It is getting frustrating to keep seeing this lake so low. It seems like every time it starts to fill up they increase discharge levels and no one seems to care. In my opinion it seems the corp of engineers are purposely trying to destroy recreation on this lake so they don’t have to worry about it. Does anyone know why? I really like this lake but last time I went it was so low it was hard to find a place to launch. If I was local to this lake Jeff Duncan would get a phone call every day.
Where do you live? Why not call Jeff anyway, he would appreciate your call!
Lugoff SC. I tried he does not accept calls from people not in his district. What a joke.
greed—thats what it is-- more water through the more elec they can sell–you are right they dont care a bit about recreation or the money it generates for the surrounding businesses -the corp has made that clear in their community meetings about the lake levels–you can call but your concerns will be falling on deaf ears until something changes in the management and purpose of the corp – its real depressing i remember when the lake stayed full all year long and the business (stores ,campgrounds,parks and ramps) stayed full all over the lake–now many of the convenience stores have closed and the ones that havent yet are hurting – i know many people that have said if the lake levels stayed up they would use it a lot more but it is just to dangerous for most to navigate—i know that lake like the back of my hand and have still had some pretty close calls myself
84 HYDRA SPORT 1800SS
89 Yamaha 150
‘BAD HABIT’
89 TRACKER 17 TX
MERC 50
‘OL LEAKY’
Yea I wont go far or go back at all until it rises some. Last time I put in around Clarks Hill Park and fished around the dam but would love to go fish the Russell Tailrace one day but until then I will catch my limits and spend my money elsewhere.
Fisherman and local businesses no longer mean anything to politicians. They don’t make millions in kickbacks and campaign contributions from us. Therefore they will look out for the big businesses like Duke Power or whoever it is that is controlling them.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
That would never fly at Lake Murray. Remember how Scana used to let the lake down 5-7 feet in the winter until the drought year a few years back when all the home owners and local businesses raised hell. You notice that we are in the middle of winter and where is lake murray today 358.
A lot of powerful people own houses on Lake Murray. Plus I don’t think the corp of engineers has anything to do with Murray.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
The management plan in the current FERC application for the Lake Murray dam calls for draw downs every 2 years but the license hasn’t been issued yet. Its not the home owners or businesses thats holding it up, its the NMFS assessment of Shortnose Sturgeon in the basin that has evrything on hold… According to computer models, the draw downs will help decrease nutrient loading and improve fish habitat in the summer months. Anybody seen all the duckweed in the back of Clouds Creek that just started blooming recently?
Team Shad Up & Fish
I’ve spent about 85% of my life’s wages on fishing, the rest I just wasted…
How much of a draw down? I had no idea. I thought they drew it down to allow home owners the chance to repair there docks etc every few years. Plus with all the rain in the spring it would usually fill back up to 358 before summer started but since the drought a few years ago I dont think they have done it since. (that I can remember) I just figured they had gotten a lot of heat from homeowners and businesses that summer and were leaving the lake at 358 year round to cover there asses. Where did you read that. I would like to read some more. Thanks.
Woody is very active in the Midlands striper club. They are not just a group of guys that fish. They are politically active advocates for our fishery. They work with the DNR and SCE&G to benefit the fishery. Woody probably knows this from working on the re-licensing agreement with SCE&G
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
I know I was a member myself until a few years ago. I was just wondering if this info was published anywhere. I try when possible to keep up with these things.
Here you go Bomber. Its all right here and a whole lot more on the dam license…also includes the reccomendations for future ramps and access improvements.
http://www.saludahydrorelicense.com/documents/fla/default.htm
Here is an article from USA Today on the Shortnose Sturgeon…
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-11-19-shortnosesturgeon19_ST_N.htm
Team Shad Up & Fish
I’ve spent about 85% of my life’s wages on fishing, the rest I just wasted…
Thanks Woody.
I have posted this before. There is a water company that gets its water from the Savannah river near the coast and supplies water to the surrounding area. The outflow from Clark Hill is critical to keeping the brackish wayer away from this water supply on the incoming tide. It has nothing to do with generating power or pissing off anyone. Since Hartwell feeds Russel and Clark Hill the outflow there is tied to this water supply also. Hartwell only generates power during peak periods so they release water without generating power at times.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
I have heard that rumor as well but also believe when a drought hits you have to adjust. Not wait till the lakes are 20 feet low to adjust. If you dont you loose the lake like they did. Why are discharge levels 4600cfs in the middle of a drough with the lake dropping daily. I know about how all the lakes are tied into one and see the generation schedules on the corps web site and disagree with you and then corp. Those lakes are all mismanaged look at the numbers. Also they have stopped balancing out Hartwell and Thurmond.
http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/newsroom.html
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
dont want to sound like a smart a$$ here but shouldnt the engineers that decided to put the water pickup in brackish water have expected a drought eventually??–seems like it should be a little further upstream to me – but on the positive side --the hill is now up to 319.4–lets just hope is continues to rise --i would think most ramps would be in the water now
84 HYDRA SPORT 1800SS
89 Yamaha 150
‘BAD HABIT’
89 TRACKER 17 TX
MERC 50
‘OL LEAKY’
When the water pickup was placed, it’s possible that none of the lakes were built yet.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
Does anyone know if I can get to Anthony shoals? Tried last year but could not make it to the bridge! Sure missed the bite up there last year, hope it will be beter this year.