Shoreline Management Review

FFall extension of summer pool might not occur again during a 10-foot drawdown year, according to Dave Anderson, Alabama Power Hydro Licensing Specialist. Anderson presented a review of Lake Martin’s current shoreline management policies and some potential modifications at a public workshop on July 18 in the ballroom at the Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Technology Center.

During the discussion portion of the meeting, Lake Martin Resource Association Legal Counsel Steve Forehand suggested a condition prohibiting the fall extension implementation during a 10-foot drawdown year. Forehand said the most recent coincidence of the fall extension and the 10-foot drawdown compressed the time available for dock and seawall maintenance, putting a strain on homeowners and dock companies to complete permitted work.

The conditional fall extension was granted in the 2015 license issued to the utility company by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to operate Martin Dam and manage the Lake Martin reservoir. The license allows the summer pool level to be maintained for six additional weeks after the stipulat- ed drawdown date of Sept. 1 if certain conditions are met within the river system. The license also calls for a 10-foot drawdown every six years, as opposed to an annual 7-foot annual drawdown from summer pool to winter poo.

Anderson said the change would be proposed to FERC before the next 10-foot drawdown year of 2027.

“That’s on the to-do list for before the next drawdown,” Anderson told the estimated crowd of 350 lake property and business owners. “We have some time to get that through before the next 10-foot drawdown.”

Anderson said most changes to the shoreline management policies will be minor and will be made to coincide with the shoreline management policies at Lewis Smith Lake on the Black Warrior River.

“Although permitting guidelines differ among the reservoirs due to regional topography and historical development, Alabama Power strives to manage its shoreline consistently among its hydroelectric projects. Doing so provides some efficiencies in the management program and provides a level of uniformity when talking to the public and state and federal agencies,” he explained.

Minor changes could be made to the natural/undeveloped land classification, due to recently acquired updated elevation data to define the full pool contour, which is 491 mean sea level feet, Anderson said.

“We are still working on updating the maps to reflect FERC approved changes and updated elevation data and do not know if it will result in a minor addition or loss of natural/undeveloped lands. If it does, we expect it to be less than 5 acres,” he noted.

Another expected change would extend the shoreline management policy review period to 10 years instead of the current six.

“Reviewing the plan every six years is tied to a recreation report that Alabama Power used to have to file with FERC, but FERC has removed that requirement. Reviewing the plan every 10 years is more reasonable in order to capture trends in shoreline development, changes in the permitting process, and that would be consistent with our next scheduled recreation study, which is to occur in 2031,” he said.

During the discussion period following Anderson’s presentation, several residents questioned the increase in commercial development around the lake on properties that once belonged to Alabama Power.

Such properties may have been developed by Alabama

Power, but since development, the lots were deeded to individual owners. Restrictive covenants have conveyed with the deeds, and attendees urged Alabama Power to take action against the alleged violations of the covenants.

“These issues have been brought to our attention,” Anderson explained, “but once we sell the subdivision, we don’t have any say in what goes on there.” has been building high-quality, American-made boats since 1874. The timeless design, trademark teak, custom upholstery and extensive selections of paints are just a few of the reasons Chris-Craft boats stand out in a sea of sameness.

A spokesperson for Alabama Power further explained the company’s lack of authority to address commercial development issues in former company neighborhoods.

“Developers create covenants in neighborhoods to protect the homeowners from various issues. These covenants apply not only to the original, but also to each subsequent owner within the chain of title for the property. A developer may monitor and enforce such covenants while a neighborhood is being initially developed, but upon completion, ongoing issues with restrictive covenants typically are the responsibility of the owners and neighbors within the neighborhood and/or its homeowners association, if any,” the spokesperson said.

In addressing future commercial development, Anderson explained that Alabama Power will not develop land that is classified as natural/undeveloped in the current license from FERC for the duration of the license.

Other issues brought up for discussion included large wakes and congestion, but these matters also fall outside of Alabama Power’s authority, Anderson said.

“The water is owned by the people of Alabama. The land under the water up to the full pool contour line is owned by Alabama Power,” he said.

He referred matters of erosion, water quality and fertilization run-off to Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s Green Book for procedures in filing complaints. Though attendees expressed frustration in their attempts to communicate with ADEM, Anderson said Alabama Power cannot take action regarding issues over which they have no authority.

As for reports of dangerous activities on the lake, he referred those concerned to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol.

For issues regarding permitting of docks, seawalls and other structures up to the contour line or on lands managed by Alabama Power, Anderson referred questions to the local shoreline management office in Dadeville.

Visit apcshorelines.com for the current guidelines, permitting forms and best management practices information.

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