Jordan Lake Water Levels

CROSSWINDS
MARINA
RT 2, BOX 159-A
APEX, N.C. 27502

September 26, 1990

John N. Morris, Director
Division of Water Resources
Post Office Box 27687
Raleigh, N.C. 27611-7687

Dear Mr. Morris,

Again we are dismayed by the extremely low lake levels. As we
are just now entering the traditionally driest season of the year,
and as the published harbor bottom elevations do not seem to be
accurate, the potential for extraordinary problems with our dock
system emerges.

We request that the involved State and Corps agencies
immediately begin planning sessions, with the purpose being to phase
in reductions of the lake discharge, with care given to the
environmental impacts of the downstream areas.

The scenario is quite similar to the situation we faced in the
fall of 1986, and as you may recal, it was generally agreed that it
made little sense to rapidly lower the lake if the downstream
environment did not require the additinal water. At that time, there
was talk of the lake reaching a minimum elevation within thirty some
days given the high rate of discharge.

We believe the target flow of 600 C.F.S. at the Lillington check
station is unrealistic, given drought conditions, if it requires the
water level to approach the minimum lake level of 202' M.S.L. at an
artifically accelerated rate. The question needs to be asked "What
would happen to the downstream environment if suddenly there was no
water leaving Jordan Lake?" Mandatory downstream conservation
efforts would be to little avail if there was no water. Rather than
belated crisis management, it appears the best way to prolong that
terrifying day of reckoning would be to make the available water last
longer by slowing the rate of discharge, beginning immediately.

Sincerely,

Albert Urquhart
Crosswinds Marina, Inc.

cc: John Young, Corps of Engineers
Mike Seigh, J.L.S.R.A.