Why Lake Lanier's Anniversary Became a Disaster Print
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 08:59

ImageBy rights this should have been a triumphant year for those of us who live and work around Lake Lanier.

The lake entered its 50th year as the focus of a $5.5 billion dollar industry and we got ready to celebrate its importance to North Georgia. Throughout the summer good news kept on coming:

How Did 2007 Go So Wrong?  

The problems started in August when the lake started to drop and it continues to drop a foot per week. The consequences for the area have been catastrophic:  

     
  • ImageSonny Purdue's tournaments were canceled.
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  • Businesses around the lake are in a "devastating, depressing" situation with revenue drops between 30% to 90% in many places.   
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  • Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club continued to lose important events and prestige because of a lack of local funding.
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  • The Dragon Boat Festival threatened to move elsewhere because of a lack of local support and LLCKC leadership.
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  • The Lighted Boat Parade was canceled due to low water levels and safety issues.   
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  • The local housing market began to suffer because of the low water levels and the nationwide credit problems.

What is Being Done?

The sad truth is very, very little. After five years in office, Sonny Purdue has failed to put together a coherent plan and has resorted to praying and lawsuits. The Corps of Engineers is sending out mixed messages about how much water remained, initially saying that only 80 days water were left before claiming that several months more supply was available. Local authorities are not doing much more than asking people to cut back on water and expressing a lot of regrets about how they should have started building reservoirs years ago.  

What needs to be done?

     
  • Immediately develop a plan to deal with the next drought. In all likelihood the next drought will be in 2008. Meteorologists are predicting a warm, dry winter and we have no reason to expect that rainfall will help us escape from this hole. We need Sonny to spend his time planning and financing new reservoirs rather than pulling publicity stunts.   
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  • ImageReassure developers that the water levels will rebound. Companies are planning to pour millions of dollars into our economy and create thousands of jobs. They need to know that the reason for them coming here - the lake - is valued and supported as an economic engine.   
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  • Local government support to attract and keep events on the lake. Make it a priority to reschedule the Go Fish tournaments, keep the Dragon Boat festival and give the LLCKC the resources it needs to not only stop losing events but start attracting more. Yes, we should look at spending more tax dollars on boosting the tourist economy.
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  • Recognize that the lake is North Georgia's highway. Atlanta's wealth comes from its location in the heart of Georgia at the intersection of i95, i85 and i20. Shut down the highways and you shut down Atlanta's economy. The same is true of North-East Georgia. Lake Lanier is so important to the regional economy that allowing the lake to fall more than 10 feet below full pool has a similarly catastrophic effect.
Lake Lanier's 50th anniversary could still be recognized as a great year - one in which we realised the dangers to the lake and started to solve them. Do our local and state leaders have the vision to save Lake Lanier? We'll find out over six months which are going be the most important in the lake's 50 year history.
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