The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District will get nearly $300 million in federal stimulus money, including about $8.3 million for Buford Dam and Lake Lanier, officials announced in April. The money is part of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Included in the funds is a $3 million study to complete the update of the Corps' water control manual for the ACF basin. The study is to cover "water supply, recreation, hydropower, flood damage reduction, navigation, and fish and wildlife," according to the Corps. See more information on the Corps web site.

Despite the efforts from members of the 1071 Coalition and others, the Georgia EPD did not request the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue the reduced releases from Buford Dam beyond April 30. In a letter to the 1071 Coalition, Dr. Carol Couch, EPD Director, responded that the department's technical analysis which supported EPD's October request regarding the withdrawals found that "increasing water temperatures in the River beyond April 30 could post threats to the fishery, particularly below Morgan Falls Dam."

While this is disappointing news, members of the 1071 Coalition must remain focused on the larger picture of working with the Corps in its current update of the water control manual for the ACF basin, which sets guidelines for how much water should be released from Lanier and under what circumstances. The 1071 Coalition will hold a meeting on June 3 featuring a presentation and discussion with Jerry Barnes, Special Assistant and Director of the Southeast Water Manual Update for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1071 Coalition members and guests are encouraged to attend this very important meeting.

However thankful we are for the recent rain, we can not lose sight of the fact that we are still in the midst of a water supply crisis, nor should we lose sight of what that means for Lake Lanier. As reported by the Atlanta Journal Constitution on March 31, the drought technically may be over, but "Lanier is still recovering and stands more than 9 feet below full."

Last fall, the 1071 Coalition formed as a grassroots effort to reform the management practices of Lake Lanier. The coalition's primary issue is the departure from the basic operational philosophy that ensured Lake Lanier was full by June 1 of each year. It included the deliberate storage of water throughout the spring season, taking advantage of not only winter rains, but early spring rains as well. This deliberate storage is critical to the health of the lake since Lake Lanier sits on such a small watershed, thereby having much less impact from rainfall than other reservoirs downstream in general, and even less during droughts which are bound to return.

Thankfully, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division monitors our water supply and looks for ways to improve current reservoir operations. Last year, the EPD requested reduced releases from Buford Dam through April 30 of this year. We applaud the Corps for granting the request which, coupled with recent rainfall, has added several feet to the lake level. But we still have several feet of dried up shoreline to cover before we reach the lake's full pool and rejuvenate the ailing area's economy. To that end, the 1071 Coalition submitted a letter to EPD asking that the department request an extension to the reduced flows. The AJC also published an op-ed with similar comments by 1071 Coalition President Grier Todd on April 3.

Coalition members are encouraged to write the EPD with your concerns as well. Letters can be sent to:
Dr. Carol Couch
Director
Georgia Environmental Protection Division
2 Martin Luther King Drive, SE
Suite 1152 East Tower
Atlanta, GA  30334

Mark your calendars on June 3 for the next 1071 Coalition update.

The 1071 Coalition will hold a public forum on June 3 at 6pm at the Legacy Lodge and Conference Center of Lake Lanier Islands Resort. The evening will feature a presentation and discussion with Jerry Barnes, Special Assistant and Director of the Southeast Water Manual Update for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The retired Corps executive was retained by the Corps as a consultant to head the study to update the operating manual. Mr. Barnes will give an update on the work at the June 3 event, and Coalition leaders will report on the progress of the coalition.