Lt. Governor Casey Cagle was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Lake Lanier Association on Thursday, May 24th at Gainesville State College’s Oakwood Campus in the Continuing Education and Performing Arts Center. Tim Rainey of the Army Corps of Engineers also addressed those in attendance, as did Frank Norton of The Norton Agency.
Lt. Gov. Cagle was affable, knowledgeable and made the event both enjoyable and educational.
As you probably know, Lake Lanier’s full pool — when the lake is deemed full by the Army Corps of Engineers — is 1,071 feet above sea level during the summer. Residents know the lake is rarely that full all summer.
Cagle wryly noted that “where there’s a will, there’s a way” to keep the lake levels higher — as during the 1996 Olympics held at the north end of the lake at what is now known as the “rowing venue.”
With Tim Rainey of the Army Corps of Engineers sitting close by, Cagle urged the Corps to make Lake Lanier a “stronger priority.”
Many of those at the annual meeting shared that concern.
Jean Snyder and her husband, George, were there to hear news about the “water war,” the proposed bridges on Route 369 over the lake, and the lake levels.
Perhaps the most interesting tidbit shared by Cagle was when he said, “If not one ounce of water came over the dam … the flow at the Georgia-Florida [state] line would be impacted by one foot … that’s the reality.”
One gentleman in attendance told the audience that he fears for the safety of his family. He said that the hazardously low water levels prevent his children from jumping out of a boat to swim because they cannot tell what structure they might hit. Now he is considering selling his property and moving elsewhere.
Lt. Gov. Cagle said Georgia receives 50” of rainfall annually, which equates to 50 trillion gallons of water. “We use three trillion gallons of that water,” he said. He says we need to “capture and control more” of the rainfall and “use it in a responsible manner.”
Reservoirs might answer that need, including the proposed Glades Reservoir.
“We are going to need to build reservoirs for the state,” Cagle told the crowd. He believes that can be done “in a responsible way … that protects the environment.”
That includes the Glades Reservoir in Hall County.
“I am for the Glades Reservoir, as long as it does not hurt Lake Lanier,” said Cagle. “I think the two can be balanced together.”
Lt. Gov. Cagle agreed with everyone in attendance when he stated, “Lake Lanier — you can’t replace it. It’s a precious resource.”
As an old friend would say, “You couldn’t swing a cat without hitting” a politician. Among those present was Martha Zoller.
Lake Lanier Association’s mission is to protect Lake Lanier and its watershed ensuring a clean and full Lake Lanier that enhances the lake’s economic value to Georgia. The association strives to preserve the quality and quantity of the water for all users who rely on the lake and its watershed to enhance their quality of life. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the LLA seeks to fulfill its mandate of protecting the quality and quantity of Lake Lanier through its of education, action and advocacy.
We are thankful for the leadership of Executive Director Joanna Cloud and the board of directors of LLA.
The Lake Lanier Association’s board is passionate about the need to keep the water and shorelines clean and beautiful for all the people of Georgia. Their organize programs, such as Shore Sweep, spread the word about the work of LLA, and take part in the legislative process affecting Lake Lanier.
You know you’re in good company when you see Kit Dunlap of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. She is pictured here with Srikanth Yamala. Mr. Yamala is the transportation planning manager of the Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization (GHMPO.org).
We hope you’ll get involved with Lake Lanier Association. We’ll all benefit from your work.
