Newsletter 10/04/07
As you know, the lack of rain has continued the decrease in lake
level. The average level is now down 3'6". Of course this is not
nearly as bad as other lakes such as Kerr, Falls, Smith Mountain and
others but is unusual for Hyco. Be careful if boating for hidden stumps
- stay away from gentle slopping areas as they usually indicate shallow
water nearby.
There is plenty of entertainment in the area this weekend including:
The Kirby Theater this Saturday
Halifax County Fair runs thru Saturday
Live Music at Lakeside Friday night
Entertainment at the Caswell County Civic Center Saturday
Halloween Party at Lakeside on Saturday Oct. 27
Check our calendar on the web site at: www.hycolake.com
for more info.
And, if you live in the City of Roxboro, be sure to vote on Tuesday
Oct. 9. The Roxboro Rotary Club will be offering free rides to the poll
if you need it. Listen to WRXO 96.7 FM for more info. The Rotary Club
sponsored the "Ride of Honor" for our WWII veterans on May 9. http://www.personww2vets.org/
The club is now selling paper products including Bounty paper towels and
Charmin bath paper by the case. It is $50/case and will be delivered to
your doorstep the Friday before Thanksgiving. For more info or to order
online, go to this link: http://www.roxbororotaryclub.org/Home%20Formv6.htm
Support your local Rotary Club as they give back to the community in
many ways.
We haven't received any further updates on the cell tower expansion
for Hyco Lake. Cingular now AT&T last reported that they are
reviewing plans for expansion and have Hyco as one of the highest
priority sites for expansion when they do start back building towers. US
Cellular has also expressed an interest so encourage your carrier to
cover Hyco Lake with much needed service. There is plenty of
justification for expansion that you can use at this link: http://www.hycolake.com/TeleInfo.htm
On a positive note, DSL and Wireless Internet is still expanding at
Hyco. A wireless broadband antenna is going up at the Ranger's station
to serve North Hyco towards the Caswell County line. Also, the telephone
equipment in several areas around the lake is being upgraded to allow
DSL services. Electronic Solutions, Inc. will be offering these services
soon. Watch for another email when these services become available.
The CertainTeed plaster board plant (formerly BPB) that will use gypsum from the
power plant is moving along. Design drawings are finished and estimates
are being provided to build this plant so look for increased activity
along Shore Drive soon. Press release (Click
here)
There are numerous properties for sale at Hyco so if you are thinking
about a home on the lake or have friends that may be interested, check
out the local realtors on our homepage: www.hycolake.com
There is no better time than now to buy that home and become one of the
happy homeowners on Hyco Lake! Interest rates are down and property
availability is up so that results in some great buys!
We are also adding local business info links on our Other Links page
so check them out for local services and offerings at: http://www.hycolake.com/otherlinks.htm
Uptown Roxboro announced that Vesuvio's II will locate in the old
Farmers Supply Restaurant location. This is a great facility that now
has a fine tennant in Vesuvio's. Look for the grand opening around
mid-November. Major renovations are now taking place. For more info, see
the link on this page: http://www.historicroxboro.com/
Next update when news is available! Have a great fall at Hyco Lake.
Remember the time changes back to Standard time on Sunday Nov. 4th.
Randy King
randy@hycolake.com
(Note: Below is my response to a homeowner who replied to me
concerning the "crackdown" on irrigating from the lake)
I
can't speak for the Lake Authority but I can relate some of the
history of the lake having been responsible for the lake some years
ago when I was employed by Duke Energy.
First,
Duke Energy built the lake under permit issued by the NC Dept of
Environmental Management. NCDEM is responsible for maintaining
public waterways and airways in NC. As part of the permit, PE
was required to institute certain measures some of which are:
1)
the water entering the lake by the 3 rivers has to be maintained
within 3 degrees temperature upon release back into Hyco River below
the afterbay dam. This is the reason for cooling towers.
2)
downstream flow has to be maintained at no lower than 4 CuFt/sec thus
the reason for the afterbay below the main dam.
3)
no irrigation is allowed from the lake unless permitted by NCDEM, the
Corps of Engineers and other governmental agencies - the reason
primarily for this was not the use of water from the lake but was to
alleviate watering of lawns and tobacco fields due to the resulting
run-off carrying nitrogen, phosphate and other fertilizer nutrients
into the lake. These cause algae, hydrila and other harmful
situations that endanger the fish, clog the canals and ultimately
affect the power plant. THIS is the main reason for not allowing
irrigation from the lake and not the use of the water. And, if
there are people who irrigate from a well, then NCDEM and PE are still
not happy since the fertilizer is still being washed into the lake so
that may not even be an option down the road.
Now
the question is "who controls and is responsible for
enforcement"? Duke Energyis charged with enforcing the laws of
NCDEM who in turn holds the permit for Duke Energy to use the lake so in
effect, PCLA is the "eyes and ears" for Duke Energy and ultimately
NCDEM. So, if there is an issue with PCLA not allowing
irrigation from the lake, the controlling people are NCDEM.
Believe me when I say that Duke Energy does not want to "rock the
boat" with NCDEM and they will not pursue allowing irrigation
from Hyco since it is not in their best interest as far as water
usage, current or future permitting with the State or plant operation.
That's
the background of the permitting issue. Of course the State can
elect to fine Duke Energy or even not renew the permit if they find that the
waters are not being used as permitted. The homeowner owns the
land above the 420' mark, PCLA manages the land from 420' to 410', the
State owns the water and PE owns the land under the water.
Now
your question of why a few are getting notices about removal of
irrigation equipment is based on the PCLA riding around the lake
noticing who is irrigating and then sending them letters. I know
in the past they have reminded owners that irrigation is not allowed
but the recent drought has raised the awareness level especially at
Duke Energy and thus with the PCLA. I don't think any lobbying or
organizing or complaining will do any good unless you get the State to
allow irrigation - and if the State becomes more involved due to the
heightened awareness, my bet would be that even tighter rules would be
forthcoming. We don't want to be like Mayo where no development
can happen below the 420' line including boat houses, lawns, or even
clearing the weeds! Of course Mayo has a different permit that
is more stringent due to the displacement of "fur bearing
animals" which is a whole story in itself.
Now
you know about as much as I do about the lake. As far as the
number of people irrigating, I would say out of the 1200 homes or so,
less than 25% irrigate.
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