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According to preliminary results of a Lake Lanier regional economic impact study commissioned by the 1071 Coalition, visitation to the area dropped by nearly 800,000 in-season visitors from 2007 to 2008. It was during this period when lake levels fell 17 feet below full pool, and the fiscal year (the 12-month period ending on September 30) - though hit by high gas prices - was largely unaffected by the recession, according to the study.

"Most of us were not surprised to hear about the 800,000 visitor drop, since we felt its impact with our declining businesses in 2008," said Alex Laidlaw, 1071 Coalition President and Vice President of Westrec Marinas. "However, we are still learning, and anxiously await more data coming from the study that will paint the picture of just what the visitor decline means in terms of not only the economy of our businesses around the lake, but the economy of the region as a whole."

On Jan. 19, the coalition's Board of Directors heard from representatives of the Bleakly Advisory Group who are studying the impact of Lake Lanier's low levels in recent years due to the last drought, the longest and most severe over the 25 years measured. Other data from the preliminary results include:

• Total visits were down 13.1 percent in FY09 compared to FY00.
• An estimate by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding a decline in boating visits is confirmed by a drop in concession income earned by marinas from FY07 to FY08 - a decrease of more than $400,000.
• Lake Lanier visitors spent $180.3 million in the region (30 mile radius) in 2006, day visitors accounting for nearly 96 percent of total visits and 86 percent of total visitor spending.

The economic impact study is expected to be complete by early spring of this year.

Please renew your membership and support the 1071 Coalition
Since the 1071 Coalition was launched in September 2008, we have made great strides in inserting our priorities of the health and prosperity of Lake Lanier into the dialogue of ongoing water issues that will have an impact for years to come. With your financial support, we have had presence in the news media and in the boardrooms where important water policy discussions are being held. In all these discussions, we remain focused on our mission of advocating for science-based, updated management practices of Lake Lanier. Please consider renewing your membership to the 1071 Coalition today. We are making progress towards all our objectives, but need your support to continue.

The scoping process for the ACF River Basin has been reopened. A Federal Register Notice of Intent was published on November 19 to reopen the scoping period. The purpose is to revise the scope to be consistent with the July 17 court decision. The notice document states that the scope will be revised as follows:

1. The Corps will not continue to accommodate present level of withdrawals beyond 2012;
2. The Corps will not consider a reallocation of storage for water supply at Lake Lanier;
3. Lake withdrawals will be limited to 10 mgd (8 mgd for Gainesville and 2 mgd for Buford);
4. The required off-peak flow at Buford Dam will be 600 cfs. Therefore, "when the Corps is not generating hydropower to meet peak demand, the Corps will not release more than 600 cfs from Buford Dam to support downstream water withdrawals."

Comments may be submitted on the Corps web site until January 2, 2010 to be considered in the updated scoping report.

The water control manual spells out how our reservoirs should be managed, including how much water is released from Lake Lanier. 1071 Coalition members have pushed hard for the update, as the current manual is 50 years old and the ACF basin, particularly with metro Atlanta's growth, has changed drastically over the years.

It's time to renew your membership and support the 1071 Coalition
Since the 1071 Coalition was launched just a year ago, we have made great strides in inserting our priorities of the health and prosperity of Lake Lanier into the dialogue of ongoing water issues that will have an impact for years to come. With the support of nearly 200 members, we have had presence in the news media and in the boardrooms where important water policy discussions are being held. In all these discussions, we remain focused on our mission of advocating for science-based, updated management practices of Lake Lanier, and we need your membership renewal to continue this critical work for the long term.

Please consider renewing your membership to the 1071 Coalition today. We are making progress towards all our objectives, but need your support to continue.

Happy Holidays!

Long-term, work of the member-funded 1071 Coalition critical
Since the 1071 Coalition was launched just a year ago, we have made great strides in inserting our priorities of the health and prosperity of Lake Lanier into the dialogue of ongoing water issues that will have an impact for years to come. With the support of nearly 200 members, we have had presence in the news media and in the boardrooms where important policy discussions are being held. In all these discussions, we remain focused on our mission of advocating for science-based, updated management practices of Lake Lanier that are critical for the long-term, and we need your membership renewal to continue this critical work.

With the July 17 court decision ruling that water supply is an illegal use of the Lake Lanier, members of the 1071 Coalition have been in discussions with elected officials and other stakeholders regarding a resolution. The coalition is also represented on Governor Perdue's Water Contingency Task Force, a group developing recommendations on Georgia's water needs should the ruling go into effect. As former state Environmental Protection Division Director Harold Reheis told 1071 Coalition members at its annual meeting in October, the governor is pushing to have the task force plan in hand before the 2010 General Assembly convenes. (Click here to read more of Reheis' comments as covered by AccessNorthGa.com.)

Additionally, the 1071 Coalition has joined the ACF Stakeholders - a diverse group of power companies, water supply operators, environmental groups, advocacy groups, chambers of commerce, local governments, civic groups, and individuals from throughout the basin working together towards the common goal of figuring out how to share this common resource.

Our initial objective of determining the lake's economic impact on the region is in its final stages of completion. This study will equip us with more ammunition in all of these discussions. Please consider renewing your membership to the 1071 Coalition today. We are making progress towards all our objectives, but need your support to continue.

1071 Coalition surveys being conducted until Nov. 30
For just a few more days, the 1071 Coalition is asking all eligible north Georgia citizens to take part in two surveys that are part of its economic impact study of Lake Lanier. We especially need more responses to the business survey. The information and data collected from these surveys will be important to determine the impact of Lanier and its changing levels on the region. Please give us your input by taking either or both of the surveys:

• If you are a resident of the north Georgia area, please click here to take the resident survey.
• If you own or represent a business in the north Georgia area, please click here to take the business survey.

On Oct. 27, the 1071 Coalition will hold its second annual meeting, open and free to the public. Harold Reheis, former EPD Director and Senior Vice President, Joe Tanner & Associates, will keynote the meeting. Reheis is expected to discuss Georgia's response to U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson's decision that water supply is an illegal use of Lake Lanier. Meeting attendees will also hear about progress made by the 1071 Coalition since it launched just over a year ago.

"Thanks to the support of nearly 200 members including residents, businesses and government partners, the 1071 Coalition has held a seat at the table for every major discussion of water supply management over the last 12 months," said Alex Laidlaw, 1071 Coalition President and Vice President of Westrec Marinas. "Though the recent heavy rains brought Lake Lanier up to full pool, we need to address the need for improved long-term management. Hopefully a science-based update of the Corps' Water Control Manual will be one positive consequence of the pending resolution to the tri-state water wars," he said.

Surveys: Coalition needs your input
In addition to urging public officials to make responsible long-term management of our state's reservoirs a top priority, another of the key objectives of the 1071 Coalition has been met this year: the commissioning of an extensive economic impact study of Lake Lanier and its changing levels. "Initial dollars have been raised to finance the study, but we need $40,000 more to complete it and also reach our first-year fundraising goal of $175,000," said Kit Dunlap, 1071 Coalition Vice President and President & CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. "We are grateful to the support of local business organizations and county governments. With more contributions, we can reach that financial goal and complete the study in the next few months."

The 1071 Coalition is currently conducting two surveys that are part of the study. The information and data collected from these surveys will be important to determine the economic impact of Lake Lanier and its changing levels on the region, which is the goal of the study. We need your input, and you can certainly take both surveys if they both apply to you.

If you are a resident of the north Georgia area, please click here to take the resident survey.

If you own or represent a business in the north Georgia area, please click here to take the business survey.

The 1071 Coalition is currently conducting two surveys that are part of an economic impact study sponsored by the coalition with the support of local business organizations and county governments. The information and data collected from these surveys will be important to determine the economic impact of Lake Lanier and its changing levels on the region, which is the goal of the study. Though the lake is currently full pool, we will continue our work to advocate for better long-term management of our state’s largest reservoir. To that end, we need your input. Feel free to take both surveys if they both apply to you.

If you are a resident of the north Georgia area, please click here to take the resident survey. If you own or represent a business in the north Georgia area, please click here to take the business survey.

The 1071 Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining water levels in Lake Lanier that sustain water supply, recreation, and economic prosperity through the advocacy of appropriate water releases for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Please take the time to complete one or both of these surveys as they are critical tools in achieving the 1071 Coalition’s objective of determining and communicating the economic impact of Lake Lanier on the entire north Georgia region. For more information, please visit www.1071Coalition.org

SAVE THE DATE: 1071 Coalition Public Forum, Oct. 27
The 1071 Coalition is pleased to announce Dr. Carol Couch, Director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will be the featured speaker at our quarterly public forum on Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Legacy Lodge Conference Center on Lake Lanier Islands Resort. More details to follow. All members and nonmembers alike are welcome to attend.

More than enough rain??? With the deluge of rain in recent weeks - in some parts of metro Atlanta, in fact, a devastating deluge - many probably wonder if Lake Lanier is at full pool. As of September 23, Lake Lanier is still three feet below full at 1068 feet, which is actually normal for this time of year. Releases remain consistent for water quality, water supply and hydropower. However, we may see an increase in withdrawals by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the coming weeks in order to maintain proper water quality during the flooding in the river basin.

To keep an eye on the levels of Lake Lanier, there are two sites maintained by the U. S. Geological Survey that can be watched on a real time basis. One shows the current lake level, and the other shows discharges from Buford Dam. 1071 Coalition representatives remain vigilant about monitoring the operations, even with the increased rainfall.

Coalition members working on resolution to recent Water Wars ruling
With the considerable amount of rain this past spring, Lake Lanier's residents, visitors and business owners have had a much more enjoyable summer than in 2008. But as the summer comes to a close, we must remember that the concern over Lake Lanier isn't just about rainfall and its affect on Lanier's levels; it is about long-term management that will ensure the lake's health into perpetuity. That's why the 1071 Coalition remains focused on our mission to advocate for appropriate water releases necessary to maintain optimal levels at Lake Lanier while meeting the needs of the entire ACF river basin.

Nothing makes the need for science-based, updated management practices of Lake Lanier more poignant than the July 17 court decision which ruled that water supply is an illegal use of the lake. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson gave the states involved in the ongoing water wars - Alabama, Florida and Georgia - three years to come to a resolution or risk drastic cuts to metro Atlanta's water supply.

Members of the 1071 Coalition are obviously concerned about the ruling, and executive committee members have been conferring with leaders throughout the region over the last several weeks. A few members participated in a stakeholders meeting in July with Governor Sonny Perdue. The meeting started discussions of a strategy towards a resolution to the ruling and was attended by more than 100 local and state elected officials, business leaders, senior staff from several state agencies and the affected water utilities, and other interest groups. At the meeting, the governor emphasized that the threat to metro Atlanta is a threat to Georgia, and he stated that he is resolved to use his influence and the appropriate state resources to protect Georgia's interests in the ACF river system.

Economic impact study needed now more than ever
The July 17 ruling makes the 1071 Coalition's immediate objective, to determine and convey the impact Lake Lanier has on the region, even more critical. With preliminary results due by early October, the coalition-commissioned economic impact study will equip us and all Lake Lanier stakeholders with data supporting the fact that Lake Lanier is not just about recreation or even water supply. The study, for which the coalition is still in need of member contributions, is looking at the economic consequences of businesses and residents that depend on Lake Lanier, but also its regional impact. According to Ken Bleakly, the lead consultant conducting the study, "there will be a very significant story to tell regarding the number of industries involved with Lake Lanier and the financial and economic impact those industries have on the entire north Georgia region."

We are concerned about our lake, and we must work together to communicate its importance as we remain involved in the state's effort to seek a resolution in the water wars. We need to think bigger than our immediate needs. Yes, we need to maintain a watchful eye on the lake levels, but we believe that there is enough water to satisfy all users of the ACF river basin - if it is managed properly. Hopefully a responsible, science-based update of the Corps' Water Control Manual will be one positive consequence of our current struggle.

On July 30 the Gainesville Times ran an opinion column by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle on the recent court ruling by Judge Magnuson emphasizing that "Georgia has a fundamental right to the water that originates from its rivers and rain."

Download the complete article here.

Corps representative gives 1071 Coalition members status on Water Control Manual Update

Nearly 200 people packed a meeting room at Lake Lanier Islands on June 3 to hear from Jerry Barnes, Special Assistant and Director of the Southeast Water Manual Update for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 1071 Coalition held the public forum so its members could better understand how the Corps will update its current operations of the lake.

"Though the lake has risen fifteen feet since we launched the 1071 Coalition, we must keep our focus on encouraging responsible and equitable management of the lake for the long term," said Alex Laidlaw, Treasurer of the coalition and Vice President for Westrec Marinas. "We need to keep an eye on the flows from Buford Dam, because we can't go back to what we endured for most of the last two years."

Since the Corps is the managing body of Lake Lanier, impacting its Water Control Manual Update is the primary goal of the 1071 Coalition. The coalition asked Barnes to keynote the forum and answer questions from coalition members and guests.

"We're not attempting to resolve all the conflicts or long-standing controversies of the water wars," said Barnes. "We're just trying to get a manual put together that says here is how we are going to operate the lakes as a system, given varying patterns of rainfall and drought that could occur in different proportions in that system."

1071 Coalition Commissions Economic Impact Study

An initial objective of the 1071 Coalition is to determine the economic impact of Lanier's low levels on the region and state. This information will be useful to inform the debate about the economic consequences of maintaining the lake at certain levels during its peak season. At a forum held on June 3, 1071 Coalition members and guests heard from Ken Bleakley of the Bleakley Advisory Group as he presented the scope of the coalition-funded economic impact study. On behalf of the team which also includes PBS&J and Dr. Bruce Seaman, Bleakley gave a preview of some of the initial data gathered, such as:

• There are more than 10,000 employers within the immediate Lake Lanier area
• Most of them are private sector businesses
  • Nearly 1,000 are government and non-profit entities
  • Nearly 140,000 people work within the immediate Lake Lanier area
• More than 200,000 people are living in the immediate Lake Lanier area
  • An 87% increase from 2000
  • A 102% increase from 1990

Additionally, 215 area businesses employing nearly 1,900 persons are directly engaged in marine-related, lodging and amusement and recreation services.  These businesses have estimated combined annual sales of $145.7 million. More than 2,400 additional businesses are engaged in home construction and related activities, employing 9,400 workers and generating annual sales of $1.1 billion. Most of these businesses are dependent to some degree on Lake Lanier.*

The economic impact study will be completed this fall.