SHORELINES

Water Whys In Clyde Edgerton's novel "The Floatplane lakes, but Alabama Power, working with state Notebooks," family patriarch Albert Copeland and federal regulatory agencies, is finding ways to documents, but never very accurately, his protect and improve habitat conditions for them. puttering attempts over 15 years to get the • The dams that created Alabama Power floatplane he bought airborne. By novel's end lakes make enough electricity to power (spoiler alert), Copeland takes his son, who 400,000 homes. Efforts are ongoing at three was gravely injured in the Vietnam War, on Coosa River dams to upgrade the turbines to the plane's maiden flight. increase the amount of clean, renewable energy "There wasn't a thing over my head but the sky," the son, Meredith, remembers. "I could they produce. • Our series on Alabama Power's day-use parks look down over the edge, which was right there concludes with a look at the Logan Martin Dam at my elbow. The wind was cool and the sun Picnic Area and Barrett's Park on Lake Mitchell. hot at the same time." Floatplane pilots on Alabama Power lakes • And, of course, lake lovers have been gearing up for holidays on the water. A few know that feeling of slipping the bonds of Earth examples of many events and activities across or, in their case, water; almost any body of water our lakes leading up to Christmas include the is a ready runway. In this issue of Shorelines, annual Lay Lake boat parade that Joe Sullivan writer Jeff Book and photographer Bernard and the Home Owners Boat Owners Association Troncale capture with words and images the have made an annual tradition; an annual bass beauty and majesty of a floatplane flight. tournament hosted by the Alabama Power Also in this issue: Service Organization's E.C. Gaston Chapter • Alabama Power's Theresa Helms shares to raise money for Christmas gifts for needy the poignant story of her oldest son, who children; and holiday card sales from Children's too soon grows from her cute little 4-year- Harbor on Lake Martin that raise thousands of old fisherman into a handsome young man dollars to help pay for services for seriously ill anxious to take on life on his own. and special-needs children and their families. • Snails may not be front of mind when we think about the significant aquatic life in our Enjoy! — Bob Blalock Left: Photo by Bernard Troncale — Charles Welden flies his Husky A-1B floatplane over Lay Lake. S hor el i ne s | 2013 Vol:4 3

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