Newsletter

July, 2003
Summer Issue
Jackson Lake Currents

Greetings

Georgia Power Company's Lake Jackson Land Management Office is pleased to bring you this latest edition of our annual newsletter, "Jackson Lake Currents." We hope you will find the newsletter to be informative and helpful. Our staff here at the lake wish you a safe and enjoyable experience on Jackson Lake and ask you to join us as partners to preserve the environmental and aesthetic qualities of this wonderful lake.

From the lake office...

• Our new Shoreline Management Guidelines brochure is now available. Please read "The Secret's Out" on page 2 for more information. To obtain a copy of the brochure please come by or contact our office.
• Why does Georgia Power require a survey on leased lots ? At the time a lease renews, our current policy is that a survey is required from the lessee as part of the renewal. When the leasing program began, Georgia Power established the boundaries of each lease lot. We did not do official surveys on individual lots, because all of the property belongs to Georgia Power, and individual lot lines were not critical. However, as more people have bought and sold their homes as investments to take advantage of the property values that the lake provides, and as these property values have escalated, the individual lot lines have become important to the homeowners. The survey establishes the individual lot lines, provides much needed information to lending institutions, helps avoid lot line disputes with neighbors, and protects and enhances the lessee's investment.
• All lake residents need to be aware of Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Act that establishes a 25 foot vegetative buffer along the shoreline of any state water. This buffer must be protected and cannot be disturbed by heavy equipment, excessive clearing, or construction, unless approved by the managing authority. If approved by the managing authority, all of the above activities will require proper installation and maintenance of erosion control measures, such as silt fence, before construction begins.
• If you live on the lake and have not joined the Jackson Lake Homeowners Association, we encourage you to consider joining. The JLHA works to protect the lake, educate and inform homeowners on current issues, provides scholarships for local students, and performs other worthwhile activities. If you are interested in joining, contact our office or one of the many JLHA members for more information.

GPC's Jackson Lake Office - 180 Dam Rd., Jackson, GA. 770-775-4753

Mark Your Calendar

• May 17-23 - National Safe Boating Week
• Memorial Day Weekend - Lloyd Shoals Beach opens
• June 1-8 - National Fishing and Boating Week
• June 6 - Jackson Lake Homeowners Association Meeting
• June 7 - Jackson Lake Homeowners Association Lake Cleanup Day
• July 4 - Independence Day Boat Parade
• September 2 - Lloyd Shoal's Beach closes
• September 12 - Jackson Lake Homeowners Association Meeting
• September 27 - National Hunting and Fishing Day
• November 7 - Jackson Lake Homeowners Association Meeting
• December - Christmas Boat Parade (date to be determined)

Enjoy these great opportunities!

Some Interesting Dam Facts

• Lloyd Shoals Dam was built around 1910. Construction began in 1908 and the first generation of electrical power occurred on February 23, 1911¹
• Upon construction, Jackson Lake was the largest lake in the state until after World War II and Lloyd Shoals Dam was the highest dam in the Southeast.2
• The dam is 100 feet in height and 1070 feet long.
• The original elevation of the dam was 525 feet mean sea level (msl). The height was later raised to the current height of 530 feet mean sea level.
• The normal summer pool of the lake is 528.5', the normal winter level is 525.' The lake is lowered in the winter months (December 1 to March 1) to catch winter and early spring rainfalls and to minimize the number of times the boards on top of the dam trip.
• Jackson Lake is approximately 4750 acres and has 135 miles of shoreline.
• The minimum discharge flow from the dam is 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 258 million gallons per day.

1,2 Jennifer Carin Burford, March 13, 1997, Senior Thesis Project, Adviser, Giebelhaus

And the survey says...

Later this year, Georgia Power will be mailing a customer satisfaction survey to all residents of Jackson Lake. The survey is intended to get feedback from you on how you think we are doing in areas such as shoreline management, customer service, environmental protection, communications to residence (newsletters, etc.) and overall lake management. We value your opinions and appreciate your feedback on the survey.

The Secret's Out

There's an old saying, "loose lips sink ships." Well, in the case of Jackson Lake, loose lips bring ships! Not ships exactly, but fishing boats, and pontoon boats, and ski boats, and jet ski's, Ohhhh, the jet ski's! And, apparently those same loose lips have promoted the wonderful residential qualities of Jackson Lake, because more and more people are purchasing properties for the purpose of full time residence.

Jackson Lake is no longer a wonderful secret. It is now a wonderful opportunity for growth in the three surrounding counties as well as a potentially valuable investment, both in time and money, to those who elect to call Jackson Lake their home. What a joy!.

Hold on a minute. Along with opportunity comes obligation. An obligation to ensure only positive impacts are made in and around the lake. That's where Georgia Power Company comes in. Our company has, through ownership of the lake and federal, state, and local mandates, been given the obligation and authority to manage construction activities in and around the lake. And, we are committed to maintaining and even increasing the health and value of our beautiful lake. One way we manage the lake is by having a Land Management Office conveniently located near the dam, at Lloyd Shoals Park. This office is open to the public and we welcome all inquiries. Another way we manage the lake is to have our shoreline management team patrol the lake at every opportunity. And, the newest management tool Georgia Power offers is their "Shoreline Management Guidelines" brochure. This colorful brochure has been developed specifically to address Lake Resident's obligations as well as the various construction activities performed in and around Jackson Lake. It contains our mission, a brief introduction, some general guidelines, and very specific requirements pertaining to virtually all lake structures and related activities. Together, these lake management tools are committed to preserving the scenic, environmental and recreational values of our lake. In fact, that is our mission.

Please help us manage beautiful Jackson Lake by understanding your obligations as they pertain to construction and renovation in and around the lake. If you have questions about construction, please call our office at 770-775-4753, or come by. Our address is: 180 Dam Rd., Jackson Georgia, 30233. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00 (closed for lunch). We would also encourage you to get a copy of our new brochure. It will answer many questions you may have about building on Jackson Lake.

Was there ever a question?

It's official now, Butts County is the center of the universe! Well, not the universe, but the nation. Well, actually, of the state of Georgia. Based on the 2000 census, the center of the population of the state of Georgia is located near Jackson Lake in Butts County. The marker (picture inset) commemorating the center of population was dedicated on April 25 in the Georgia Power Lloyd Shoals Park. Despite some rainy weather to start the day, we estimate approximately 100 people attended the event with good representation from lake residents as well as local, state, and national organizations.

You may visit the center of the population by going to Georgia Power's Lloyd Shoals Park. Look for the display pictured at right.

To read more about the marker and this historic event, please visit the following internet site:

www.samsog.org

Enjoy the lake, but be careful and obey the law

Sgt. Barry Fincher of the DNR has provided the following accident and violation information for 2002 on Lake Jackson:

Jackson Lake Accidents	Jackson Lake Violations
5 Boat Accidents	112 Failure to Obey Regulatory Marker
3 Injuries	51 Operate PWC above 5 mph within 100' of object in water
2 PWC vs. Boat
1 Boat vs. Boat	9 Operate vessel under the influence
1 PWC vs. PWC	24 Operate vessel w/improper lights
1 Single Boat	31 Operate vessel w/insufficient PFD

As we enter another busy summer season, please remember to be safe and remind your family, friends, and neighbors to be careful on the water. One of the major safety complaints we hear are the violations of the 100-foot law. Here is a summary of the "100-foot law" from the DNR:

The 100-foot law applies to everyone on the water. It includes all vessels - not just personal watercraft. This law prohibits people from operating all vessels at a speed greater than idle speed within 100 feet of any vessel which is moored, anchored, or adrift outside normal traffic channels, or within 100 feet of any wharf, dock, pier, piling, bridge, structure or abutment, person in the water, or shoreline adjacent to a full-time or part-time residence, public park, public beach, public swimming area, marina, restaurant, or other public use area. This law also makes it illegal for boat operators to:

• Jump the wake of another boat within 100 feet and to buzz other boats
• Operate around or within 100 feet of another vessel faster than idle speed unless he or she is overtaking or meeting the other vessel in compliance with the rules of the road for boat operation.
• Follow closely behind another vessel, jump the wake of another vessel, or change or reverse his or her course in order to ride or jump in the wake of another vessel.

If you have questions or comments regarding information found in this newsletter, or questions about Jackson Lake or Georgia Power Company, please call our office. Our phone number is: 770-775-4753

Thank You!