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Name:	longtimer -	Reply
Subject:	Answering a question...
Date:	6/17/2007 11:34:51 PM

I was catching up on several pages worth of posts, and came across the following question: "WHY CAN'T MARTIN BE A FLOW OF THE RIVER LAKE LIKE MITCHELL AND LAY?"

Surprisingly, no one ever answered the question, which was posed by someone with the clever-esque handle of Kizma Anuice. (Who wants to bet that Kizma "rules the school?")

Anyway, here is the answer:

Yes, Lay Lake and Lake Mitchell are what is known as "run of the river" lakes; Lake Martin, in contrast, is an impoundment, or reservoir.

Run of the river lakes release the water about as fast as it comes into the lake; the water flows into the lake, through the turbines, and on downstream.

Reservoirs hold the water, and release it later as need be. There can be releases for hydroelectric generation, flood control, downstream water management, environmental reasons, and so on; the important thing to remember is that the water is held back for a time.

So how is the lake affected by its status as either a run of the river lake, or a reservoir? Take a look at these links, all maps of run of the river lakes in Alabama:

Lay Lake: http://www.laylake.info/Nav3.asp
Lake Mitchell: http://www.lakemitchell.info/Nav3.asp
Yates Lake: http://yates.uslakes.info/Nav3.asp

Now compare those to our own Lake Martin: http://www.lakemartin.com/Nav3.asp

Can you see the difference?

The bottom line is this: were the Power Company to decide to give Kizma what he wants, Martin Dam would hold LESS water back. In short order, the shores of Lake Martin would be very close to what the shores of the Tallapoosa River were before the dam was built. Everything west of the Dixie Sailing Club would not longer be anywhere near the water, and a good portion of what now lies east of the main channel would dry up, as well.

If you want to visualize what "run of the river Lake Martin" would look like, take a current map of the lake, locate the river channel, and trace it with a nice fat magic marker. The path made by the magic marker would represent the waters of Lake Martin.

Now, Kizma, is that really what you want?

Name:	Kizma Anuice -	Reply
Subject:	Answering an answer
Date:	6/18/2007 7:25:06 AM

YOU MUST WORK FOR THE POWER COMPANY?

You being a long timer should know that the size of Lay Dam was increased several years ago. When this happened the depth of "Lay Lake" increased and the "full pool" number increased.

You seem to ignore the term "run of the river LAKE".

To me this means that the guy who programs the computer that pushes the switch at the turbine, does it in such a way that the amount of water going into the lake roughly equals the amount of water going out of the lake. This would roughly amount to a stable lake level.

THat is what they have at Mitchell and Lay. That is what we NEED at Martin.

YOu may want to argue semantics but us Anuices don't waste our time with that.

You know we are "anti-semantic"

Name:	longtimer -	Reply
Subject:	Answering with facts
Date:	6/18/2007 11:42:20 AM

No, I have no connection whatsoever with APCO, other than writing them a monthly check for the power I use.

You seem to understand that a run of the river lake is one where the water leaves almost as fast as it comes in. So see if you can understand that Lake Martin was designed as a reservoir, which means that water is held back. But even with water held back, the lake is low and getting lower; to let water out as fast as it comes in would lower the lake even more.

Lake Martin, as it is now, couldn't be deepened, for two obvious reasons.
One: Most docks would b underwater, many houses would be dangerously close to the water, and some septic systems would be in, or run into, the lake. So because of the houses that already exist, a "full" Lake Martin will never be above 490 above MSL.
Two: The dam isn't much than 490 itself. So the dam would have to be raised.

Now it's true that Lake Martin could become a run of the river lake. And like other run of the river lakes, the shoreline would be close to that of the river bed. So if you want the lake to be smaller, keep pushing for your "run of the river" dream. You'll wind up with a lake that has a steady water level, deep water year round, and maybe 150 miles of shoreline, none of it west of the sailing club.

Fortunately for the rest of us, APCO will dismiss thoughts like yours without a second thought.

Name:	8hcap -	Reply
Subject:	Answering with facts
Date:	6/18/2007 12:06:15 PM

Are we sure they are not letting out more than is coming in right now?

8

Name:	MythBuster -	Reply
Subject:	Answering with facts
Date:	6/18/2007 1:11:01 PM

You forgot one... if Martin were to become run of the river (ignoring the reasons that it won't) then Alabama Power would lose the storage functionality of the lake. Since that storage is used for reasons like downstream navigation, flood control, downstream ecology, and so on, it's safe to say that storgae capacity ranks a whole lot higher on APCO's Imoprtant Things to Consider list than "some boat owners want more water in the lake."

Name:	longtimer -	Reply
Subject:	Does it matter?
Date:	6/18/2007 1:26:02 PM

I see your point, but another point is that becoming a run of the river lake would never make the lake higher, because being a run of the river lake means that water is NOT being held back. What we need right now is for as much water as possible to be held back.

I don't know how much water is coming in right now, but it's not much; as dry as it has been around here, it has been even worse in the northern part of the state, and that's where our water comes from. I think they are storing as much as they are allowed; I know that they have requested that they be allowed to decrease what they are releasing. But think about that: they are requesting to decrease what they are releasing; in a run of the river lake, they would (by definition) already have released everything that had come in.

Name:	Pontoonfisher -	Reply
Subject:	Answering a question...
Date:	6/18/2007 4:56:51 PM

I think I will throw my 2 cents in here as well. My understanding is that Martin Dam is required by federal law to release a certain amount of water to maintain downstream navigation. This is a main reason why you see the lower water level. The full pool level is based on average rain fall throughout the summer. We are in an exceptional drought therefore the lake will be lower and there is not much we can do about it. For those of you without year round water, life on the lake is not much fun this year. I have heard alot of complaining from newbies to the lake about the water level. All I can say is deal with it. This is a fact about Martin. If you don't like it then you should have bought a lot with year round water. It has happened before and it will happen again.

Name:	babygirl -	Reply
Subject:	Good point Pontoonfisher....
Date:	6/18/2007 5:38:03 PM

We may not be able to launch our boat at our house but public ramps are available in the area. However, we still enjoy watching the sunset on what little bit of water we do have! Not to mention, the moonlite nights and stars. There are more advantages to living on the Lake than just water. Yeah, it is nice but sometimes it is not available when we are in a drought like we are right now. Sometimes life stinks and you have to make the best of it! If you live on Lake Martin with water or not, just be thankful you are on one of the most beautiful lakes in Alabama!!!! There is always next year! Rhonda

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