Gainesville Kiwanis hears 1071 appeal

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Kiwanis Club members Tuesday heard an appeal from 1071 Coalition leader Grier Todd.
1071 at Lake Lanier means the lake is full.
Todd said the Coalition has launched its lake economic impact study and has raised around $150,000 so far; Todd is pleased but seeks more support.

"Everybody we've talked to understands the significance of this issue to North Georgia," Todd said.

Todd added the study would take about five months; the Corps of Engineers reduced flow from Lanier runs out next month.

"We're trying to get them to extend it for a while, at least to get the levels up to 1060 or 1065."

Todd said reduced flow is even more important now that the lake level is up because of recent rains.
According to Todd, Coalition co-chairman, 1071's goal is to get the Corps of Engineers to understand the importance of updating its lake operations manual, which is 40 years old.
Todd said another important goal is to initiate a public relations campaign to counter misinformation about the lake levels.

"I think one of the real misconceptions is that the reason Lanier is so low is because Metro Atlanta is drinking all the water up," Todd said. "That's just one of the mis-perceptions that's out there and we need to get the facts out there."

Todd told Kiwanis members Lake Lanier provides 60 percent of the drinking water for the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River Basin (ACF) but has the smallest watershed.