lakelanierorg

The Association's attorney, Clyde Morris, along with attorneys for the State, the Atlanta Regional Commission, Gwinnett County, and several metro area governmental water supply providers, filed a Motion for Summary Judgment late Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville.

The motion challenges the Corps of Engineers' Revised Interim Operations Plan for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF). That plan, originally implemented in 2006, eventually lead to Lanier's being drawn down to its lowest level in history on the day after Christmas two years ago. The Association's goal is to prevent a recurrence of that disastrous depletion.

After conclusion of all motions and briefing, we expect a decision from Judge Magnuson sometime in the spring of 2010. We will issue a more complete description of the proceedings in the next newsletter and will keep you abreast of important events in the interim.

Main Legal Filing

Appendix

Below for your information is a link to an article in today’s AJC about the Lake Lanier Association’s (LLA) involvement in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) Stakeholders.  The LLA’s involvement is in addition to our intervention in the Tri-States litigation assuring that we are participating in the legal process.

To join the Lake Lanier Association or to donate to our legal fund, please visit our Web site, www.lakelanier.org

AJC article by Jeremy Redmon

Lake Lanier Association has been involved in the formation of the ACF Stakeholders from the very beginning when Val Perry and I attended an exploratory meeting in LaGrange last year. The sole purpose of the first meeting was to see if there was enough optimism to schedule a second meeting. Through a process that involved multiple meetings in the ACF Basin to explore the potential support for the group to a series of Steering Committee meetings that developed an agreed upon charter and bylaws with mission and goals, a cohesive group has emerged.

This is the first group with a goal to speak as a unified voice for the interests of the stakeholders on the ACF Basin. How persuasive this voice will be remains to be seen. But with power companies, cities, counties, businesses, water suppliers, advocacy groups and environmental groups from Apalachicola to Lake Lanier already as members, there is room for optimism that the federal and state will want to hear what this group has to say.

A major milestone will occur on December 10th when the first Governing Board will meet in Albany, GA after a selection process that begins on December 1st. At that point, there will be an official body empowered to make decisions regarding issues to be tackled and positions to be taken. Do not expect overnight announcements. Just as it took months for the group to coalesce around a common set of mission and goals and organizational structure, it will take time for the group to arrive at consensus decisions. Keep in mind that the political and legal structures have been at this for 18 years.

Visit www.acfstakeholders.org for details on the history of the group and to stay abreast of the status. An application is on the website for those wishing to join.

Wilton Rooks,
Vice President, Technology, LLA

Please Donate that Auto, Boat, Yacht, Truck or RV that’s no longer needed to the Lake Lanier Association!

Receive the maximum legal tax deductions and possibly a partial cash payment. For more information about car, boat, RV and other property donations or to receive a “no obligation” evaluation of your potential vehicle or other property donation Click Here … or please call toll free: (866) 2-GIVING or (866) 244-8464. We pick up anywhere in the U.S.A.

Beginning in 2006, the Lake Lanier Association has advocated raising Lake Lanier’s year-round full pool from 1071 to 1073 feet above sea level as a way of accommodating North Georgia’s water supply storage needs.

Because of the recent rains, we expect the Lake may reach 1073 within the next 24 hours.  If you live on the lake, we want your input on whether, and how, the current raised level is impacting you.  Please reply with your comments and, if you are experiencing any negative repercussions, please be sure to include the date and time at which you make your physical observation (so we can correlate the problem with the exact level of the lake).  Photographs of problems are welcome.

If you have no negative impact and like the higher level, please let us know that as well.

Your Association is working for you to preserve a clean and full LakeLanier.

Thank you for your response.Impact

Dear All

Beginning in 2006, the Lake Lanier Association has advocated raising Lake Lanier's year-round full pool from 1071 to 1073 feet above sea level as a way of accommodating North Georgia's water supply storage needs.

Because of the recent rains, we expect the Lake may reach 1073 within the next 24 hours.  If you live on the lake, we want your input on whether, and how, the current raised level is impacting you.  Please reply to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your comments and, if you are experiencing any negative repercussions, please be sure to include the date and time at which you make your physical observation (so we can correlate the problem with the exact level of the lake).  Photographs of problems are welcome.  
If you have no negative impact and like the higher level, please let us know that as well.
 
Your Association is working for you to preserve a clean and full Lake Lanier.
 
Thank you for your response.
 
Vicki Barnhorst
The Lake Lanier Association

We have received an email from the Lake Lanier Community Preservation Association, which is a newly formed group of neighbors committed to sustained involvement in matters impacting North Hall and Lake Lanier.  They have asked us to share information on this upcoming meeting about proposed northern connector routes in North Hall which could negatively impact Lake Lanier.

Below is an excerpt from their email with a link to their Web site.
Vicki Barnhorst
The Lake Lanier Association

The GHMPO Policy meeting is so important that we want to be sure that everyone knows it is this coming Tuesday, November 10th.

Nov. 10th GHMPO Policy Meeting: We need you there .. and bring a friend!!

Next Tuesday, Nov. 10th, the GHMPO Policy Committee will meet at 10 a.m. at the GA Mountains Center.  This is the meeting where final action could be taken on the routes that we want withdrawn from the Northern Connector. We really need to have a strong showing to reinforce the action that we want the committee to take.  The impact on elected officials of looking a large number of voters in the eye (especially when making a decision about destroying homes, neighborhoods, etc.) is not to be underestimated.

Remember, there is only one member of the Policy Committee who is appointed by Hall County.  We do anticipate that some action, hopefully a formal motion, will be made for the committee to follow the Commissioners' recommendation and drop the routes, yet, it is not a given that they will.

Our intent is to solicit concerned citizens, like yourself, to be on hand to encourage them to disregard these routes now and in the future.  So come if at all possible; if you absolutely cannot - find someone to come in your place.

Petition: We need more signatures... yours and your friends !!

Just like the meeting - numbers speak volumes to elected officials.  We are targeting Tuesday's meeting to deliver the petition to the Policy Committee.  If you have not signed - please do.  It takes less than a minute.  Just go to www.stopthebridges.com, click the red button "sign the petition" and all you need to enter is your name and zip code and check a box to submit.  There is a comment field as well if you want to say why you are opposed to the routes.

If you have signed already, please take a minute to either forward this email or send the link to the web site to friends, family, neighbors or others.  The more signatures the louder the message we send.