongoing efforts to keep our lake clean and full, on October 26, 2007 the association submitted a Memorandum of Law to the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, in support of the motion of the State of Georgia for Preliminary Injunction against the severe withdrawals from Lake Lanier by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

The Lake Lanier Association summarized its position as follows:

No basis in fact or law for the Corps’ Interim Operating Plan’s requirement of a 5,000 cubic feet per second flow at the Chattahoochee gauge, and that the flow should be reduced;

The Endangered Species act does not require more than the natural flow of the ACF to protect the mussels and sturgeon identified as being at risk.

The Corps is required to protect and balance all purposes for the construction of its facilities in the ACF as identified in their 1930’s study and has not supported some of the purposes by increasing Lake Lanier’s discharge in excess of its natural inflow.

The Lake Lanier Association also addresses the impact of the excessive releases on residents, businesses and boaters on Lake Lanier and included as an exhibit a copy of a study of Lake Lanier’s economic impact of recreation as evaluated in a 2001 Marine Trade Association of Metro Atlanta (MTAMA) Study.

The entire Memorandum of Law is on the association’s web site, www.lakelanier.org and accessible from the home page.

The Lake Lanier Association’s board of directors continues to monitor this situation and will act in its ongoing efforts to protect Lake Lanier and represent the rights of its members.

Updates

More than 1300 volunteers, including hundreds of Boy and Girl Scouts, turned out on September 29 for the Lake Lanier Association’s 19 th Annual Shore Sweep. The volunteers collected 42 tons of trash and Styrofoam at 14 sites around Lake Lanier.

The volunteers combed Lake Lanier’s shoreline for five hours from 8 a.m . until 1 p.m. The most Styrofoam was collected this year by a concerted effort in Dawson County. Volunteers scouted out Styrofoam and other large objects on the shoreline in advance and organized groups to retrieve it and take it by boat to War Hill Park . The association thanks all sponsors, donors and especially the volunteers for their dedication and efforts.

The Lake Lanier 50th Anniversary cookbooks have arrived, and you can order yours in time for the holidays! Compiled by the Lake Lanier Association, the cookbook was originally started in 2005, and now has over 200 great recipes including your boating and picnic favorites and recipes from area restaurants. To order your cookbook, please go to our web site, http://www.lakelanier.org/ev_lla_cookbook.php

ANYONE REQUESTING OFFICIAL COMMENTS FROM THE LAKE LANIER ASSOCATION IS ASKED TO PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS:

Jackie Joseph, President
Val Perry, Executive Vice President
Vicki Barnhorst, Executive Director

All can be reached by emailing lakeinfo@lakelanier.org

October 4, 2007: Call to Action for Lake Lanier Stakeholders

Lake Lanier is facing the most serious threat to its existence since it was opened and filled 50 + years ago. The current drought that has plagued Georgia for the past two years threatens to create a major economic and survival problem for North Georgia. Current projections indicate that Lanier, already 12+ feet below normal pool, will drop another 12 to 20 feet by the end of this year. This would bring the Lake down to a level where recreation would be curtailed, many docks would be on solid ground, and the strong economic engine, $5.5 billion, generated by Lanier would become stagnant, causing many businesses to slow down or close entirely.

These problems are significant, but even more problematic would be the affect on the drinking water supply for 4-5 million Georgians. Lanier provides the drinking water for Atlanta and North Georgia , and if the Lake falls below 1035 feet above sea level, the outflow at Buford dam will almost stop, halting drinking water for most municipalities below the dam.

The major cause of this crisis situation is the drought. However, prudent management of the water releases from Lanier would ameliorate the drastic drawdown of Lanier. The US Army Corps of Engineers regulates the Lanier water, and currently they release 2 to 10 times as much water as flows into Lanier. This is contra to the Corps strategy in past droughts, where releases were kept to a minimum in order to protect drinking water for Georgia. This year the extraordinary releases are purported to be to satisfy water requirements for 2 mussels that are on the endangered species list. We are convinced that Georgia citizens are far more valuable than potentially endangered mussels in Florida.

We ask that you support a “grass roots” campaign to have Georgia officials take the concerns of Lake Lanier to the Department of the Army. We need a prudent evaluation of the Lanier releases, with the intent of preserving our drinking water and the health of one of our most precious resources, Lake Lanier . Please send an email and a personal letter or note to our elected officials, encouraging them to follow up with the Department of the Army and the Corps of Engineeers to reduce the outlandish releases from Lanier.
Email/letter along with appropriate politician addresses is included in this package.

Thank you for your continued support of Lake Lanier.

July 10, 2007: Dock permit moratorium extended until October 24, 2007

Dear List members,
We have learned today that the Corps at Lake Lanier has extended the current moratorium on accepting new appointments/applications for boat dock permits until October 24, 2007.

In response to the large number of water-related fatalities on Lake Lanier this year, Shoreline Management rangers have been temporarily reassigned to perform increased water safety duties, and shoreline management activities will be suspended through September 3, 2007. All available park ranger staff, and additional rangers brought in from other Corps lakes, will be performing weekend patrols and promoting water safety with lake visitors.

As you will recall, the Corps implemented a 120 day moratorium on acceptance of new applications for private docks on April 27 to allow the Corps to complete the evaluation and processing of pending dock permit applications and appointments received prior to April 27 to ensure the maximum carrying capacity of 10,615 private boat docks was not exceeded.

The Corps will be responding to phone calls related to public safety, the purchase of property or violations on Corps property.

The Lake Lanier Association will place the Corps’ press release on its web site as soon as possible.

January 11, 2007: Water Council Town Hall Meetings

We urge you to attend a Town Hall Meeting on water quality being offered by the Georgia Water Council as part of the Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning process.

These meetings, to be held on Saturday, January 20, will give you an opportunity to ask questions and offer comments on water quality issues which already affect Lake Lanier and could affect the lake in the future. Times and venues are:

Saturday, January 20 – Gainesville
9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Gainesville State College Continuing Education Auditorium Continuing
Education Building
3820 Mundy Mill Road
Oakwood, GA 30566

Saturday, January 20 – Cumming
2:30 pm to 5:00 pm
The Cumming/Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce
212 Kelly Mill Road
Cumming, GA 3004

Each meeting will start with an open house to give citizens a chance to discuss the water planning process with Water Council members and their staffs. A presentation on the draft policy recommendation will follow the open house and the meetings will conclude with a public comment period.

Representatives from the Lake Lanier Association will be available at both sessions and will have a handout on water quality issues pertaining to Lake Lanier for your information.

The Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning Act of 2004 formed the Water Council, which consists of legislators, legislative appointees and state agency heads who have water-related responsibilities. The Act requires that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) develop the Plan, and present it to the Georgia Water Council next July. The Plan will be brought before the General Assembly in 2008.

January 8, 2007: EPD Public Meeting and Hearing

The LLA urges its members to attend the EPD’s Public Meeting and Hearing on the new draft permit they have issued to the City of Gainesville for its Flat Creek plant. The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Georgia Mountains Center, 301 Main Street, Gainesville.

The EPD will receive oral comments on water quality issues pertaining to the draft permit. The parameters in this new draft permit for Flat Creek are the same as those in the original EPD permit to Gwinnett County. The Lake Lanier Association believes that the parameters in the final Gwinnett permit, which were negotiated after the Supreme Court ruling in the LLA’s favor, should form the minimum for wastewater discharge standards for Lake Lanier.

The public may make oral comments for the record at this hearing. The EPD will receive written comments by close of business on January 18. Please send your comments to:

Director, Environmental Protection Division, Department of Natural Resources 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr, Suite 1152 Floyd Towers East Atlanta, GA 30334 We thank you for your support and hope to see you at the meeting on Thursday.