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	Name:	MartynMart -
	Subject:	Decatur Daily Article
	Date:	9/19/2007 12:32:15 PM

There have been a lot of condescending remarks on this forum about lots with "seasonal water" yet most of the lots with "deep, year round water" require the agility of a mountain goat or an ability to rapel to be able to reach the boat dock when the water is low. In other words, access to the docks of these "deep, year round water" lots is seasonal also.

When water levels fluctuate as much as they do, it affects everybody in one way or another. The Smith Lake of the 21st Century is not the same lake it was in the 20th Century. As recently as five or ten years ago, Alabama Power could keep the fisherman of Smith Lake happy as long the water levels did not adversely affect the spawning season. Today, millions of dollars are pouring in to the Smith Lake area to create vacation and year round homes. You can't expect these new home owners to be content with the answer that Alabama Power has "always" drastically lowered the lake levels before the summer season is over. Just because it has always been done that way doesn't mean that things can't change.

But, the problem does not get solved just by complaining (whining some would say). If the need for a cooling tower is the problem, everyone needs to work together with Alabama to help solve the problem. Since the demands are being driven primarily by the new development on the lake, I would suggest that the developers place a surcharge on new developments with that surcharge to go to Alabama Power to help pay for the cooling tower.

When a developer builds in a subdivision that requires curbs, gutters and sidewalks, that cost gets passed on to the buyer. In my view, the cooling tower surcharge would fall into the same category. The current high price of houses and condos does not seem to be a deterrent to sales so a few extra thousand dollars should not be a problem. In fact, if the cooling tower would help to stabilize the lake's water level, the value of everyone's property would increase.

I'm sure that there are several approaches that can be taken to stabilize water levels. My suggestion is just an attempt to point out one approach to solving the problem. My point is that we need to spend our energies in trying to work with Alabama Power to make things better. Accusations, finger pointing, and threatening to resign from a position don't accomplish anything positive. Without Alabama Power, we wouldn't have this beautiful lake. So, thank you Alabama Power.

As the nature of the lake has changed from an undeveloped, fishing lake to an ever busier, recreation lake we just need to work together to make the Smith Lake of the 21st Century a fun place for ourselves, our children, and generations to come. I am confident that we can do that.