The Lake Lanier Association wants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider releasing water from rain-swollen Lake Lanier at the rate it announced last week.
The lake is now about three feet above full pool as a result of recent heavy rains and the Corps has begun around-the-clock releases through Buford Dam in an effort to lower the level to 1071, which is full pool for this time of the year.
In a Friday letter to Brig. Gen. Diana Holland, Commander of the Corps' South Atlantic Division, Wilton Rooks, President of the Association and the group's Executive Director, Joanna Cloud, said "we are writing to request a deviation under Sections 7-15 and 7-16 of the Water Control Manual for Buford Dam and Lake Sidney Lanier."
The letter refers to a press release issued May 30 by the Corps' Mobile District announcing its decision to release water from Buford Dam continuously at a rate of 7,000-9,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) for the next two weeks.
"It is this action from which we are requesting a deviation. With the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries already swollen from recent rain, downstream areas are already inundated, including - in particular - the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which is negatively affected by high water flows as recognized in Section 7-4 (3) of the Manual. By releasing so much water from Buford Dam, the Corps will exacerbate downstream inundation for weeks of the summer in an effort to return Lake Lanier to the top of conservation in such a short period of time. We believe such a rapid return to 1071 is unnecessary and that a different course of action would be preferable for both lake users and downstream interests."
The Association recommends limiting releases of 6,000 cfs or higher to as few days as required to reach 1073. "Once 1073 has been achieved," the letter states, "the Corps should then reduce the lake level to 1071 much more gradually over the remainder of the summer recreation period (though the end of September, at which time the Guide Curve begins to decline toward winter pool of 1070), rather than over a period of a mere two weeks. While it is impossible at this time to offer a specific calculation, we would suggest that continuing releases in the range of 1,000 cfs would more gradually reduce the lake to 1071 while significantly reducing impacts on the river and recreational resources."
Here is the full text of the letter:
June 1, 2018
Brigadier General Diana Holland, Commander
United States Army Corps of Engineers
South Atlantic Division
60 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-8801
Dear General Holland:
We are writing to request a deviation under Sections 7-15 and 7-16 of the Water Control Manual for
Buford Dam and Lake Sidney Lanier. As you are aware, recent rains have swollen waterways in the
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Lake Lanier’s level is approximately 1073.92 as we write
this letter, nearing three feet above full summer pool. The Mobile District issued a press release on May
30 announcing its decision to release water from Buford Dam continuously at a rate of 7,000-9,000 cfs
for the next two weeks. It is this action from which we are requesting a deviation.
With the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries already swollen from recent rain, downstream areas
are already inundated, including - in particular - the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area,
which is negatively affected by high water flows as recognized in Section 7-4 (3) of the Manual. By
releasing so much water from Buford Dam, the Corps will exacerbate downstream inundation for weeks
of the summer in an effort to return Lake Lanier to the top of conservation in such a short period of
time. We believe such a rapid return to 1071 is unnecessary and that a different course of action would
be preferable for both lake users and downstream interests.
Although recent forecasts have proven inaccurate, there is little rain in the forecast for the foreseeable
future. Lanier has experienced many instances of high water in the past, and the current level – while
not ideal – is not at this time a cause for such a rapid return to 1071.
While we concur with the need to offset Lanier’s inflows with increased releases, we recommend that
the Corps limit releases of 6,000 cfs or higher to as few days as required to reach 1073, a lake level at
which impacts are relatively minimal. Once 1073 has been achieved, the Corps should then reduce the
lake level to 1071 much more gradually over the remainder of the summer recreation period (though
the end of September, at which time the Guide Curve begins to decline toward winter pool of 1070),
rather than over a period of a mere two weeks. While it is impossible at this time to offer a specific
calculation, we would suggest that continuing releases in the range of 1,000 cfs would more gradually
reduce the lake to 1071 while significantly reducing impacts on the river and recreational resources
Brig. Gen. Diana Holland, Commander
June 1, 2018
Page Two
downstream. We hasten to add that this release pattern should benefit all downstream users, including
those along the Apalachicola River.
An additional and important result would be to allow Lake Lanier to operate between 1071 and 1073
throughout the summer recreation season – something that has seldom if ever been allowed to occur.
That result would benefit users of Lake Lanier by providing full pool through the full period defined by
the Guide Curve, with more water available for release during the dry months of August, September,
and October from which all downstream interests would benefit. Rushing to reduce Lanier to 1071
within the next two weeks could make it impossible to obtain any of these benefits while subjecting
downstream users to unnecessary hardship.
We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to your favorable reply.
Sincerely,
Wilton Rooks, President Joanna Cloud, Executive Director
Cc: Colonel James DeLapp, Commander, USACE Mobile District
Mr. Bill Cox, National Parks Service
Ms. Deanna Greco, National Parks Service
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/6/677048/lake-group-wants-corps-to-reconsider-releases-from-lanier