27
Shor e l i n e S
|
2016 Vol :2
A fisherman pulls a five-pound
saltwater striper from the chop.
Seconds later, another angler lands
a nearly identical specimen. A third
drags a fat 2-foot catfish out of the
shallows and onto the rocks.
All this is happening on a hot
weekday morning in the shadow of the
H. Neely Henry Dam in Ohatchee,
which turned 50 years old in June.
The dam, on the Coosa River
between Gadsden and Anniston, draws
fishermen eager to fill their coolers
with striped and largemouth bass,
bluegills, catfish and crappies. It also
attracts boaters drawn to the beautiful
scenery and family-friendly amenities
surrounding H. Neely Henry Lake.
But this shouldn't obscure its
true purpose: to power the state and
improve its standard of living.
"Neely Henry and the hydros
have been very reliable and very cost-
effective for the power company," dam
H. Neely Henry Dam turns 50
Above: File photo from a l aBa Ma poWeR a RChives — Neely Henry Dam, pictured under construction, was one of six built by Alabama Power during a busy period
from 1957-1968.
