Fortunately our area has recovered from the severe drought conditions that compelled me to cancel the planned drawdown for last Fall which was intended to facilitate construction of new docks and repairs to existing structures. I'm pleased to report we are on schedule to drawdown the lake this year starting in the middle of October. You may want to relocate moored vessels soon because the water level will drop rapidly once the drawdown begins.
Please remember to allow time for Foxchase Design Review Board review and approval which is required before building any new structures, including docks. Contact Jim Vallery for further details on what information the DRB needs to process your request. [Note: I did not include his personal phone number and e-mail address here due to the unprotected format of this blog site.]
Also be advised individual property owners are responsible for obtaining any local, state and/or federal permits that may be required for shoreline modifications, such as dredging out sediment. Regulatory requirements and permit application fees are project specific and authorizations can take a significant amount of time to obtain. If you are considering doing any shoreline modification, here is a list of agency contacts to help get you started:
City of Opelika Engineering Department
Walter Dorsey, City Engineer
E-mail: wdorsey@ci.opelika.al.us
(334) 705-5450
Alabama Department of Environmental Management/Water Division
H2omail@adem.state.al.us
(334) 271-7823
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Mobile District Regulatory Division
dll-cesam-rd-web@sam.usace.army.mil
(251) 690-2658
Sadly I cannot predict how long the drawdown procedure will take to complete. The lake level will drop until it reaches the elevation of the intake, at which point suction will be lost and the lake will begin to refill. The rate at which the water level drops and returns to normal will depend on the amount of precipitation we receive. I ask for your patience during this process. Although the drawdown will adversely affect water access and the overall aesthetics of the lake, it should only be a temporary inconvenience. Please also keep in mind that in addition to allowing residents to build/repair docks, the drawdown has ecological benefits to the lake too.
Thank you,
Sharon
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7 comments:
Great job Sharon! This can be an excellent tool to communicate if everyone will utilize it. Thanks for your time, dedication, and support given to the lake committee and subdivision.
I second Anonymous' comment, although I think this so called "community" is anonymous enough and I can't imagine why anyone on this committee would have any fears about revealing themselves.
HOWEVER I VOTE AGAINST THE DRAWDOWN FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
1. WHO DECIDES TO DO IT AND WHY IS THERE NEVER A VOTE BY THE LAKE COMMITTEE?
2. WHO SAYS IT'S GOOD FOR THE LAKE AND THE WILDLIFE WHO LIVE AND NEST HERE. I'VE SEEN A PRECIPITOUS DECLINE IN WILDLIFE...AND I ATTRIBUTE IT TO THE DRAWDOWNS. I'D LIKE TO HEAR SOME EXPERT OPINION ON THIS AND NOT JUST ACCEPT WHAT I'M TOLD.
3. WE HAVE ENOUGH DOCKS...AND I HAVE NO FAITH THAT DREDGING WILL DO ALL THE GRASS CARP ANY GOOD.
TED BECKER
becker.ted@gmail.com
Sharon, thank you for all your hard work and for always keeping the lines of communication open. I have been waiting for a year to finish my lot/shoreline and am very anxious to get work started and will contact the city and DRB for approval.
I'm waiting for answers to my questions.
So "Anonymous" has a vested interest in building a dock. I'll tell you what "Anonymous"...you can use my dock all you want...but I do not want another drawdown until these questions of mine are answered...
AND UNLESS SHARON OR SOMEONE ELSE ANSWERS THEM TO MY SATISFACTION....I WILL GO TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT AND FILE AN ACTION NEXT WEEK TO ENJOIN THE CONDO ASSOCIATION FROM DOING THIS AND WE CAN LET A JUDGE DECIDE.
Also, in this court action, I shall add another part to the complaint to keep the Association from closing the gate until a variety of matters are taken up as to make the gate work correctly and not keep me from getting in late at night. What a screwed up system we have here.
Ted Becker
What irony -- bemoan the lack of 'community' in the subdivision and then go off on wild rants and threaten a lawsuit
This is Don Ketcham and I apologize for the 1st anonymous signature in my original message but I wanted to thank Sharon for the wonderful job she is doing and I did not want to take the time (while at work)to register on Google. Never using blog before I did not think about it automatically signing as "anonymous" nor did I see my comments as subjective in any such way as to show "fear" or even require signing. So I will sign up on Google and I will call you by phone so we can discuss this Mr. Becker.
To all - Again I think this site is a great tool... (if used properly) to ask questions, get answers, communicate, and maybe relieve potential grievances before they propagate. My image is that it is a site strictly for lake subjects and if you have other subdivision problems your officers should be available by phone. Maybe this type blog/website can be recommended for the homeowner’s association at the next meeting???
I would encourage everyone (particularly with issues) to remember officers and committee chairpersons are volunteering their time and efforts. Offensive or threatening approaches are very consumming for everyone and discourages participation.
How lucky the association is to have knowledgeable people willing to provide services at no charge for the good of the subdivision.
Regards, Don Ketcham
Don, you hit the nail on the head and thank you again Sharon for all your efforts!
John Sweatman
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