Assuming adequate flow conditions continue in the Oconee River, Georgia Power announced it will initiate a drawdown for Lake Sinclair on Oct. 25 this year.
Lake level will be lowered by approximately five feet total and will drop approximately six inches each day to reach a minimum elevation of 335 feet above sea level on Nov. 1. Refilling the lake is scheduled to begin Dec. 1, and it will resume full pool as soon as possible, dependent on inflows, the statewide utility said.
Many lake residents use periods of drawdown as an opportunity to conduct maintenance on shoreline structures, as well as clean up the lakebed around docks and seawalls.
During the drawdown, however; lake elevation fluctuations may occur daily due to generation, rainfall, or other events, therefore, equipment and materials should not be left in the lakebed unattended.
Additionally, any watercraft should be removed from the lake and stored elsewhere prior to the drawdown or stored on a boatlift within an existing boathouse.
Residents intending to excavate, build, or repair shoreside structures during the drawdown must have a fully executed lease or license agreement with Georgia Power before shoreline permit requests can be approved.
For information on obtaining a lease or license agreement, permitting, and construction specifications, or to submit a construction application, visit Georgia Power Shoreline Management online at georgiapowerlakes.com. Click on “Submit Property Information” for lease/license agreement requests, or click on “Types of Improvements” and/ or “Permit Applications” for permit requests.
Plans must be submitted and approved by Georgia Power prior to engaging in any type of work along the shoreline. This includes ground disturbance, vegetation removal or addition, construction of new structures, and maintenance of existing structures.
For more information, contact Matt Crumbley at 706-577-7817 or mcrumble@southernco.com.
Georgia Power will begin processing permit applications on Aug. 1 for proposed work to be completed during the drawdown.
— Contributed