PRELIMINARY ISSUES AND ON-GOING PROGRAMS & STUDIES

6.1 Existing Programs

Since 1993, APC has implemented a series of environmental stewardship programs on Lake Martin. A summary of these programs is provided below.

In 1992, when Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society (BASS) signed a memorandum of understanding with APC to initiate programs to enhance the fisheries resources of

company managed reservoirs, Lake Martin was chosen to be the one of the first reservoirs for fish enhancement projects. The first project was initiated in January of 1993 with the installation of recycled Christmas trees as fish habitat. Since that time, over 146,000 recycled Christmas trees have been installed. This number equates to approximately 3,240 units of tree bundles placed in various locations in the lake. Initially the sites were marked with metal signs on the shore, but since 1999, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have been utilized to record the sites. These sites are now available on an Internet site.

This program has enlisted the aid of countless anglers and personnel of the ADCNR to assist in deployment of these habitat units. Areas around Camp ASCA and Wind Creek State Park have also been targeted in the past due to high use in these areas.

Renew Our Rivers cleanups have been held on Lake Martin beginning in the fall of 2005. Renew Our Rivers is the largest river system cleanup held in the southeastern United States. Renew Our Rivers cleanups in the spring and fall have been scheduled on Lake Martin for 2006. Since Lake Martin is such a large body of water, these cleanup efforts are planned to continue for selected areas of the lake each year. Alabama Power Company also assisted the Lake Martin Resource Association with several of their cleanups in early 2000.

The utilization of shoreline seeding on the exposed banks in the drawdown zone during the fall with annual grasses was initiated in 1993 in areas adjacent to Camp

were targeted. Limited seeding was conducted in 1995 and 1996 in areas upstream of Camp ASCA. Shoreline seeding in the drawdown zone allows the plants to become established in the fall and inundated with the rising water in the spring. This provides cover in areas traditionally devoid of any cover.

6.2 On-Going Studies

APC is currently conducting water quality collections in the Lake and

downstream of the dam. During 2007, APC is continuing their surveys for RTE species within or adjacent to the Project and will specifically look for RCW potential and active colony sites.

6.3 Preliminary Issues

During the summer and fall of 2006, APC met with federal and state resource agencies as well as non-governmental organizations with interest in Lake Martin. Based on those meetings and responses to a PAD questionnaire, APC has developed a

preliminary list of concerns, positions, and issues at Lake Martin that generally fall into the following five categories.

Water levels and Project Operation

• Change in water levels— reduce the winter drawdown level; • Extend the full pool season;

• Will there be an impact to operation of Martin from the Water Wars?; • Is there a need for a minimum flow below the Project; and

• If winter drawdown is reduced, periodic lowering of lake to El. 480 for maintenance of permitted facilities.

Fish and Wildlife

• Habitat alteration of the Tallapoosa River due to the Martin Project;

• Project operation effects on thermal refuges, summer dissolved oxygen levels, and striped bass mortality;

• Fragmentation of the basin; • Fish passage;

• Fishing access;

• Entrainment and Turbine mortality of fish; • Littoral habitat;

• Restoration of long-leaf ecosystem for RCW habitat;

• Will a change in the winter pool level effect the Stripers (Gulf Coast strain)?; • Will the change in pool levels have an effect on the lake ecosystem?;

• Effect of exotic species in project boundary and vicinity (e.g., torpedo grass, yellow perch);

• Effects on the tailrace ecosystem from cool water discharge; and • Spring water level stabilization to enhance fish spawning.

Water Quality/Use

• Effect of existing water withdrawals; no addition of municipalities to draw water from Lake Martin;

• Effect of increasing incidents of discharges of pathogens into Lake Martin from municipal WWTPs;

• Effect of water demands and increased wastewater loading from municipal wastes and potential for water quality degradation in Lake Martin and tributaries;

• Effects of increasing siltation and eutrophication in upper lake embayments; • Attainment of EPA 5.0 ppm standard for dissolved oxygen for discharges from

Martin Dam;

• Water quality degradation in dam fore bay and tailwater regions; and • Effects of proposed pool elevation changes on water quality.

Recreation Access and Facilities and Shoreline Management

• Prohibit development on all islands;

• Prohibit construction of causeways – initiate expensive fines and restoration to natural state for violations;

• Increased public access, in particular, boating access to reduce the congestion at existing sites and to “spread” fishing tournaments over a wider area as most seem to be in the Wind Creek area;

• Boat ramps are needed in the Kowaliga Creek arm both south of the bridge and the northern end of this arm of Martin;

• A boat ramp is needed at the very upper part of the reservoir such as Irwin Shoals/Jay Bird Creek area;

• Increase in parking spaces throughout the Lake;

• Extend boat ramps to make them accessible year-round;

• Existing APC sites need improvements to meet current accessibility standards (ADA); in particular courtesy docks/ gangways to be accessible to persons with disabilities;

• Restrict or prohibit trading of lands for the purpose of development; • Set aside land for public use and conservation;

• Implement a speed limit on Lake Martin;

• Effects of further development of APC lands on ecological resources; • Encourage height restrictions on shoreline developments;

• Prohibit an increase in the number of cigarette type boats and prohibit residence boats;

• Ensure hazard buoys are marked;

• Effects of loss of natural habitat due to ‘land rush’ shoreline development and apparent laissez- faire shoreline management practices;

• Effects of preserving undeveloped islands and undeveloped littoral lands for wildlife habitat and aesthetic value;

• Effects of shoreline development on aesthetic resources; and

• Effects of 4-wheelers on soils (erosion) and archeological properties in the reservoir during winter drawdown (existing and proposed).

Cultural Resources

• Eligibility of project structures; and