The Lake Lanier Association recently submitted comments for the Corps of Engineers Water Control Manual revision for the ACF System. A quick summary of our comments are as follows:

– The 5,000 cfs minimum flow required at the state line is not representative of the true lowest historical flows in the ACF and is not sustainable.

– Lanier was never designed to support ALL downstream demands and can’t be expected to because the dams originally proposed on the Flint River were never built.

– The Corps’ current operating rules require more water to be released from Lanier than is necessary and do not allow as much to be stored as is possible.  These draw the lake down more than necessary and make it less likely to refill to full pool under contemporary climatic conditions.

– The Endangered Species Act does not require the Corps to augment Apalachicola River flows above run-of-river levels and the practice should not be required because it depletes Lanier unnecessarily.

– Regular navigation is no longer feasible on the ACF and the Corps should not try to support it in view of the other demands on Lanier as a resource of last resort.

To see the full text of our comments, and the supporting document references, click the below links:

WCM Comments 01142013

A Long-Term Perspective on a Modern Drought in the American Southeast

Executive Summary – Lake Lanier Economic Impact Analysis Final Report