Cumberland News

This is certainly a more drastic and prolonged drawdown than was briefed by the Corps last year. Obviously they have found more of a problem than they expected to find. The Colonel is using words like "emergency drawdown"...the Army doesn't use these type words lightly. On the other hand I would expect they have things under control or they would have talked about possible evacuations. I also would and hope to expect that they are being overly cautious rather than less cautious.

Obviously this is going to have a very drastic effect on the local economy around the lake. For some small businesses it may be devastating. Let's all say a prayer for these folks and their families for the trying times they are going to be facing through all of this.

Just seen it on Whas11 TV news. Not good. I'd say there will be some Tourneys moved to other lakes this year.

Jerry Cole

According to a post on the Nashville Corps site they will be taking it down to 680, which is ten feet below winter pool, and leave it there or lower for at least a year.

Hope no one minds, I merged the Cumberland News and Urgent Threads to the same thread as they were on the same topic. Probably easier to focus responses in the same thread.

Andrew

This is going to **** big time!!! If the boat traffic moves over to dale hollow, or laurel, its going to impact the fishing. More pleasure craft, on these allready crowded lakes, more congestion at the existing free ramps, and I'm sure the private marinas will need to increase the prices on launch fees. The river level will be lower, which will affect fishing for larger boats, and decreased water flow will surely have a negative impact on trout fishing.Well if that becomes apparent, have a place to fish in Ga, which I have been trying to avoid, but maybe the time has come.

This article was posted on a different site. It's long but it it shows how serious this is.

[url]http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/...A.htm[/url]

The lake has always been around 680 for the last 2 winters. at 680 waitsboro ramp is not useable if it goes down any more. burnside island,conley,lees ford,beaver could be used at that level. If it gets lower than 680 then lees ford is the only ramp that could be used from what I know tell me If I am wrong I would like to know as well

All Corp of Engineer Design and in this case emergency design are implemented with roughly a 30-40 precent safety factor. What this equates to is they are determining a "safe repair" elevation, based upon that factor of safety built in. So roughly they are looking at a failure elevation well above any elevation C-land has seen since construction. This is just a safety precaution to ensure a devasting breach does not occur. Only in the uncontrollable occurance of a 250 year storm or greater would we actually have to worry about the dam actually breaching. Its a shame about all the economic affects and I truelly hope the area can adjust and find a way to make do during the low-water period, but barring some great biblical proportion flood, there is no deathly risk at least I wouldn't think so or they would have evacuations on stand by.

As far as the fishery affects......If the KDFW and biologists would step up here and find the extra $$$ to protect the fishery, in the end, the lake would benefit. I mean, you take 20% of the original tourney/fishing pressure, an extended low water period to aide grass and brush growth, and EXTREMELY clear water conditions due to high flow, we would end up with a better lake, dont believe me, just look at amistad. Amistad experienced an extremely low water period about 10 yrs ago and look at it now. Toledo bend is just rebounding from a low water period, and in the next 5 years it will be ALL the TALK, just wait and see. The difference here is, like drew said, we are going to need some low water structure to aide in fish spawns, that is the only difference between c-land and the two aforementioned lakes. And yes it would be nearly impossible to have any human interaction to aide a spawn on a fishery the size of C-land, but if they want to have any source of revenue, other than just a frigin party lake, they better spare the dough and do the right thing. Only time will tell, but I bet they take the cheap route and the lake takes about 15 years to rebound to its normal level of **** ass fishing it is now

[quote=KYHorseflys;284085]How hard would it be to extend the launching ramps so that they do reach the water?[/quote]

4 wheel drive truck

[quote=apb;284108]Hope no one minds, I merged the Cumberland News and Urgent Threads to the same thread as they were on the same topic. Probably easier to focus responses in the same thread.

Andrew[/quote]

Thanks Andrew. Good move.

Peter

Peter, I just now got back in to the forum. If you will go to Lakecumberland.com and go to forums you can read about it and get links for several hours.
Dave

[URL]http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/pao/News_Releases/2007%20News%20Releases/07-01.pdf[/URL]