By JOEL WILSON, Editor emeritus
GLASGOW — The situation at Lake Cumberland is going to have an impact that will be difficult to imagine, but locally it will be felt at Barren River Reservoir.
Marinas on Barren are already being bombarded with inquiries from Lake Cumberland boat owners who want to move their watercraft, everything from jet skis, fishing boats and pontoons, to huge luxury houseboats.
Tim Craycroft, operator of the Peninsula Marina, is answering daily calls investigating the availability of slips for their boats. Craycroft’s marina is among the only facility that is available to callers during the winter months but he said this week that he’s sure other marinas on the lake will be equally inundated with questions.
Craycroft is planning to expand his marina when the new launch ramp near the dam is completed but at the present time, he has few permanent slips available. “We’re pretty well full with our regular customers and we’re just not set up to handle some of the big boats that dock on Cumberland.”
One improvement that Peninsula is making immediately is the addition of a special craft set up to drain and hold the septic systems on houseboats. He said the new craft would be delivered soon.
Craycroft is also concerned about the added fishing pressure on Barren because of the drawdown of Cumberland. “We have an excellent fishery and these fishermen will be looking for somewhere else to fish.”
Other lakes in the area, such as Green, Nolin and Rough, are also expected to get an influx of boaters and fishermen from Lake Cumberland. Visitors from the North such as Ohio and Indiana, who normally use Cumberland, will also be looking for some new digs.
This should be a boon to lakes like Barren that have state parks with hotel facilities, but they stay filled to capacity during the summer months anyway, which will only add to the confusion.
The latest communications from the U.S. Corps of Engineers Nashville division claims the Corps is not lowering Lake Cumberland an additional 30 feet to Elevation 650 feet as has been reported by the media in the last few days. Here is what their news release said:
The commander of the Nashville District, Lt. Col. Steven J. Roemhildt, sent a letter, dated February 9, to eleven water supply users requesting them to lower their water intakes to elevation 650. An excerpt of that letter states:
“Based on conditions at the project, a possibility always exists that we may lower the pool even more. Because of this real possibility, you need to take necessary measures to allow for water intake with the lake at Elevation 650 feet NGVD29. We recommend that these measures be in place no later than 31 December 2007.”
The recommendation to water supply users is based on contingency planning by the Corps of Engineers in the event that further lake level reductions are necessary.
The decision to lower Lake Cumberland to Elevation 680 feet and continue that lake level through the end of 2007 has not changed. If conditions changed at Wolf Creek Dam such as a sinkhole or an abnormal reading of instruments in the dam, the Corps of Engineers would further lower lake elevation to reduce risk.
Currently no such condition exists and there are no plans to lower Lake Cumberland below Elevation 680.
The Corps of Engineers has started an expedited grouting program, where lean concrete is being pumped into the foundation of the dam at critical locations. The Corps of Engineers plans to complete this program around the September – October 2007 period. During the Fall of this year, the Corps of Engineers will make a decision on the elevation of Lake Cumberland for 2008.
The elevation for 2008 may remain at 680, may be raised or may be lowered.
The Corps of Engineers will base this decision upon the results of the grouting program and the conditions of Wolf Creek Dam at that time.
The Corps of Engineers constantly monitors Wolf Creek Dam and continually evaluates the appropriate lake level based on conditions at the dam and will adjust lake levels as necessary to operate the lake and to reduce risk. Members of the Barren River Rod and Gun Club are reminded of the monthly membership meeting to be held next Thursday night, March 1, at the clubhouse. The meal will be potluck.
