AL drought continues - rivers/streams affected.

[Lostsheep]

Source: Al.com

In case you haven't read or noticed, we've been under a pretty severe drought and it's not letting up. To help combat matters, the Jefferson County Water Board has decided that it's going to extend it's water intake to other areas for consumption. This means our streams and rivers. Here's a clipping from the above article.

...The utility by the end of this month will end water withdrawal from Inland Lake through May and will reduce withdrawals from Lake Purdy, said Darryl Jones, the utility's assistant general manager for operations and technical services...

...As an alternative, the system will pull water at maximum rates from the Sipsey River and the Mulberry Fork of the Warrior River...

Basically, we're going to see a shortage in some of our Rivers and streams due to the shortage. Make sure you check your local water conditions before heading out. You don't want to get stranded without water!

[Joshua Szulecki]

I was expecting they would have to stop drawing from Lake Purday, as it is almost dry. The only water south of 119 is about a foot wide for each of the tributary streams, and the portion near the docks has stumps and rocks for tens if not hundreds of feet on all sides.

Does anybody know how far upstream the county pulls water out of the Sipsey? I'm guessing it is far enough downstream as to not effect water levels upstream of Smith Lake, but then again, there isn't much water there either.

[Lostsheep]

I'm not sure how far north the inlet is for the water intake. I'm hoping it's not too far to affect the northern tributaries. According to the Alabama Power website most of the water in the "Warrior River System" the levels are doing ok, while the water in the "Coosa Tallapoosa River System" are struggling. Hopefully they will come back up shortly.

I drive over Hwy 119 almost daily, and you're right...it's turning into a mudpuddle.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I think mudpuddle is over complimentary. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Look out for dry spots in Talladega NF, too...

At the same time, Sylacauga was able to keep Lake Howard’s water levels up only by almost draining a backup source in the Talladega National Forest, according to Darrell Russell of the Sylacauga Utilities Department.

http://www.dailyhome.com/...01-cnorwood-7l31t3530.htm

The lower lake by that camp was totally dry this fall, and the upper lake was really sad looking, btw...

[crittcg]

while the water in the "Coosa Tallapoosa River System" are struggling.

The main issue with the Coosa river system is that its controlled (for the most part) by the Core of Engineers and the main rivers that feed this system, Etowah and  Tallapoosa, are controlled Georgia side, not by Alabama.  They allowed some 6 billion gallons (give or take a bill) go mid summer to try and help out, but after that, they had to cut back flow again to keep levels... well.. above 3 feet lol.  The winter-pool was issued WAY early for all lakes, including Lay, which is generally kept at or around 3 ft of summer-pool... atm its about 6-8 ft below that.

i want to ski again :-(

oi

[Joshua Szulecki]

Well, the good news is that it is finally raining regularly again, at least for the time being. The Cahaba has been running brown for a few days, and the water levels look better in some of the streams around Birmingham. Lake Purdy is still looking horrible, but it usually runs pretty low at times anyway.

I'll probably be in Guntersville this weekend, so if anybody heads up to Bankhead, can they give me an update on how things are looking. The USGS maps don't have wide enough coverage to really tell anything for feeder streams.

[Lostsheep]

Crittcg, you ski on Lay? I ski on Lake Martin (Alex City) and it's really low. We were having hard times over the summer w/ all the boats getting crowded in to avoid the slough's way back in the the corners. Hopefully next time.

I did get some information about some of the flow from GA. The flow cannot be reduced beyond their minimum threshhold b/c there are apparently endangered sturgeon living in the river. The Corps of Engineers has tracking on 3 sturgeon that still remain in there and the water levels cannot change b/c it would affec their lifespan. Also, relocating them would kill them as well. Either they die naturally and the water flow restrictions get moved, or they stay and we have to deal with it.

I'll head up toward Bankhead in about a month if not sooner, to help you out Joshua.

[crittcg]

we have a house on Lay. but for the last few years ive been skiing on a private lake on the Auburn University Ski team so i've been REAL lucky to have water all year around.

[MoBill122]

Lake Allatoona feeds the Etowah River...which changes its name,  to the Coosa River at the AL/GA stateline.  The Lake Allatoona water level is now about 15ft below full, which is basically where the level has been since June 2007.   No Spring rains...  and we're in trouble for 2008.  We need a hurricane to come through !  Oh... and for those that don't know, Lake Allatoona doesn't feed the City of Atlanta  water needs,  the Chattahoochie River does, when it flows out of Lake Lanier, which is 20ft below normal since June 2007.  

More to worry about ??   What if they slow the flow down so much, it affects hydroelectric production from the 10 or so dams on these river systems.    No water to drink....  and then rolling blackouts on the power grid.   Maybe the politicians will quit playing games then...

MoBill
Woodstock, GA...  
 formerly of Gadsden till 83...then Mobile till 2007

[crittcg]

Maybe the politicians will quit playing games then...

not like they really have any control over it eh'.

speaking politicians. who voted today?! woot!

[Lostsheep]

Here's the latest deal on the water wars....looks like we may get a bit now... Georgia's water deal is zapped.