Comments from June 8 -- August 30, 2002
Comments area for Yadkin River / High Rock Lake Area
These comments were made during the height of the drought
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| Name: | Tillery is #1 |
| Locale you are from ?: | Lake Tillery |
| E-mail address: | fullpond@laketillery.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Just wanted to drop a line to the "Dry Rockers". Come on down to the beautiful 102% full LAKE TILLERY (yes it is 2% above full pond) and enjoy this holiday weekend! I have been taking a look at these message board for the last few months......I have a proposal: Everyone meets at a common location and dukes it out to figure out who should get their way. I think the next thing you people are going to be talking about is other people’s mamas! On a serious note, my sympathy is with everyone who owns property on your lake. A combination of servile factors has caused sad thing to happen up there. The Catawba lake chain is beginning to experience the same thing the Yadkin lakes has suffered from for the last 6 months. We will all make it through this and lets take it easy on this message board. And remember come down and enjoy LAKE TILLERY! |
Thursday, August 29th 2002 - 06:34:44 PM
| Name: | Kathryn |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| E-mail address: | .............. |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Mr. Bullgang, I agree that friction is not what we need here. We've all suffered in one way or another this summer. I don't, personally, believe we've 'cried' about the lake situation. But for many of us, this site was the only place where we could vent our frustration over a situation that has been beyond our control. And don't get me wrong, I like the High Rock Lake area with or without the lake but I like it even better WITH the lake. I'm wishing you happiness and success in your new job. |
Wednesday, August 28th 2002 - 12:08:28 PM
| Name: | Concerned Taxpaying Environmentalist |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek |
| E-mail address: | ajack1953@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | If you do not have the time to read this entire document, please go to the end and note the profits that ALCOA has made from The Yadkin River since "POWER BROKING" became profitable during the time that California was being held hostage by these same "energy pals of George Bush". Issues/Problems Specific to "Operating Guides for Operation ofBadinWorks" as referenced in Article 33 a/project 2197's operating license • Current Operating Guide and Draw down schedule are antiquated and inconsistent with the Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA) of 1986 • • The current operating guidelines for project 2197 were originally formed in 1928 and minimally modified only once in 1968. They are based almost entirely in the interest of power generation. On October 16,1986, Congress passed the Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA), which amended the Federal Power Act. One of the major changes to the Commission's hydroelectric power program included requiring the Commission to give the same level of consideration to the environment, recreation, fish and wildlife, and other nonpower values that it gives to power and development objectives in making a licensing decisions. • Current Operating Guide is not REALLY based on historical data as claimed ' « The current Operating Guide is claimed to be based on 72 years of historical river flow data. In reality the schedule was a "best guess" estimate in 1923 and was modified only slightly in 1968 in an attempt to appease the thousands that had complained far many years concerning the constant low water conditions. The Operating Guide does NOT take current or even recent river flow conditions into consideration. No resource can be effectively managed based strictly on guesses or even actual historical supply figures. The averages can be used to establish a baseline that is appropriate during average supply conditions but overall the management guidelines MUST be based on current/recent supply conditions. f '- ' • Current Draw down schedule for High Rock Lake and Badin Lake is inappropriate in ' addressing the consideration requirements spelled out in the Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1986 .The current draw down schedule for project 2197 was based purely on power generation. In 1928 High Rock Lake was considerably deeper overall and actually held more water. Over the last 74 years, tons of sediment have washed down the Yadkin River and settled to the lake bottom. This has had the effect of making the lake much shallower with miniscule areas actually being anywhere close to the maximum 30 foot draw down depth. When the lake was created there were few residents around the project lakes and no consideration was given to adjacent property owners, wildlife habitat, environmental or recreational interests. The Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1986 clearly states that each of these interests must be weighed equally, not just if it*s convenient or beneficial to the licensee. The results of strictly following the present draw down schedule would 'be catastrophic to the environment, fish and wildlife, recreation and the local economies of Davidscn and Rowan counties. The draw down schedule needs to be amended to take the total acre/foot capacity and overall average depth of each lake into consideration for the 25% consideration belonging to hydro generation and the 75% consideration belonging to the other interests with more realistic draw down Stages for each lake instead of simply draining the first lake in the chain and then beginning to drain the next. The practice of associating "headwater benefit" payments with guaranteed discharge levels. The areas downstream from any project enjoy no entitlement to more water than' is coming into the project. While stabilization of downstream flow can be accomplished and is a reasonable benefit to downstream users, the concept of guaranteeing a minimum flow that is greater than inflow is impractical over an extended period of time and is a recipe for disaster for the entire drainage area. The practice of associating a headwater benefit payment with a guaranteed discharge rate from the project amounts to giving APGI the illegal right to sell something they don't own. Payment for the benefits derived from downstream flow stabilization can be a realistic and measurable concept but using that payment as a guarantee for some arbitrary amount of water to be released should be illegal. APGI does NOT own the water and therefore has no right to sell it in the name of a "headwater benefit payment". Instead of encouraging prudent consumption of water resources throughout the river basin during drought conditions it encourages everyone to consume as if nothing is wrong and then the entire river basin suddenly becomes a complete disaster area for the environment, fish and wildlife, recreation and drinking water resources. Only power generation benefits from this practice and all other interests suffer. Issues/Problems Specific to APGI’s management of FERCproject 2197 Operation of High Rock Lake as a "Flood Control” reservoir even though it is not licensed as one. This practice has been used for years and has no apparent purpose in fulfilling APGIs requirements of their FERC license. This appears to be totally contradictory to the purpose of the shoreline management program that APGI implemented in the late 1990’s as required by FERC as part of their relicensing process. The historical pattern has been to draw High Rock down approximately 8 to 12 feet, operate all winter using essentially no more that inflowing water and then allowing it to slowly refill in the spring appears to offer no advantage in power generating efficiency or benefit to wildlife or recreation as compared to operating all winter on the same amount of inflowing water while maintaining the lake at a more reasonable -1 to -5 foot level that would be beneficial to wildlife habitat as well as recreational use of the lake. Decades of drawing the lake down in the fall and allowing it to slowly refill in the spring have accomplished nothing more than to totally kill all aquatic and shoreline vegetation. High Rock Lake is the only lake in project 2197 that is nearly totally void of shoreline weed beds, which are defined as '"premier habitat for fish and other organisms.” in APGI’s Shoreline Stewardship Policy. This practice appears to actually put them somewhat in violation of their own policy. This also causes excessive water level fluctuations during the spawning season of many of the lakes fish population and eventually leaves thousands of fish eggs stranded out of the water to dry up. This effectively kills millions of each year's new hatch. . i This practice has had the effect of depressing the property values of all adjoining properties as compared to similar properties surrounding the other project lakes. The only one to benefit from depressed property values would be APGI themselves since they are the largest property owners in Davidson County. This also effectively shortens the recreational season on High Rock lake to the period of May 15th to September 15th while all of the other lakes in project 2197 enjoy year round recreation capabilities; High Rock Lake was identified in APGI’s 1997 “Form 80 Recreation Data Report" to FERC as having almost twice as much recreational use as all of the other lakes in project 2197 combined. • Inadequate warnings of expected drawdowns of High Rock Lake. • . ' APGI has a long history of beginning large draw downs of High Rock Lake with . little warning to adjoining property. Every year hundreds of adjoining property owners find that within one week the water has been drawn down so far that their watercrafts are sitting in the mud on the bottom. Since APGI plans their power generating schedules on Thursday of each week and they know how much this will affect the lake level it would be very easy for them to issue a warning on their WEB site whenever they will be drawing the lake down more than one foot in a given week. Indifference to current water supply conditions. Since APGI’s fuel for their generators (water) is essentially free to them there is no incentive for them to be concerned with conservation of water when the available supply begins to drop. The drought of 1999 through the present did not sneak up on anyone. APGI chose to essentially ignore the fact that the entire Yadkin River Basin was critically close to drying up until thousands of citizens began to complain about their intentions to let all of the lakes in project 2197 be completely drained,- This would essentially destroy the habitat for many fish and animals around the project including the Bald Eagle nesting ground on High Rock Mountain. Good stewardship would have dictated that they begin asking FERC for variances to the "Operating Guides for Operation of Badin Works" as referenced in Article 33 of their operating license much sooner than July 2002. Based on the reported sales of "excess" power generated by APGI during the drought period it is obvious that conservation would not have been beneficial to them even though the eventual effects of their indifference would have disastrous effects on thousands of people and businesses throughout the Yadkin River Basin. • • • Yadkin Inc wholesale Sales 1999 1st quarter-$O • 2nd quarter- $4,389 3rd quarter - $79,569 4th quarter - $36,869 • * « APGI wholesale power Sales 2000 1st quarter- $65,887 - $135,537 purchased 2nd quarter-$51,876 3rd quarter-$212,520 4th quarter - $334,576 • . • APGI wholesale power sales 2001 • 1st quarter-$337,885 2nd quarter- $303,994 3rd quarter-$173.721 ' ' • Up until 1998 Yadkin Inc. (now APGI) reported that the only purchaser of the power they generated was Alcoa Aluminum Co. These figures would seem to indicate that either the power requirements of the Badin Works plant have decreased significantly or that they are able to generate considerably more power than needed using the present guidelines. Project 2197 was and is licensed to supply the power needs of the Badin Works plant, not a a profit center for Alcoa Aluminum. |
Tuesday, August 27th 2002 - 05:36:21 PM
| Name: | Kathryn |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| E-mail address: | ........... |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Looks to me as though the comment, "You're pathetic" was directed to Yadkin, Inc. At least, that's how I read the message. To the gentleman who loves Tillery: Hope you are having fun out there on the water. Guess you are planning to milk the system instead of looking for a job. I sure hope you get yourself some education, because eventually that unemployment will run out. Unless you plan to become a fishing instructor, you'd be better off brushing up on your spelling and grammar skills. By the way, before we built on High Rock we did look at property on Tillery. Didn't care for the area. Even without the lake, we like the High Rock area better. No complaints...even without much water. |
Monday, August 26th 2002 - 04:09:34 PM
| Name: | Mark Blalock |
| Locale you are from ?: | Badin |
| E-mail address: | Sale to CP&L please! |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | To Yadkin Inc.That whole organization is pathetic.We can sit here all day writing these comments and it's just a joke to them.Hell, I can't even get them to return a phone call.Okay , okay everyone knows ther's a drought.Everyone knows you have a large hand in this mess too.But to say you care about the shores beauty and wildlife you're not fooling anyone.Why don't you get an e-mail adress if your not going to return calls or answer the phones.Like I said everyone's sick about's what's going on.Yadin may not be the only reason for this.But all in all "YOU'RE PATHETIC"! |
Saturday, August 24th 2002 - 08:54:03 AM
| Name: | Concerned Taxpaying Environmentalist |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek |
| E-mail address: | ajack1953@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | This has been a summer of anger and disappointment for those who love High Rock Lake, all due to a drought that did not happen overnight, the poor management of water resources along the Yadkin PeeDee River and the lack of concern displayed by our county commissioners and other local government officials until very recently. We have seen the environmental and economical devistation caused by ALCOA's (APGI) continued selfish misuse of a resource that they did not own yet had control over through the operations at their power generating dams. Please note that Duke Power realized that North Carolina was in a drought long before spring 2002 and practiced conservation of their water resources in the Catawba River Basin as early as last fall. Lake Norman is currently below full pond but has plenty of water to meet their power needs as well as the local water demands thanks to their prudent planning. The city of Winston Salem should also be held accountable for their contribution to the abuse of the Yadkin Peedee River System due to their water selling practices to the City of Greensboro. Our county commissioners in Davidson County have missed the mark by not seizing the possible gold mine at High Rock Lake in the form of tourism dollars and increased tax revenues. A sewer line could have been sent down Highway 8 to Southmont to generate nice lakeside restaurants and other lake related investments during the 1990's. Instead the agenda of our county commissioners was more focussed on sending sewer and gas to the northern part of the county so that other out of county cities could annex these areas for their future tax revenues. I would also like to mention that several of our county commissioners in Davidson County have private investments together related to the mobile home industry. Drive around the county or pick up a real estate book and look at all of the mobile home developments that have been built since the last two elections. While affordable housing is important the increased number of these developments are not a wise tax base for our county. Another point that the county commissioners could have looked in to was reducing the tax appraisals for lake front property owners or increasing the tax appraisal for ALCOA the largest property owner in Davidson County. ALCOA has enjoyed extremely low tax rates that are based on their property being under water even though the last three years much of their property has not been submerged. The point of this letter is to remind all of you to exercise your democratic right to vote. Voting is now very convenient. If you cannot make it to the polls on the date of the primary, you may take advantage of one stop voting. In Davidson County you can vote between the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm at the Board of Elections office on Greensboro Street beside the governmental center building. This One Stop voting comes to an end on 9-7-2002. And remember to learn all that you can about the candidates. We can only hope to get someone in to office from the southern part of this county who has a vested interest in High Rock lake. |
Saturday, August 24th 2002 - 06:54:44 AM
| Name: | lake dweller |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| E-mail address: | .................. |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Mr. Bullgang, We are aware that there is a drought. The lake probably would have gone down some anyway, HOWEVER, it was taken down farther than necessary and taken down suddenly. That's why folks here are upset with Alcoa. There are boats stuck in dried up mud because Alcoa did not have the decency to warn people that they were going to take the lake way down, and take it down really fast. They knew what they were going to do and didn't feel they needed to tell anyone. That is just not right. We've watched fish die, and wildlife disappear. Many of us are now looking out on mosquito breeding grounds. We do not believe it was necessary to take as much water out of High Rock as was taken. My husband and I have driven all around the Triad and Charlotte and do not see any lake that has been taken down as far as High Rock. Believe me, no one feels good about people losing jobs...not at the Badin plant or at any of the lake businesses. Don't forget, you are not the only person who lost a job this summer. Make good use of that retraining that you talked about in your post. Learn a skill that will not depend on some big company to keep you afloat (no pun intended) like becoming an electrician or plumber or locksmith. There is no loyalty to employees from big corporations these days. I know because my husband has been downsized twice after many years in responsible positions with big corporations. |
Friday, August 23rd 2002 - 03:37:49 PM
| Name: | Renfield |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| E-mail address: | renfield97@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Does anyone know of someone who would come out to the lake and shrink-wrap boats that are sitting on the bottom for the winter? I imagine that a lot of people who normally have their boats towed in and shrink-wrapped would like to have this done instead of leaving their boats exposed to the elements all winter as they sit on the bottom. I would appreciate any information that could be provided. |
Friday, August 23rd 2002 - 01:04:22 PM
| Name: | Fran Tallent |
| Locale you are from ?: | Concord, NC |
| E-mail address: | frantal@vnet.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Thanks for the incredible photos documenting the drought! I have been taking pictures, too, but none as spectacular as yours. One from the 85 bridge near Salisbury will appear in the September issue of The Golden Nugget, the journal of Cabarrus Genealogy Society of which I am Editor. From that bridge, the place where the old Indian trading post and ford were can be easily seen. Thanks again! |
Thursday, August 22nd 2002 - 08:48:27 PM
| Name: | Land Locked |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| E-mail address: | like the pic |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | About the picture of the sad face taken from the air(in the low lake pics)Do I detect a tear falling down the cheek? Maybe that is a tear for all the damage Alcoa has done to their own property!! I don't think that sad face will cause wildlife to die, fish to die in the mud or ruin everyones summer, or even get anyone laid off...... for the sake of greed! As soon as it rains, the sad face will be gone...will take alot longer for the ducks, geese and fish to come back!........and p.s. (for goofy and bullgang)It is apparant that Alcoa has not futhered your "edumacation" ..so I do have a six year old that would love to help you get started with your grammer lessons while you are sitting back drawing waiting on the "TRA" Seems she has plenty of time since she has not been able to swim, ski, kneeboard or enjoy the lake this summer. I'm sorry......we're not supposed to point fingers at others.....so just consider this a shaking fist, and have a goooooood day! |
Thursday, August 22nd 2002 - 01:43:39 PM
| Name: | lake dweller |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| E-mail address: | .................. |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Mr. Bullgang and friends, Quit blaming everyone but Alcoa for your lay-off. Have you read anything about the closing of your plant? This shut-down was planned long before they even started taking down the water. I can't believe you are actually buying into the plant closing being due to trouble from the lake dwellers! Get real and think a little bit. Alcoa had the deal with Iceland planned a long time ago. Your plant would have closed even if the lake dwellers hadn't said one word about the sorry condition of the lake. The plant was not making enough profit for Alcoa and that is the real reason you are losing your job. I don't mind paying for your re-education. Use it wisely. Our lake will come back sooner or later but I strongly doubt Alcoa will ever reopen your plant. |
Thursday, August 22nd 2002 - 04:25:54 AM
| Name: | Concerned Taxpaying Environmentalist |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbots Creek |
| E-mail address: | ajack1953@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | This week WFAE 90.7 had a wonderful series all week long on "The Drought" during The Morning Addition segment of ALl Things Considered. For Those of you interested go to: http://www.wfae.org/wfae/index.cfm Part four was about our own Yadkin River and High Rock Lake. Check it out soon before it is archived. Stories From The Drought, Part Four (08-15-02) Water is a shared resource. Towns and cities, companies and individuals all need it. And they often get it from the same places. That's not a problem when there's enough to go around, but when the water recedes, sometimes, so does the good will. WFAE's Scott Jagow reports. Read Listen |
Friday, August 16th 2002 - 07:15:46 PM
| Name: | EJA |
| Locale you are from ?: | Duck Cove |
| E-mail address: | minijon@lexcominc.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I live on Duck Cove. When are they going to mow the grass in the lakebed back here? It is getting pretty tall. |
Tuesday, August 13th 2002 - 11:28:14 AM
| Name: | GOAT MAN |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | ATT: ALOCA WORKERS GO TO ICELAND FOR YOUR NEW JOBS |
Friday, August 9th 2002 - 01:26:44 PM
| Name: | GOOD BYE! |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| E-mail address: | land of the lost |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | According to the article below, looks like Alcoa is off to do it again,
to someone else. Alcoa, Government of Iceland and Landsvirkjun, Iceland's National Power Company, Sign Memorandum of Understanding on New Smelter in Eastern Iceland PITTSBURGH--July 19, 2002--Alcoa Inc. announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Iceland and Landsvirkjun, Iceland's national power company, formalizing their cooperation on a 295,000-metric-ton-per-year, low-emission aluminum smelter to be built in eastern Iceland. The MOU was signed this morning in Reykjavik, Iceland. The parties began working on this project under a Joint Action Plan, which began on April 19, 2002, and was extended through this week. Under the new MOU, Landsvirkjun will begin development of a 500-megawatt hydropower facility in eastern Iceland, and Alcoa will complete environmental and engineering studies of the smelter near Reydarfjordur in eastern Iceland. The MOU also encompasses a harbor facility at Mjoeyri as well as related infrastructure improvements in eastern Iceland. Upon completion, the project would represent one of the largest private-sector investments in Iceland's history and one of the cleanest aluminum production facilities in the world. This sustainable development project is designed to create hundreds of new, permanent jobs in eastern Iceland helping to put the economy there on a more solid foundation. A stronger economy in the region will allow for improvements in transportation, education, healthcare and culture. As the process continues, Alcoa will work to meet the company's high standards for sustainable development. Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses as a single solution to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) aluminum foil, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 129,000 employees in 38 countries. Alcoa (NYSE:AA) Forward Looking Statement Certain statements in this release relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements related to this memorandum of understanding to be different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include Alcoa's inability to achieve the returns necessary to implement the project, economic or competitive factors in Iceland and other risk factors summarized in Alcoa's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001. |
Friday, August 9th 2002 - 12:41:03 PM
| Name: | Dan Patterson |
| Locale you are from ?: | Spencer, NC |
| E-mail address: | dantana@carolina.rr.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | There have been several messages left on our board that was signed "high-rock.com .. This was done not by us but by some jerk trying to be funny. I hope no one was offended by what was said. We promise each of you that if we "high-rock.com" have anything to say we will sign our name to it. |
Thursday, August 8th 2002 - 08:06:50 PM
| Name: | Jeff |
| Locale you are from ?: | Lexington |
| E-mail address: | jj2@northstate.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | There will be a meeting of the Concerned Property Owners of Highrock lake Thurs. night 7/8 at Southmont Fire Dept. It will be a candidates forum for all candidates running for County Commissioner in Davidson County. All who are concerned about what can be done to secure the future of the lake should attend. The meeting will start at 7:00 P.M. |
Thursday, August 8th 2002 - 04:34:29 AM
| Name: | GOAT MAN |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL. |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Aloca the only place that has a DROUGHT is from ILODS DAM to HIGHROCK DAM the other lakes are about bank full all butt BADIN it is down 8.6 the 8/8/2002 |
Thursday, August 8th 2002 - 03:37:35 AM
| Name: | another one for Alcoa |
| Locale you are from ?: | surrounding area |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | It's kinda funny that all the people on HRL are quick to assume that everything is Alcoa's fault. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A DROUGHT? Our state is experiencing the worst drought in history, so don't you think that may have something to do with the lack of water in YOUR LAKE (as you call it). Just remember, it is technically Alcoa's lake and they are just letting you enjoy it! |
Wednesday, August 7th 2002 - 08:17:16 PM
| Name: | BULLGANG |
| Locale you are from ?: | STANLEY |
| E-mail address: | ALCOA |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | IS YOUR POND GETTING ANY MORE WATER IN IT? |
Wednesday, August 7th 2002 - 03:08:44 PM
| Name: | bullgang |
| Locale you are from ?: | ALCOA |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | WE WILL BE BACK AND SO WILL YOUR WATER!!!!!!!! |
Wednesday, August 7th 2002 - 03:06:23 PM
| Name: | GOAT MAN |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL. |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | stanly co. orwhoever you or you needto see your boss at ALCOAthey know what they did to the people of HIGH-ROCK LAKE and the people of HIGH-ROCK LAKE DID NOT MAKE LOSE YOUR JOB ALCOA DID |
Wednesday, August 7th 2002 - 11:10:57 AM
| Name: | To: Stanly county, high rock.com or whoever you are |
| Locale you are from ?: | Davidson County |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | You're signing the WRONG board, sir. No personal attacks and it doesn't take a "cheap" person to regret what has happened to the lake. |
Tuesday, August 6th 2002 - 05:42:17 PM
| Name: | high-rock.com |
| Locale you are from ?: | stanly co. |
| E-mail address: | lizmil@vnet.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | To the many people angry with alcoa, it is not their job to make rian!
Many of us {alcoa employees }will soon be out of a job,and many of you are
happy with this,but that is your choice.There is only one person you will
stand before for that wish. If you built a $500,000 house on a mud hole that
is your choice not alcoa's. Highrock lake was built to make power for
alcoa,that is a fact.If you were not so cheap you would have went to a real
lake like Tillery but you were cheap,so you have no one to blame but
yourself for your low property value. Signed not mad just unemployed |
Tuesday, August 6th 2002 - 03:28:10 PM
| Name: | wondering |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Did anybody consider that Alcoa possibly kept Badin full of water over
the summer while their executives sold their homes before closing the plant?
Had they lowered Badin earlier, they might not have gotten good prices for
their properties. Now that the plant is closed...the water is going DOWN.
They might have also wanted to keep their workers happy before giving them
the bad news. The plant closing and Badin falling all happened around the
same time. I wouldn't put it past Alcoa....actually, I wouldn't put anything past Alcoa. |
Tuesday, August 6th 2002 - 04:46:18 AM
| Name: | Deez Nizzuts |
| Locale you are from ?: | Badin |
| E-mail address: | swtthang69@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | nobody really cares that high(dry) rock lake is a farm field. Ya'll need to quit whinning and just move on with life. |
Monday, August 5th 2002 - 06:43:26 PM
| Name: | Doug Delaney |
| Locale you are from ?: | Cary, NC |
| E-mail address: | dbdmmd@bellsouth.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Anybody want 2.5 acres of beautiful wooded property in the Summit,
overlooking High Rock ditch? Bought the property a year ago, everything was so beautiful. Nobody told me that Alcoa had me by the ____s |
Monday, August 5th 2002 - 12:34:52 PM
| Name: | Stuck on Abbots Creek |
| Locale you are from ?: | Southmont |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Good idea to mow th grass. But, check your Shoreline Management Plan and
you will find it is not legal, according to ALCOA, "NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES
ALLOWED" on the lake bottom, period. "NO CLEAN UP ALLOWED EITHER," without paying for a permit and approval from Alcoa. Now how ridiculious is all of this........ THINK ABOUT IT............ |
Sunday, August 4th 2002 - 01:09:32 PM
| Name: | Barry Hollingsworth |
| Locale you are from ?: | Linwood/southmont |
| E-mail address: | bhol579@lexcominc.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I think we should all pitch in and at least mow the grass where the lake suppose to be.... |
Sunday, August 4th 2002 - 10:45:09 AM
| Name: | Terry L. Thomas & Teresa Macon |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek, HRL |
| E-mail address: | maconthomas13@hotmail.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | OK! it happened. We are at 17.2 down at HRL. Go ahead Yadkin and drop it
a little lower like last week so Abbotts Creek can exspose all the dead fish
and ducks again. It appears that right at 17.5 exposes all the trash: ie:
beer cans, tires, bottles, car parts, and most importantly dangerous stumps.
Hey, I know this trash is a potential habitat for fish! WHAT fish are left?
So, SOLUTION!! HR Lake Assoc. & Alcoa/Yadkin & Conerned citizens come together and devise a coordinated plan to utilize the Corp. of Army Engineers to clean up the shoreline of dead debri. This might include shaving down those stumps that appear like stalagtites. Maybe widen the original river run. Wildlife could establish upgraded buoys.Some rumers involve dregging!and extending launch ramps to accomodate lake access as we look forward to years of low water levels. We understand the cause and effect of the drought, but with post 911 energy and enthusiasm, we can take on this project that would make Clean Sweep a mear bandaid. It's time to be proactive and collaborative for the future generations. Think about it......... Terry |
Sunday, August 4th 2002 - 08:52:54 AM
| Name: | high rock willie |
| Locale you are from ?: | abbotts creek |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | so, alcoa shuts down the badin operation. all of a sudden the water
level is coming up and we aint had nary drop of rain. i wants to aks you dis,......
yo,what up widd dat?????? yall think about it. yours truely, h.r. willie |
Sunday, August 4th 2002 - 07:56:33 AM
| Name: | PAUL |
| Locale you are from ?: | DENTON |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Idol s Dam is next that where Winston Salem gets their water and the water they sell to Greensboro then it is KERR Scott Dam and WINSTON Salem owns part of it |
Sunday, August 4th 2002 - 06:52:53 AM
| Name: | Stuck on Abbots Creek |
| Locale you are from ?: | Southmont |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | While your facts are true in your comments, let's add a few more. I am not trying to be nit-picking, but I feel ALCOA has waited too many years to try and correct many problems with High Rock Lake. They have known about it for years and have not taken any steps to try and correct it. High Rock Lake is filling up at a tremendous rate. Primiliary due to continued growth upstream. However, noone has taken any steps to try and stop it, until ALCOA adopted their Shoreline Management Plan, which was required by FERC a couple years ago. Seems to me they waited way too long to try and correct years of neglect, and are now trying to wiggle out of the problem. The closing of the Badin Plant is just one step that will lead to many more before all is said and done. The fact that the 2 million gallons of water a day that Winston Salem is selling to Greensboro, winds up in the Cape Fear River Basin, Not back in the the Yadkin. Fact, ALCOA has publicly announced that they were going to dredge High Rock Lake. They even conned money from our Counties to help pay for a study, which still has not been released to the public. Why then would this study and those dredging plans be hushed up so fast. High Rock Lake is not the most upper lake on the Yadkin Chain, check your maps. Kerr Scott is further up stream, remember. Also, there has been other fish kills on High Rock that have not been publicized. The reason, they were smaller in numbers. There were as many as 300 killed in Abbotts Creek a week ago, due to trapping in shallow water. Yes this was reported to the Wildlife Department. |
Sunday, August 4th 2002 - 05:56:36 AM
| Name: | PAUL |
| Locale you are from ?: | DENTON |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | WHAT GOD GIVES US ON HIGH-ROCK ALCOA TAKES IT AWAY |
Sunday, August 4th 2002 - 05:03:09 AM
| Name: | Whining, rich gal |
| Locale you are from ?: | on the lake |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I WISH I was rich, and my husband wishes I'd quit whining. LOL Anyway, just wanted to add that I think the homeowners on the lake, the businesses that have had a nightmare of a summer, the fish and wildlife that have died, and the people who lost their jobs are all victims of a huge, greedy, and uncaring corporation that mismanaged both company and natural resourses. Now they are moving on leaving people unemployed and a lake that is a major disaster. That newspaper article said they 'may' come back but I wouldn't put any bets on it. We should not be at war with each other. We're all grieving our losses, and all wondering how to put things back together again. PEACE. |
Saturday, August 3rd 2002 - 10:59:38 AM
| Name: | Whiner |
| Locale you are from ?: | on the lake |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | For those who have not read the High Point Enterprise newpaper article,
here is an excerpt concerning both the Badin plant and the power generating
facility: "Alcoa officials say they will also close plants in Texas and Oregon, although they say they plan to open a new facility in Iceland. Alcoa has 201 plants in the United States and employs more than 129,000 people in 38 countries. The three American plants scheduled for closing lost money for too long, Al Renken, president of Alcoa Prime Metals, said Wednesday in a statement. "As we explore markets around the world, we must take a hard look at our assets in the United States," Renken said. "We regret the impact these actions will have, and we will work to make the transition as smooth as possible." Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., will still sell power from the four hydroelectric dams on High Rock, Tuckertown, Badin and Falls lakes. If business and water levels pick up, Alcoa could reopen the Badin plant, but that could be years away, Renken said." |
Saturday, August 3rd 2002 - 10:37:37 AM
| Name: | Landlocked |
| Locale you are from ?: | Lexington |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Look out Badin.........looks like it is your turn, the water is going.....going.....gone! |
Saturday, August 3rd 2002 - 08:44:48 AM
| Name: | Lake Lover! |
| Locale you are from ?: | Badin |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Everyone knows good and well Alcoa knew this shut-down was coming .Why then I ask did they have to do so much damage to the beautiful lakes we once had.Not to mention the effect they've had on the eco-system.I guess that's their way of paying lake home owners back for our discontintment with them.You know drain everything we can and get out!Well just everyone hope and pray for rain.Maybe then the good lord will help us clean up their mess.For the employees who worked so hard for Alcoa I really do feel for you.Although I didn't work for Alcoa (and wouldn't have)I'm having it pretty rough myself these days.I probroly feel more for you than your company did.They gave you about as much notice as they did the homeowners who live on High Rock and Badin lakes.What was their slogan?ALCOA can't wait.Well I can't wait.I can't wait till their gone! |
Friday, August 2nd 2002 - 10:18:46 PM
| Name: | Frustrated |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | First off, I feel sorry the working people at the Badin plant that is
shuuting down. Now, did the lawsuits cause this? The answer is probaly not. Alcoa like other huge companies have lawyers on the payroll because they expect lawsuits to filed against them. They more than likely shut down not from making enough profit to suit their shareholders. This is just my opinion I do not have data to back this up. This closing does come aat an oppurtune time to shift blame off Alcoa and cast it elsewhere which, also in my opinion, is what companies of this magnitude is famous for. I do not live on the lake. I did ennjoy using HRL for recreation. I do not understand how 1 of 4 needed to suffer drastically before the others started to get pinched. I firmly believe that if there was no fish kills and other environmental disasters that HRL would continued to be drained. Yes I know there is a drought, but this situation could have been avoided. HRL is low because there was money to be made. What can be done to help improve the conditions? Perhaps there can be pressure applied to keep the dam from allowing water out. What does it take to apply pressure? Lawsuits are the only way to get corporations to listen. They might not do anything, but you can their attention. Maybe their should be a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of all citizens of Davidson and Rowan counties because of not only environmental but also financial strains of everbody affected? Pressure should also be applied to upstream users to cut-back usage and selling water to other communities. |
Friday, August 2nd 2002 - 09:45:10 PM
| Name: | Tom |
| Locale you are from ?: | Raleigh |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I don't understand if this is good or bad for High Rock Lake? Will the water rise if Alcoa is not generating electricity? What will Alcoa do with the lake long term if the Badin plant does not reopen? It does not really seem like they would continue to operate the dams if they don't need the electricity. |
Friday, August 2nd 2002 - 08:44:26 PM
| Name: | Longtime Highrocker |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I sincerely hope the lady who wrote in about her husband losing his job continues to read this board. I want her to know firsthand that she is "up a creek without a paddle" (or water for that matter) in blaming High Rock Homeowners for her troubles. Alcoa doesn't own as much as she thinks and certainly doesn't have the right to destroy that which they do own. The truth is times are hard right now. Alcoa isn't making it better on you or us. I think that makes us on the same side of this matter! |
Friday, August 2nd 2002 - 07:55:08 PM
| Name: | Good Bye Alcoa |
| Locale you are from ?: | High Rock |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Read todays (8-2-02) page 3B High Point Enterprise and see what a shoddy
company Alcoa really is...also copy and paste the links below. Poor
management put them under, not the residents of High Rock. They received
special tax breaks for 15 years to the tune of 730,000.00 per year and where
is all of this money? They spent all of it filing lawsuits against the state
to get even more money! Now they closed the plant, and now the public accesses to All of High Rock, and now the ramps and swimming areas at Badin. They show High Rock rising and steady, but there is less water when it showed 22 feet down???? Also the lady complaining about her husband losing his job... Did not see any comment or sympanthy from you when all the folks around High Rock Lake had to lay off their employees and close their business because ALCOA used all the water to make Power knowing the plant would close 3 years ago if it did not make more profit.....so kiss my *ss, I don't feel sorry for you...see how it feels! http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=4930982&BRD=1332&PAG=461&dept_id=414366&rfi=8 www.neighborsforneighbors.com. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=4930986&BRD=1332&PAG=461&dept_id=414366&rfi=6 |
Friday, August 2nd 2002 - 01:47:08 PM
| Name: | Stuck on Abbots Creek |
| Locale you are from ?: | Southmont |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | To the lady who says her husband lost his job. I am really sorry this
has happened. But please remember that those who lost their jobs, or at
least many of them will draw unemployment for months and in some cases maybe
years. Many of us are still out there working, trying to pay taxes and other
expenses on what we get paid. I, like others worked very hard for many long years (31 to be exact) just to be able to buy land and build my house. Believe me you don't get rich working as a firefighter most of your life. I, like others set my goals and worked to achieve them. So don't go around whinning about the ones of us who bought and built our retirement homes here on High Rock. I am very proud of it, wish you were. As far as the drought and ALCOA closing the Badin Plant. Had they not managed the lake in such a poor way, just maybe your husband would still be employed. Afterall, the property owners have been trying to get them to manage the water in the lake for well over 4 years now. NO, they waited until the Yadkin River was in trouble, before even requesting a variance from the FERC to reduce the flows. They also, increased the generating flows at the High Rock Dam within the past two years. That flow required an additional 200cfs of water. Think about it for a minute, they only requested a reduction in the flow of the water by 200cfs. Now you do your own math. Seems to me we are at the same place we were two years ago, and we were in a drought then as well. They waited until a number of drownings at Pebble Beach, before taking any action for the possible prevention of this. Now who is to blame. ALCOA likes to boast about their environment improvements, their safety record and how much they are concerned about health, safety and being a good neighbor. I for one don't feel that a GOOD NEIGHBOR, will fight you tooth and nail, just to make a PROFIT. In my opinion the reason they stopped flowing water within the past couple weeks, was due to the fact that they JUST MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE DRAINING OF HIGH ROCK LAKE. So I for one feel the law suits are well justified. Afterall, they may own the land beneath the lake, but they do not own one drop of the water, that is public property. On top of that they jeopardized businesses and property owners downstream of High Rock, especially in South Carolina, to health, and enviromental damages, as well as economics. Plants and small businesses are on the verge of closing there also, all due to POOR PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT on ALCOA's part. The Buck Station at Spencer, has been shut down or reduced to a mere output, WHY, NO WATER.. Davidson County lost over 900 jobs from the tourist industry in the year 2001, how many will be lost this year? That is anyone's guess. They also lost over 1.8 million dollars due to not being able to have bass tournments and other lake activities that bring in dollars. Yet ALCOA's position , is that the lake really does not have such a big impact on the overall economy. I beg to differ. Think for a minute just how many businesses are involved. It isn't just the marinas, it is motels, restruants, gas stations, boat dealers, banks, as well as those businesses that are on the lake, the list goes on and on. It is a lock of business that brings millions of dollars in sales taxes to each County's coffers. That helps keep property taxes down. Again, I feel for you and your husband. But put yourself in the same boat that a lot of other people are in as well. So PLEASE don't ask me to feel sorry for ALCOA. Like someone else said, they are a Super Large World Wide Company and they have never once taken any steps torward working with the people living and working on the lake. Instead they have done everything possible to fight against them. Now they want to raise our pier permit fees, WHY? we are paying them for something that we cannot use in the first place, again NO WATER. Is this NEW, NO, we have suffered with this for years and again ALCOA has not taken steps to try and eliminate the problems. You mentioned the lake was dirty. Well who is to blame for that? I personally think the general boating public has a lot to do with it. But think for a minute about all the growth around the lake and upstream in the past 40 years. Also think about the demands that growth has put on the Yadkin River. Yes, I will agree it is more dirty than I would like to see it. We have all kinds of polution in the lake, why hasn't ALCOA taken steps to either stop it or clean it up years ago? Does the filling of the lake not affect their overall bottom line, I surely think so. Poor management over the years has finally caught up with them. However, on the otherhand, what they did was wait until things started getting a little tough on them, then they slapped us with NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS. In other words, they slamed the door on the horse, and that horse (namely the lake) was so far from the barn it was ridiculious. In fact the horse was completely out of site. Would they listen to reason 3 or 4 years ago. Had you attended the meetings I think you would have learned that ALCOA could care less about the people or the economy of Davidson or Rowan County, in fact any County. It has always been about MONEY and PROFITS. No doubt you have read about the lake filling up with silt. What happened to the tax money raised, at ALCOA's request, for a dredging study? Secondly, what happened to ALCOA's idea of dredging in the first place. Afterall, they announced within the past three years that this dredging was going to be done. Bottom line, deeper lakes hold deeper water, and that water last a lot longer time, when properly managed. The dredging issue was hushed up in a hurry, now wasn't it???? |
Thursday, August 1st 2002 - 04:35:08 PM
| Name: | JOHN |
| Locale you are from ?: | dry rock lake |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | guess alcoa wanted to sell the water for an extra few bucks-then shut the plant down-WAY TO GO ALCOA-YOU R VERY SMART PEOPLE. |
Thursday, August 1st 2002 - 12:26:38 PM
| Name: | PAUL |
| Locale you are from ?: | DENTON |
| E-mail address: | L WILSON 10 @TRAID. RR. COM |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | ALOCA PULL HIGH ROCK LAKE DOWN TO MAKE FOLKS MAD THAT LIVE THERE THEY KNOWN THAT THEY WERE GOING CLOSE THE BADIN PLANT THEN THE FOLKS ON HIGH ROCK LAKE WOULD GET BLAME FOR IT ALOCA DON T CARE ABOUT FOLKS BUT THEY DO CARE ABOUT MONEY |
Thursday, August 1st 2002 - 11:57:30 AM
| Name: | give me a break |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | To those people who are fed up with reading the 'whining' about conditions on the lake..............well, conditions on the lake is what this site is all about!!!!! If you don't want to hear the 'whining', why are you bothering to read this site at all? We are saddened about the death of fish and wildlife on this lake as well as the loss of business and recreation for those who live and work here. I, personally, put the harm to the environment well above my loss of recreation this summer....and I think many other people do as well. People here would not be 'whining' if they believed our lake is in this sad state due to just drought conditions. We know that the sale of hydroelectric power during these difficult conditions is what caused our lake to be in the condition it is in today. We have looked at other lake systems, in the same lake conditions, and ours was the only one to be drained. Most of us have worked many years to be able to live on this lake. For most of us, 'luck' had nothing to do with our ability to have homes here. It was years of hard work that allow us to live here. Yes, we are 'happy' to be able to live on this lake and we all know it...but 'luck' had nothing to do with it! |
Thursday, August 1st 2002 - 08:37:13 AM
| Name: | right on!!! |
| Locale you are from ?: | salisbury |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | just wanted to tell the lady whose husband is losing his job how sorry i am. i totally agree with everything that she said! the people on high rock lake should be count their blessings and realize that they are not the only ones suffering because of the drought and the economy. i only wish that those people would stop whining and realize how good they have it, especially compared to others! it's a shame that alcoa employees and their families are the ones that are suffering and the only thing people want to complain about is that they are paying for lake front property and not receiving it!! |
Thursday, August 1st 2002 - 05:48:31 AM
| Name: | lake dweller |
| Locale you are from ?: | HRL |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | To the woman who wrote in about other people suffering in Salisbury: I feel badly about your husband losing his job at Alcoa. I am also sympathetic to all the other folks who have lost their jobs as well. However, believe me, the people who live and own businesses on High Rock Lake did not cause this to happen. Alcoa said it was shutting down the plant because it was not making money for them. That's the reason your husband is now unemployed. It had nothing at all to do with any lawsuits over the lake levels. Alcoa, as with other multi-million dollar companies, has their own lawyers on staff to handle the many lawsuits that are filed against them every year. And hundreds of thousands of dollars means nothing to them. The are a very rich and powerful company. Any lawsuits that have been filed against them this summer over the lake problems are just a drop in the bucket compared to the number of other lawsuits they are battling. Don't blame us. |
Thursday, August 1st 2002 - 05:07:35 AM
| Name: | hank |
| Locale you are from ?: | DRY ROCK |
| E-mail address: | HANKT@HERZOGVENEERS.COM |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I'M VERY SORRY THAT ANY ONE THAT WORKS FOR ALCOA HAS TO LOSE THEIR JOBS,
BUT YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST AND YOU WILL NOT BE THE LAST. AND NO THE DROUGHT
IS NOT TO BLAME FOR THAT EITHER. MOST PEOPLE LOSE JOBS DUE TO THE BAD
BUSINESS DESICIONS THAT THE COMPAINES THEY WORK FOR HAVE MADE. ALSO TO THE
LIFE STYLE THAT WE ALL HAVE. OTHER COUNTRIES ARE WILLING TO HAVE A LESSER
LIFE STYLE, THEREFORE GOODS CAN BE PRODUCED CHEAPER DUE TO THE LOWER WAGES.
I'M SURE ALCOA HAS DONE THEIR BEST TO MAKE ALL THE RIGHT DECISIONS......OUR LAKE LEVELS ARE PROOF OF THAT. AGAIN JUST LOOK AT THEIR TRACK RECORDS..THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES! AND YES I KNEW THE LAKE LEVELS BE FORE I BOUGHT PROPERTY ON HIGH ROCK...BUT MAYBE THE LADY WHERE HER HUSBAN IS LOSING HIS JOG SHOULD WALK THE LAKE BED AND SEE ALL THE DEAD FISH, DEAD DUCKS, AND DEAD FRESH WATER CLAMS.....THEY DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE OF WHERE THEY COULD LIVE. SORRY LADY, BUT NOW YOU KNOW THE FEELING OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THEIR LIFE SAVINGS INTO HOMES OR A BUSINESS AND NOW THEIR LOSING EVERYTHING. SOMETIMES LIFE IS TUFF ON US ALL! |
Thursday, August 1st 2002 - 05:03:32 AM
| Name: | others are suffering too!!! |
| Locale you are from ?: | Salisbury |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I have heard and read almost all that I care to know about how the
citizens of Rowan County feel about Alcoa and their part in the "Dry" Rock
Lake situation. Yes, I do feel sorry for the homeowners on High Rock Lake;
however, most people do research before buying property and if these home
owners would have done that...they would have found out that High Rock Lake
is not the lake to build a $500,000 + home on. It has always been known as a
dirty lake that is always below "normal" level. Anyone who has even spent
one summer in Rowan County can tell you of the dry coves, etc. that have
been happening for YEARS!! Yes, I know that Alcoa has pulled the water out of High Rock Lake to benefit themselves, but IT IS THEIR PROPERTY so isn't it their right to do as they wish?!?!? As someone else stated in their comment...we all should be glad that Alcoa has allowed all of Rowan County to enjoy the lake instead of keeping it all to themselves!!! Now on to the others who are suffering.....MY FAMILY!!! My husband is (or should I now say WAS) employed by Alcoa. However, today, we were told that in 2 weeks, my husband will no longer have a job. Is the drought to blame or is it the low price of alumium today?!? NO TO BOTH...I WOULD SAY THAT IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE SELFISH HOME OWNERS OF HIGH ROCK LAKE!!!! Because of you and your nonsense lawsuits against Alcoa, my family will suffer!!! It has come to our attention that just in the last month, Alcoa has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on attorney fees to defend themselves for using something the is actually theirs to begin with (HIGH ROCK LAKE)!!!! So, think about us (the others who are suffering) next time you decide that having lake front property is more important than a man trying to earn a honest living to support is family!!!! |
Wednesday, July 31st 2002 - 07:54:07 PM
| Name: | KEN |
| Locale you are from ?: | FISHERMANS COVE |
| E-mail address: | kenvette2001@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | you know, its kinda ironic that from highrock up river the situation is dry (yadkin inc.) and from bluet falls (cp&l)down river to myrtle beach, the situation is dry. it does not take a brain surgeon to figure this out. all the water is holed up in the middle. smells fishy to me! |
Sunday, July 28th 2002 - 10:59:29 AM
| Name: | alex powell |
| Locale you are from ?: | high rock |
| E-mail address: | boogtp@aol.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | surely the epa can bust alcoa's bubble. fish kills, bald eagles in
danger of poisioning, not to mention future devastation to the fish chain at
high rock.... alcoa claims the drought emptied high rock. if so, why hasn't the drought emptied 1 single other lake in the entire southeastern united states... george w bush was in high point yesterday...i just wished he could have stayed over for some bass fishing at high rock....w likes his bass fishing.....and you know what they say--don't mess with texas---up here it's don't mess with alcoa---maybe it's time to do just that--i'm gonna call w tonite and see if he can come back for a tour......one more disaster area...too bad politics has to get involved to cure our problems....but if so--so be it |
Friday, July 26th 2002 - 10:58:02 AM
Comments from June 8 -- July 24, 2002
| Name: | Stuck on Abbots Creek |
| Locale you are from ?: | Southmont |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | HI Folks: You want to read something to really get yo steamed??? Why couldn't this have been done 6-10 weeks ago?? Goes to prove ALCOA, can control their operations when they want too. Or they are scared they will have to pay for all the dead fish and other wildlife, which they should be required to do. When enough people complain to the Federal, State and Local Officials long enough and hard enough, ALCOA would surely take notice. We should demand they pay for all damages caused by the draining of "DRY ROCK" (HIGH ROCK) LAKE. Home -> News -> Content Wednesday 24 July, 2002 HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Top Stories Alcoa cuts flow out of High Rock Lake By: Ronda Cranford, Staff writer July 24, 2002 The dams at High Rock Lake stopped releasing water downstream last Friday, and no more water will be let go until at least Thursday. A fish kill on a 3-acre area of the lake in Rowan County last week prompted Alcoa, the company which controls High Rock, to stop releasing water from the lake, according to company spokesman Michael Andrews. The lake has been shrinking all summer, and last week between 1,000 and 2,000 fish died after being trapped in a shallow pond created by receding water levels. Federal regulations require an average of 1,200 cubic feet of water per second be released from the chain of lakes managed by Alcoa. As a result, more water has been leaving the lake system than has been coming in. Michael Andrews said Tuesday that the company will use the smaller Narrows Lake to meet those release requirements. Operating guidelines allow the company to lower Narrows' levels six or seven feet, Andrews said. Alcoa was granted permission to reduce the amount it releases downstream from 1,400 to 1,200 feet per second in June. On Thursday, North and South Carolina officials will meet to discuss the possibility of reducing the release amounts even more. Industries downstream in South Carolina rely on river flow for their operations. Municipal water supplies, including the city of Myrtle Beach, also depend on it. But squeezing downstream users now could benefit them in the long run, a spokesperson for the N.C. Division of Water Resources said last week. There's a lot of dry season left, and the preserving lake levels now means the water supply will last longer, the spokesperson said. Ronda Cranford can be contacted at 888-3533 or rcranford@hpe.com ©High Point Enterprise 2002 Back to top Copyright © 1995 - 2002 PowerOne Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Wednesday, July 24th 2002 - 02:46:12 PM
| Name: | Tresea |
| Locale you are from ?: | Rockwell |
| E-mail address: | tcook@tcnind.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Complaints are continually being published regarding trespassing on High Roch (Dry Rock)with picking up arrowheads, fishing lures, fishing rods, etc. What I don't understand is the double standard from Alcoa. Every year there is a "Big Sweep" to clean up the riverbanks. This is where they ask for volunteers to help clean Alcoa property for one day. So what's the difference now? It is being done consistently with more participation and a larger area getting cleaned. |
Wednesday, July 24th 2002 - 12:34:24 PM
| Name: | Norm Arrington |
| Locale you are from ?: | Winston-Salem |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | More facts: http://www.ncwater.org/Water_Supply_Planning/Drought_Monitoring_Council/Yadkin-PeeDee/ |
Wednesday, July 24th 2002 - 10:26:04 AM
| Name: | Norm Arrington |
| Locale you are from ?: | Winston-Salem |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Thought I would pass on the following website for those interested in
understanding the primary purpose of High Rock Reservoir and those who want
to understand the guidelines set forth for ALCOA in the 27-page 1958
licensing agreement between Alcoa and the Federal Power Commission (you will
need Adobe Reader ((free download)) to read the document): http://www.ncwater.org/Water_Supply_Planning/Drought_Monitoring_Council/Yadkin-PeeDee/FERC1958.pdf I pulled the following passages verbatim as I found them enlightening: "Requests have been made informally (by letter or telegram) to the Commission by various individuals, companies and agencies that the water in the High Rock Reservoir of Aluminum be maintained at high levels at all times for recreational purposes. [*39] Such a limitation would largely defeat the purpose of Aluminum in constructing the reservoir and would greatly reduce the benefits to downstream plants resulting from the operation as it has been conducted in the past. A study by the witness Price, a Commission employee and presented by the Staff, shows that if the drawdown at High Rock were limited to a maximum of ten feet instead of the existing thirty-foot drawdown, the estimated power loss would be approximately $150,000 per year. No evidence was presented by the proponents of the limitation as to its feasibility or as to the recreational benefits which might be obtained thereby. The proposal is therefore rejected. A provision is inserted which requires the maintenance of the highest level at High Rock from June 1 to September 1 of each year which is practicable and consistent with the reservoir's primary purpose of providing firm energy for the smelting operations at Badin." "(10) The High Rock reservoir of the Applicant is operated primarily for the purpose of providing a large reservoir which may be drawn down as necessary to maintain continuity of operation of the Badin smelter works of the Applicant at the highest possible minimum level." "28. The Licensee shall, in order to secure maximum recreational benefits, make every reasonable effort to maintain the water surface of High Rock Reservoir at the highest level practicable from June 1 to September 1 of each year, as is consistent with the primary purpose of the reservoir to provide a large reservoir which may be drawn down as necessary to maintain continuity of operation of the Badin smelting works at the highest [*72] possible minimum level." You might be interested to know that the license appears to expire in 2008. From what I could tell, the approval of this license was predicated in large part on the fact that, in 1958, the power generation at High Rock was the most economical way to provide power to the smeltering plant at Badin and as many as 900 individuals and the economics of the entire region depended on the Badin plant. (Also, I found it discouraging that the Federal Government entered into this agreement in 1958, only five years after the 1953 drought, the only other time when the Lake was pulled down close to its current level.) The document provides lots of other interesting facts and history regarding the management of Badin, Tuckertown, and High Rock reservoirs. It filled in a lot of blanks for me in terms of understanding why ALCOA operates the way that it does. It appears to me that your argument is not so much with ALCOA as it is with the successor to the Federal Power Commission. I would suggest that folks push the emotion aside and fill up on the facts and organize for the 2008 licensing hearings - IT IS YOUR ONLY HOPE OF CHANGING ANYTHING. |
Wednesday, July 24th 2002 - 08:07:32 AM
| Name: | High Rock Honey |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbott's Creek beside the Hwy. 8 bridge |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Salisbury is not the only town without water restrictions. Winston Salem has no water restrictions. Winston Salem is taking water from the Yadkin River and selling it to Greensboro. A power plant is going to open in the old Stroh Brewery in Winston Salem (this is a done deal). Winston Salem is going to sell them water which they will take from the Yadkin River. There apparently is no control over water use in NC by anyone when Winston Salem can draw all the water they want from the Yadkin and use it as a money maker when the people on High Rock Lake have no water and the towns downstream on the Yadkin/PeeDee River in SC are running out of water. |
Wednesday, July 24th 2002 - 05:08:32 AM
| Name: | Jody |
| Locale you are from ?: | goodman lake |
| E-mail address: | the4allens@netzero.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | With all that is going on with the drought conditions WHY has Salisbury and or Rowan County even asked for Voluntary water restrictions or better yet mandatory. Every city around us is on some type of restrictions but yet Salisbury says there is no need yet well if not now WHEN?????? I urge all to call the city water department and complain.Every Day I ride by and see the country club houses watering in the morning and evening ! Whats wrong with this picture? |
Tuesday, July 23rd 2002 - 05:53:04 PM
| Name: | MELISSA |
| Locale you are from ?: | DRY ROCK RIVER |
| E-mail address: | MBARRINGER@MCKENZIESP.COM |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | IT IS PRETTY SAD THAT WE HAVE NO WATER. PEOPLE AT ALCOA DONT CARE WHAT GOES ON DOWN HERE AS LONG AS THEIR LAKE IS FULL AND THEY ARE MAKING MONEY. THINK OF ALL THE WILDLIFE THAT IS DYING. THE SMELL THAT IS COMING FROM THE DEAD ANIMALS. BEFORE LONG WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY ANIMALS AROUND HERE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WATER FOR THEM. OUR WELLS ARE GOING DRY AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GET WATER FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE WATER DOWN SO THIS MUCH SINCE I HAVE BEEN LIVING. I GUESS THAT WE WONT BE HAVING ANY MORE FISHING TOURNMENTS OR BASSMASTERS CLASSIC ON DRY ROCK ANY MORE. I THINK IT IS STUPID THAT WE CAN NOT WALK ON THE SHORES AND IF WE ARE COUGHT WE ARRESTED. I THINK THAT IF WE CANT USE WATERCRAFTS IN THE STREAM THEN WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO RIDE FOUR WHEELERS WITH OUT GETTING IN TROUBLE. I THINK THAT WHAT SHERRY SAID WE NEED TO LOAD UP THE DEAD ANIMALS FROM THE RIVER AND TAKE THEM TO ALCOA AND LET THEM KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO SMELL THAT SHIT. IT IS REAL FUN. I WAS DOWN SUNDAY AND THE LITTLE PONDS DOWN THERE ARE GREEN AND HAVE DEAD FISH FLOATING IN THEM. MY AUNT HAS A PROJECT TO DO AT SCHOOL AND HER PROJECT IS ON DRY ROCK POND. I GUESS WE WILL ALL HAVE TO PACK UP AND GO TO ANOTHER RIVER THAT HAS SOME WATER AT LEAST. IT WOULD NOT BE SO BAD IF THE OTHER 3 LAKES WERE AS LOW AS HIGH ROCK. I HOPE WE GET SOME WATER SOME TIME THIS YEAR. (2002) |
Tuesday, July 23rd 2002 - 10:55:26 AM
| Name: | Teri |
| Locale you are from ?: | Rockwell |
| E-mail address: | TeriHorseCrazy@aol.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | After just looking at the picture of all the grass growing at the Boat & Ski Club, my husband commented that it would be great if the grass could be allowed to grow and then cut and baled for hay. There's a severe hay shortage in the area, and livestock owners could be benefited! |
Tuesday, July 23rd 2002 - 08:10:56 AM
| Name: | Totally bummed at High Rock |
| Locale you are from ?: | Shore Line Drive |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I really don't think I can get much madder at how badly High Rock residents are getting screwed by Alcoa. Is it not BLATANTLY obvious to everyone that Alcoa requested the outflow variance just in time so that they wouldn't have deal with upset Badin Lake residents who obviously have ALOT more clout than us dry-docked High Rock folk? Why didn't they request the variance earlier so that at least part of the lake could be saved? Why don't they have an explanation for why every other lake around is near full pond? Why the hell doesn't Alcoa post an email address on their website so we can tell them how we feel? Frankly I am tired of calling and hearing how sorry they are and how they pray for rain every day. Yeah...right! Is there not an attorney out there who would be willing to represent the High Rock residents? I bet we could raise some serious money to pay that legal fee at this point in time. |
Monday, July 22nd 2002 - 09:09:54 PM
| Name: | Mr. & Ms Truluck |
| Locale you are from ?: | Tarawood on High Rock |
| E-mail address: | lakecats@aol.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Today is July 22,2002 We feel that all property owners on High Rock should march down to the tax office to protest & find out how to go about having our personal property taxes RE-ASSEDED due to the water levels!!! WE URGE ALL OF YOU TO DUE THE SAME!! We put our boat in on Badin yesterday, even though the water level is 5 ft. down we could not notice the difference. We crossed Tuckertown & it appeared full. Today, a friend reported that the resorviour above us in Wilksboro is full & that the Yadkin up there is also full. Also, I personally saw Tillery last week & it is full. What the hell is going on!!!!! Let's do something here!!!!! Lakecats@aol.com |
Monday, July 22nd 2002 - 04:02:29 PM
| Name: | jeff wallace |
| Locale you are from ?: | abbotts creek |
| E-mail address: | jfwj@lexcominc.net |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | link to www.hrla.org if you would.... thanks!! |
Monday, July 22nd 2002 - 03:49:06 PM
| Name: | Wayne |
| Locale you are from ?: | Rockwell |
| E-mail address: | forktree@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Where are the animal rights people. If this was a bird they would be all over it. If they can stop trees from being cut on HUNDREDS of acres of land to protect 1 bird why can't they hit ALCOA? Or at least have the fish that are traped be transported to deeper water. |
Monday, July 22nd 2002 - 02:54:59 PM
| Name: | Sherry |
| Locale you are from ?: | Rowan County |
| E-mail address: | stucker@mckenziesp.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I have lived on High Rock Lake most of my life and I have never seen anything like this. It has been clear long before now that ALCOA does not care about anything but their bank account. All of my life I have walked the river banks of High Rock Lake and searched for arrowheads...someone please tell me why all of a sudden it is against the law to do so. I know why...ALCOA has realized that they have something valuable on the river banks and wants to keep it all to themselves. Thats fine, they can have it....if they can live with what they have done to our environment in Davidson & Rowan Counties and if they can live with how hated they are by the public then I can live without a few arrowheads. If they are so adament about everything on that river bed being "their" property, then why doesnt someone take a dump truck load of dead fish, turtles, clams and ect to their offices and dump it out. Let them live with the smell for a while and see how they like it. I realize that we are in a serious drought situation and I pray that we get some rain soon but why cant we all work together...why does ALCOA have to be so greedy and make us all so mad...if they at least acted like they were concerned about the environment it would make such a difference. If only our river had the proper management that it needs to insure the quality of the environment...it will take years and years for High Rock Lake to re-cover from this. |
Monday, July 22nd 2002 - 10:35:40 AM
| Name: | Kenny |
| Locale you are from ?: | Rowan Side |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I was out catching some nice sized bass yesterday along the banks of High Rock. I was throwing a Buzzbait across the shallow waters. The bass are desperately hungry and are feeding good right now. I would recommend picking a bank where you can't be seen from the Wildlife Officers, so you can enjoy catching the large bass that are feeding. I caught 4 bass that weighed in at 21 lbs. total. I kept all of them and put them in my farm pond. I would rather see these fish live in a smaller pond than die of starvation. I am planning on going back this week and catching some more. They are trapped in little ponds of water, so they are hungry and are feeding really good. |
Monday, July 22nd 2002 - 08:08:50 AM
| Name: | Concerned Taxpaying Environmentalist |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek |
| E-mail address: | ajack1953@yahoo.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | i Just got back from a trip to Badin Lake. We were there Saturday
7-20-2002 and Sunday 7-21-2002. The first thing I need to say is that Badin
Lake is a very beautiful lake. Deep channels of water are surrounded by some
of the same lush Uwharrie Mountains that surround High Rock Lake. You can
speed under a railroad trestle without having to slow down because the water
is so vast. According to "The Dispatch" on 7-21-2002 High Rock is down over 22 feet and Badin is down 4.25 feet. As I checked the depth finder on our boat it was not under 48 feet in most of the main channels. At the dam it was as deep at 150 feet! Most homes at Badin Lake do not have floating docks like the ones needed at High Rock. As a matter of fact, the docks or piers at Badin appear to have a two story non floating arrangement. I spoke with several lake dwelling residents who stated that they were concerned about rumors that the lake would be down by as much as 30 feet during September. As hard as I tried to describe the situation that exists at High Rock, residents there could not comprehend our extreme non water situation until I displayed videos of our lake. My point is this. If you can send photos of our lake to FERC or the media when writing letters, it leaves a more lasting impression. Be sure to capture the dying fish or other devestated wildlife and treated sewage that is being let out in to Abbott's Creek. In addition, since we cannot change the current situation on our lake, write letters encouraging - demanding that ALCOA dredge our lake and extend its life. According to regulations, The US Corp of Engineers will pay up to 50% of the cost of dredging projects. It is in ALCOA's best interest to deepen their lake so they have more to pull from during drought times. Please note an article in "The Charlotte Observer" from 7-22-2002 about "Duke Power". One of the quotes from this source is that "The Yadkin-PeeDee River System" is one of the most poorley managed rivers in the southeast. Only one of Duke Power's steam plants is currently operating less than full capacity and it is The Buck Steam Plant in Spencer NC that has water intake from The Yadkin River. Please remember that your vote in any election is your voice. Get to know the candidates and exercise your democratic right by voting this fall for any person running for office who has ignored your concerns about our lake and the envrionmental ramifications. SPEAK YOUR MIND AT THE BALLOT! |
Sunday, July 21st 2002 - 05:59:50 PM
| Name: | Mark T. Blalock |
| Locale you are from ?: | Badin,N.C. |
| E-mail address: | WetWarlock@aol.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I would just like to say I feel for the homeowners on High Rock Lake.I live on Badin Lake and it is now a little over 4ft. down.Just that little of a drop makes it miserable here.I hate to think of it being down the 23ft. High Rock is down.But it's coming.I've lived here for 9yrs.now.Alcoa always has and probroly always will do what they want on these lakes.No matter what it does to the eco-system or to the people who lives on these lakes.I have tried to get them to clean up a mess I have on a lot adjoining my property.It was a camp ground and boat launch area.It looks like Gypsyville now.I've talked to them about it and they said it was not a recreational area.But they sure did put the signs up of "No Swimming" and "Boat Launch Area" there.Not to mention putting in steel and cement post to keep people from driving on the beach area.They tell me it's the property owners job to do this.Hey "ALCOA" you own that property.Or is it, you own that property until something needs to be done there?Maybe it's because it's not in view of the plant.You keep it nice and manicured there don't you?The only thing I've ever gotten out of you people is a letter saying my permit license was due.Oh yeah,I forgot about the little reminders that I have the wrong color reflectors on my pier.I thought one of the ststements in your mission statment was to keep the shores beautiful.Come on Alcoa you don't even keep the eco-system in mind.You need to get your priorities straight.I hope that one day we the people can stick it to you!Oh and by the way people who thinks we have all the water here at Badin.You should go a little further down the line and check out "Tillery"! |
Sunday, July 21st 2002 - 09:30:54 AM
| Name: | Wade Burleson |
| Locale you are from ?: | Lexington |
| E-mail address: | wadelex@hotmail.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | As my fiance' and I were walking the lakebed yesterday we noticed the
incredible amount of litter along the banks and in the lakebed itself. Does
anyone know if the "Clean-sweep" organization will be sponsoring an effort
to clean the lake bed before the grass covers the tires, batteries, cans and
thousands of broken bottles? How may one volunteer? Although the lake will obviously be out of service for recreational purposes for a long while, it would be great time to do some tidying up as now tractors and trucks to haul trash can access coves that are hard to reach by land at full pond. Thank you, Wade |
Sunday, July 21st 2002 - 07:32:22 AM
| Name: | DUPONT |
| Locale you are from ?: | IN GRASS LAND COVE |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Why don't alcoa pull their fingers out of their butts and do something about the water levels. I wish I had the money to buy the lake it would aways be full, we people who lives on the so called rver!!! need to make alcoa suffer to. FUC* all of those REDNECKS who are with alcoa, WE NEED TO GO ON A STRIKE ARE SOMETHING TO AT LEAST GET SOME WATER IN THE LAKE, I AM AS MAD AS HELL!!!!!! So I ask u the people of alcoa how do u feel now? |
Saturday, July 20th 2002 - 11:38:46 PM
| Name: | Stuck on Abbots Creek |
| Locale you are from ?: | Southmont |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Drought causes fish kill By Sean Olson, STAFF WRITER July 20, 2002 A fish kill turned into a grotesque buffet at High Rock Lake Friday. Ducks paddled in stagnant water munching on rotting carp. Swallows flitted about, chirping for scraps. Even the buzzards came, dragging dead catfish from the water for a postmortem meal. The dining was compliments of the drought and the falling lake levels at High Rock Lake, which killed more than 1,000 fish on the lake's Second Creek area. Shrinking lake-water levels trapped fish in a shallow, pond-like area just under the Bringle Ferry Bridge and adjacent to Tamarac Marina in Rowan County on Wednesday. Sgt. Anthony Sharum with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission was the first official to investigate the scene Thursday. "A large portion of Second Creek is dry," Sharum said. "Apparently one of the areas was cut off from the other areas of the creek. These fish were trapped. Once the temperature rose to 97 or 98 degrees, the oxygen level in the water dropped, and started killing fish." By Friday, North Carolina wildlife officials estimated 1,000 to 2,000 fish were killed. Carroll Tysinger, owner and operator of Tamarac Marina, watched the situation unfold. "The first time we noticed it was Wednesday," Tysinger said. "By (Thursday) it really got bad. Now there are great big fish out there swimming with their backs up out of the water." For the moment, there is little wildlife officials can do for the fish. "We're just documenting the kill, the number of fish and the types of fish for future management activities," said Lawrence Dorsey, District Six fisheries biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The dying fish are mostly shad, carp, brim and catfish, Sharum said. As grizzly as the scene may be and as stinky as it might become in the coming days, the fish kill will have little sustained impact on the area. Because the deaths are due to "natural causes," it will have no effect on drinking water, according to the Division of Water Quality. In fact, on the Rowan County side of the lake there are no drinking water intakes in the area near the dead fish. According to North Carolina wildlife officials, the fish kill will have little impact on the overall animal population of the lake. "In some measure, the effect on the overall population of the lake will be minimal," Sharum said, adding that 1,000 or even 2,000 fish are a relatively small number in comparison to the lake's total fish population. Moreover, the dead fish will not harm wildfowl in the area, Sharum said. "Generally, it's sort of like a buffet for them," Sharum laughed. "It's certainly not going to hurt them to eat dead fish." If lake levels continue to drop, there could be more fish kills, Sharum warned. Water levels at High Rock Lake are down 24 feet, and precipitation in the area is down 6 inches from January, according to the National Weather Service. Tim Lewis, who has fished High Rock Lake for 16 years, said he has never seen the lake so low. Several weeks ago, Lewis was pulling out a 38-pound flat-head catfish out of the water. Now he can't even get his boat onto the lake. "My boat is stuck out on a dry mud bank," Lewis said. Sharum said fishermen aren't the only group impacted by the drop in lake levels. "It certainly has an effect on business owners, recreation owners and homeowners," Sharum said. "There isn't just one group of people who are affected by this." Tysinger, who owns the Tamarac Marina, already is feeling the economic fallout. "I've never seen it down like this before," Tysinger said. "My business is down 90 percent, and this is a seasonal business." Sean Olson can be contacted at 888-3627 or solson@hpe.com ©High Point Enterprise 2002 Back to top Copyright © 1995 - 2002 PowerOne Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Saturday, July 20th 2002 - 04:37:56 AM
| Name: | mad at ???? |
| Locale you are from ?: | abbotts creek |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I don't think anyone is arguing Alcoa had the license permit to drain
the lake. We are all trying like HE11 to take that right from them, I agree
with Beech Retreat They own the land, but they don't own the water |
Friday, July 19th 2002 - 09:10:57 PM
| Name: | Dave |
| Locale you are from ?: | Beech Retreat |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | To the idiot from wiston.....yeah everything you say sounds good.....
except for few points Alcoa owns the lands underneath the water (which is a Natural Resouce) the do not own a single ounce of water. Ask the folks SCDENR in the PeeDee Basin is SC. They are recommending and have been for a long time that this was a very poorly managed system, and their biggest fears are being realized. As of today FERC, NC DENR, SC DENR, DUKE POWER, ALL WATER SYSTEMS, BUSINESSES, along the YADKIN PEEDEE really every one but ALCOA and CP&L(who are full or near full production levels) strongly agree that High Rock MUST BE the resevoir that remains fullest to regulate streamflow down the entire basin Basically in a severe drought Alcoas mismanagement of our resevoir system is now being seen. Any Plan looks good when conditions are ideal...This was guaranteed to create disaster when the plan was approved and Alcoa and CP&L were given too much leeway to control a public interest(water) I am sure Hank it must be hard for you to understand how Alcoa releasing High Rocks Waters at High Levels is bad for the downstream users.....just ask your self this...when Alcoa is operating at maximum effecincies, and releasing more than the downstream requirements, WERE IS THAT WATER NOW? OUT IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. I am sure that with your hometown Winston selling millions of gallons to gboro you will be demanding them stop that. Since according to you ALCOA HAS RIGHTS TO THE WATER? |
Friday, July 19th 2002 - 09:00:49 PM
| Name: | Ann & Buddy Poplin |
| Locale you are from ?: | Anchor Downs |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I have lived in Rowan County for 60 years. I have seen droughts and abundance of rain....but I have never seen the Lake this low....Someone is really pulling our leg. Guess who. |
Friday, July 19th 2002 - 07:05:02 AM
| Name: | Brenda Hallenbeck |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek |
| E-mail address: | hallenbeckgogirl@aol.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Here is a letter I sent to John Morris today It would be good for everyone to write him at the email address shown in my letter. Dear Mr. Morris: Thank you for your time and consideration in listening to our pleas for help with the conditions at High Rock Lake. Please add my name to the list of citizens suffering not just financial, but emotional distress over what has happened to the once beautiful lake community where we chose to invest our money and our hearts. We realize that the drought conditions here in the South have accelerated the problem. However, the same drought exists at Badin (20 miles away). I was at Badin over the 4th of July weekend and the water was up close to maximum capacity, beautiful and filled with citizens enjoying the recreational activities they are accustomed to in the summertime. Life was going on there as normal. There is no life at High Rock. We are very close to having to "mow" the lake. Those who do not have an emotional attachment to High Rock, jokingly refer to it as Dry Rock. This is not a joking matter. Businesses are going bankrupt and property values are declining. Hearts are broken and wildlife is dying. The wildlife, more than us citizens are suffering the ultimate disaster. While we are financially and emotionally distressed, they are dying. Will we now lose our resident bald eagles? Are they not protected by United States laws? The geese and the fish are dying in droves. It is so, so sad. As High Rock citizens, we have heard all kinds of mumble-jumble from Alcoa - such as, High Rock was never intended for recreational activity. High Rock was built as a reservoir only - not for recreation. Why then was property allowed to be developed, marketed and promoted? Why is Yadkin, Inc. allowed to charge annual license fees and regulate the building and maintenance of the hundreds of docks on High Rock? If the lake was built only as a reservoir and only to be looked at, why were docks ever allowed? Why was property ever sold? You and I both know the reason - the almighty dollar. As a concerned and very upset citizen, once again I thank you for your time to listen to my frustration over a situation that has turned my dream come true into a nightmare. I just wish I could wake up and find my beautiful lake back the way it was when I realized my dream to have a place there. Sincerely, Brenda P. Hallenbeck email at home: hallenbeckgogirl@aol.com |
Friday, July 19th 2002 - 05:58:48 AM
| Name: | David Hampton |
| Locale you are from ?: | Kannapolis |
| E-mail address: | dtacmed@aol.com |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | Well I have been sitting back and reading the posts for the past few months. I was watching the news tonight and it was showing the fish kill at High Rock. Figured it was time to write. Surely there is someone from ALCOA reading this so this is for you. Well I would say guess your happy now but I know that's not the case. Obviously at this point you are realizing you really screwed up. As stated in other posts you should have lowered water levels equally at all your lakes. You keep using the drought as a crutch. We all know and are very aware of the drought. You keep falling back to the drought as if its a big suprise. We all knew there would be lower water levels. Guess your gamble didn't pay off looks like now you have no other option but to drop levels at badin at a higher flow than you were hoping for. Can't get much more from us at High Rock keep going and you will only be pumping mud. Guess Badin residents will now see first hand your lack of quality management concerning your lakes and I really feel sorry for them. Maybe at some point the federal government will step in and hold you responsible for your actions. In the mean time keep putting all the blame on the drought as if it controls the gates at the damn. Oh by the way hope everyone goes to composites and quits buying you main product. Have a nice day |
Thursday, July 18th 2002 - 09:09:24 PM
| Name: | Dave |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbotts Creek |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | I wonder how Alcoa received a variance to reduce outflows from 1400 to
1200 Cf, when we have been told all along that they have a 1610cf
requirement. What happened to the other 210CF. If 200 cf variance is a grand
gesture, maybe they can pump back up the 210 that they have been
___________-ing? from us. Another thing. Seems that noone is mentioning the Duke Power Buck Steam Plant in Spencer being shutdown because of lack of water. I wonder why it is not reported anywhere that Duke Powers 1 steam plant produces more electricity than all 3 of Alcoa's hydro dams combined. Guess there really is "Power Struggle" over the water, and its not High Rock Residents against Badin's residents. Maybe we should follow the money, and see who is benefiting the most from Duke power having to quit producing electricity in Spencer. CPL? and Alcoa?. doesn't Alcoa buy & sell energy to CPL & Duke Power Also who are the investors behind Heron Bay and the other new subdivisions that have been selling like hotcakes on Badin( rumor has it Senior Alcoa official have invested heavily), when these folks on High Rock can't sell anything. Also we need to speak up about cities like Greensboro pumping Millions of Gallons out of our watershed to release back into another watershed. As we tell Alcoa only release what comes in we must also tell these others what you get, you put back. |
Thursday, July 18th 2002 - 08:06:10 PM
| Name: | High Rock Honey |
| Locale you are from ?: | Abbott's Creek beside the Hwy. 8 bridge |
| Comments about Yadkin River !!: | My first comment is directed to Norm Arrington - this is a copy and
paste from his comments: "The Lake has always been an ALCOA business venture and was never intended for pleasure. At some point long ago, the original property owners adjacent to the Lake sold their land to developers, builders, or individuals so that they could build homes on the Lake." I hope you read this Norm. The ORIGINAL PROPERTY OWNER we bought our Point Harbor waterfront property from was ALCOA. They developed Point Harbor, put in a boat ramp, and sold lots. (I have the original map that lists The Aluminum Company of America as "owner & developer" if you would like me to e-mail you a copy.) They also developed and sold lots in Anchor Downs and Crane Cove in Rowan County. They might not intend the lake for pleasure but they sure didn't mind selling property designed for that very reason and adding that money to their corporate account. So you can just revise your thinking about us fools that bought waterfront property when we didn't own the lake next to it. Also, if you would like I will e-mail you a copy of their permit fee schedule where they are charging pier fees, marina fees, etc. for this not for pleasure lake. Oh, and by the way, although they have sucked all the water out of the lake and we may not have water again until 2004, they are raising our pier permit fee from $25.00 a year to $30.00 a year beginning Jan., 2003. Next item I want to address is: Every lake in NC on the Yadkin River (including ALCOA's other 3) is within 4 feet of being full except for High Rock which is down 22 feet. The 7 lakes that Duke Power owns on the Catawba River are each within 4 feet of being full and this is also in the severe drought area. I don't know about Duke's other lakes but Duke Power has a nuclear power plant and a steam station on Lake Norman. So there goes ALCOA's s |