SHORELINES

14 Shor e l i n e S | 2015 Vol :2 Martin Dam. The FEIS also endorsed a proposal to extend the summer water level at Lake Martin into the fall when certain conditions are met. The FEIS is a critical element in Alabama Power's multiyear effort to renew its license to operate Martin Dam. "We are very pleased with this outcome, and want to thank the thousands of Lake Martin stakeholders who've supported the proposal to raise the lake level," Mark Crosswhite, president and CEO of Alabama Power, said at the time of the FEIS release. Alabama Power employees have been working with stakeholders, local leaders and public agencies since 2006 on relicensing the Lake Martin hydroelectric project. If FERC adopts the FEIS recommendations, Lake Martin during the winter months will have an elevation of 484 feet, mean sea level (msl), instead of the current 481 feet msl. The report endorses the company's proposal to try to maintain the lake at the higher summer level of 491 feet msl for up to six weeks longer in the early fall – through mid- October – when certain hydrological criteria are met. The criteria include: inflows into the Tallapoosa and Coosa basins, and reservoir levels at upstream storage projects, Weiss, Henry, Logan Martin and Harris. The company currently lowers the Lake Martin level starting Sept. 1. FERC did not recommend the higher winter lake level or the longer summer pool in an earlier draft EIS. Alabama Power conducted extensive additional studies, under FERC's guidance, and more than 600 Lake Martin stakeholders attended a FERC public meeting in support of higher lake levels. After considering the additional information, FERC concluded modifying the lake level offered substantial recreational benefits with negligible downstream impacts. "Raising the winter lake level and the possibility of extending the summer pool would greatly enhance the recreational opportunities and aesthetics of Lake Martin for residents Top: Photo by Marvin GilMore — Kowaliga Restaurant and Kowaliga Marina are favorite Lake Martin establishments that can expect more traffic during the extended time with higher lake levels.

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