Will our lakes fill up in '08?
By Staff
Kevin Stone
Franklin County Times
Low water levels through the summer months have made for some difficult fishing conditions.
The low water levels have not only made fishing difficult they have affected landowners and recreational boaters. There are a lot of very nice piers that have not been in the water this year and boaters unfamiliar with our lakes could run into shallow water very quickly. The question on my mind is: Will the lakes fill up in 2008?
We have no control over the amount of water that flows into our lakes, but we can control what flows out of them. TVA has said that they will maintain the minimum discharge of water to maintain normal winter pool levels. This is done so that the lakes will be able to hold flood water if excessive rains were to happen. Currently our lakes are at or below normal winter pool.
If Franklin County experiences another year of drought conditions, there is a good chance that our lakes will not fill up. The lakes have been low all year long, so why was it necessary to drop the levels even more? Could the lakes have been left alone and still been at a level to handle a flood? Probably so.
With additional demands for drinking water being placed on our lakes, it is even more vital that the lakes be held at a level where they can fill up, even during times of little rain. If you are concerned about our water supply, please voice your concerns to TVA.
The Millennium Project is preparing for its annual workday on Cedar Lake and Little Bear Lake. The Millennium Project works to improve fish habitats with the introduction of manmade structures. The project is in need of building materials and cedar trees.
There will be workdays held Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 to gather materials for the Feb. 9 workday. If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact Phillip Cooper or Gary Don Fleming.
This is a great opportunity for kids and adults to help improve our fisheries.
Kevin Stone is branch manager and loan officer at Valley State Bank and can be reached at (256) 332-3600.
