Lake Martin

Lake Martin and its surrounding beauty offer opportunities for entertainment and adventure

STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & CLIFF WILLIAMS

Hello and welcome to Lake Martin, the treasured lake of Alabama, where laid-back living is more than a vacation – it’s a lifestyle. From beautiful sandy beaches to encapsulating mountainous terrain, the lake is genuinely the South’s best-kept secret.

Boasting 41,150 acres, over 880 miles of shoreline, Lake Martin is the perfect place to live, work and play.

Martin Dam

On Sunday afternoons in the 1920s, local families would pack picnic lunches and travel over dirt roads to visit the construction site of Thomas Martin’s brainchild, the Martin Dam. Martin was the president of Alabama Power Company and a pioneer in the development of the electrical grid system in the Southeast U.S. He chose to build the hydroelectric plant at a place called Cherokee Bluff, a place that was so remote, a railroad had to be built to transport materials to the location.

Today, locals share stories that have been passed down through generations of how in the early 1920s, an entire village thrived on the edge of a bluff to construct a 168-foot high, 2,000-foot long concrete wall to hold back the Tallapoosa River.

But a lot had to change for Martin’s dream to come true. Whole towns had to be disassembled, relocated and reconstructed above the 491-foot waterline. Cemeteries were moved to higher ground; timber was cleared; and bridges were built – all in advance of the rising water that inevitably created our treasured Lake Martin.

The Lake

Lake Martin drains more than 3,000 square miles of watershed. A lot of that acreage is undeveloped, which is good for the lake’s ecosystem. With minimal upstream development and the filtration of the natural woodlands along the banks of its tributaries, Lake Martin is the only body of water in the

Celebrating July 4 at The AMP on Lake Martin is magical

state of Alabama to meet the stringent environmental requirements of a Treasured Alabama Lake.

That means clean, clear water. Visibility is as much as 20 feet or more in many areas of the lake, and in most places, swimmers can easily see their toes.

The lake is at full pool – 491 feet above mean sea level – from late April to early September with about two months of transition time between seasons. The winter water level routinely is set at 484 feet msl.

This year, the lake level will drop 10 feet between seasons instead of the standard 7 feet, allowing homeowners access to docks and piers for essential maintenance work. The lower water level also presents other opportunities, including eradicating invasive weed growth and more thorough trash and litter cleanup efforts.

When wet conditions prevail, Lake Martin sometimes stays at full summer pool level until Oct. 15. These conditions could be expected about once every four-to-six years and are determined by strict regulations stipulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and implemented by Alabama Power Company.

Lake Martin’s primary function is to protect homes in the Tallapoosa River Basin – and the people who live in them – from floodwaters. The waters also turn four 230-ton turbines that can generate enough electricity to power 45,000 homes; beyond that, her purpose is recreational.

And what a place to play! Lake Martin draws visitors from across the country who come here to boat, fish, swim, ski, wakeboard, camp, bird watch, site-see, relax, retire and live.

The lake supports 13 marinas; a dozen restaurants; three golf courses; one of Alabama’s largest state park campgrounds, which includes a forest-canopy zip

Baylee Adkins and John Hayden climb the silo at Wind Creek State Park

Cahaba lillies grow wild in Irwin Shoals

Daring lake goers jump off of Chimeny Rock

line, a putt-putt golf course and 20 miles of equestrian trails; two sailing clubs; numerous fishing clubs; several beaches and more than 150 miles of hiking trails. The most popular landmarks include Chimney Rock, Goat Island, the Smith Mountain fire tower, the Children’s Harbor lighthouse at Kowaliga and Blue Creek.

Part of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s central division, marine patrol officers monitor activities on the lake 24/7 to enhance safety and promote responsible use of the waterway.

Three groups of hardworking, dedicated volunteers keep Lake Martin clean and advocate for her welfare: Lake Martin Resource Association, Lake Watch Lake Martin and the Lake Martin Home Owners and Boatowners.

LMRA funds, places and maintains more than 400 hazard buoys that mark shallow areas, submerged rocks and no-wake zones on Lake Martin. LMRA also organizes annual cleanups during the winter water level drawdown and coordinates Alabama Power Company’s Adopt-an-Island and Adopt-a-Shoreline programs.

Lake Watch Lake Martin volunteers monitor water chemistry and cleanliness to maintain the high environmental standards that won the lake’s designation as the only Alabama lake to meet the strict requirements for Treasured Lake status.

Lake Martin HOBOs work with local businesses and local, state and federal agencies to preserve, protect, and enhance the overall quality of life at Lake Martin pertaining to water levels and quality, shoreline preservation, fishing, wildlife, recreation and safety.

It is the work of these organizations, their membership and volunteers that make Lake Martin a great place to live, work and play. Visit their websites and Facebook pages to find out how you can help.