FOLKS 11th Annual Golf Outing

September-October 2013
FOLKS 11th Annual Golf Outing
FOLKS 11th Annual Golf Outing was held at Keowee Key Country Club on September 11,
2013. I would like to thank the numerous corporate sponsors as well as businesses that supported
this event.
Contents
President’s Corner 2
Corporate sponsors: Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc., City of Seneca - Seneca Utilities,
and Duke Energy.
Jocassee Dam & Other NRC Issues 3
Corporate hole sponsors: Blue Ridge Bank, Clemson Downs Continuing Care Retirement
Community, Financial Dynamics, Melanie Fink 1st Choice Realty, Schlotzsky’s Deli, Wine
Emporium.
Duke Acquires Municipal Solar Project in
California 7
Hole sponsors: 1st Choice Realty, Airey Law Firm, Ltd. Co., Alexander’s Office Supply,
Archadeck, Blinds and Us, BodyBalance, English Homes, Head-Lee Nursery, Hidden Cove Event
Center, Jeanne Erickson 1st Choice Realty, Kroeger Marine, Lake Keowee Marina, Lake Keowee
Real Estate, Lighthouse Restaurant & Event Center, Northwestern Supply, Oconee Federal Savings
& Loan, Patio & Fireside, Patti & Gary 1st Choice Realty, State Farm Insurance Anne O. McAlisterJohn Stenzinger-Kim Sullivan, Strickland Marine, Super Tire and Alignment, Tiki Hut, Upstate
Insurance, Upstate Pet Sitting.
Goods and Services: Bi-Lo (Bi-Lo Place), Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc., Ann &
Mike Chengrian (Centre Stage Tickets), Costco - Greenville, Duke Energy, FOLKS, High Cotton
Restaurant, Ingles (Ingles Place); Lake Keowee Marina, Lighthouse Restaurant & Event Center,
Lowes Superstore, The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Rick Erwin Dining Group, Ruth’s Chris Steak
House, Sam’s Club (Easley), Staples (Bi-Lo Place), Strickland Marine, Taylor Made Golf, Tiki Hut,
WalMart, Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe.
Practical Limnology 4
Joint State Savannah River Basin Caucus
Summit 8
A Lake Keowee Fishing Adventure 11
Lake Sweep Activity 15
Summary KT Relicensing 16
Friends of Jocassee Thank Volunteers 19
Membership Update 22
It’s All About CLASS 23
Gardening for the Common Good 24
Corporate & Business Members 25
For running the golf outing and serving a delicious dinner, additional thanks go to: the
Keowee Key Pro Shop Staff and the Keowee Key Club Dining Staff. Special thanks go to: Pat & E.H. Harris, Ann Cramer, Maryjo Jeffries and
Bob Swank for planning and running a smooth event. When you frequent any of the establishments that supported this event, please take the
opportunity to thank them for supporting FOLKS. F
and flow measurements in the Keowee five major feeder streams
in order to develop the foundation for future development of
a state-of-the-art watershed pollutant loading model, which is
part of the SWPP, and to drive the 40-year simulations of Lake
Keowee water quality and tailrace DO under various assumed
watershed nutrient loadings conducted during the relicensing
process. Ultimately, $1 million was allocated to the SWPP: to
fund a graduate student at Clemson to complete the watershed
and lake water quality modeling work; to provide cost-sharing
funds for an ongoing “find and fix” failed waterside septic systems
effort; and to fund a watershed-wide outreach program aimed at
better septic system maintenance.
FOLKS was also very active in the Shoreline Management
process, an interest that grew with our leading the blocking of the
proposed Palmetto Pointe Marina above Stamp Creek Landing.
With AQD leading, we helped negotiate a compromise that
would allow future Commercial Marinas only on the main stem
of Lake Keowee, i.e., on open water.
Clearly, the most contentious element of the Relicensing
was Project Operations and Water Levels during Severe
Droughts. It was also the issue that took the most time to
get to a compromise end point. Recall that the Trial Balloon
specified a drawdown during the most severe drought to 790’ or
10’ down. The critical factor that had to be recognized was that
the FERC directed Duke Energy to negotiate a New Operating
Agreement (NOA) with the USACE and SEPA (US Army
Corps of Engineers and South Eastern Power Administration).
When the Lake Keowee Hydroelectric Project was licensed in
1966, the maximum drawdown was set at 775’ or 25’ down
and until the early 1990s both Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee
were operated in tandem. In 1995, the NRC set a new lower
operating limit of 794.6’ or 5.4’ down. That restriction on the
Nuclear Plant (ONS) Operations substantially reduced the flow
from Lake Keowee to Lake Hartwell and the Savannah River
Basin. We noted that, while not a Home Owner Association,
essentially all FOLKS members live in lakeside communities,
and we had an obligation to negotiate on their behalf. We started
with a proposed maximum drawdown of 7-8’, since that level
had previously been reached in four consecutive fall periods of
30-60 days for maintenance at ONS. From that point we spent
almost two months in negotiations involving many 40-year
computer simulation assessments, and ended up at a maximum
drawdown at 791.5’ or 8.5’ down during a
See p. 5
President’s Corner
By Bob Swank
We have finally come to the last “pencils down” date and
are looking forward to signing the Relicensing Agreement on
November 20. Although there were a few bumps on the runway
as we came in for a landing, all ended up OK. During the almost
four years spent of this process, we learned a lot; we articulated
our interests; we negotiated hard; and believe we played a pivotal
role in defining and getting support for essential programs in the
Relicensing Agreement.
The core of our Mission is protecting the Water Quality
in Lake Keowee and its watershed, so we started there. The AIP
Trial Balloon, Duke Energy’s first draft proposal, only called for
measurement and reporting of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the tail
races (outflows) of Lakes Keowee and Jocassee. This is an important
measurement required by the environmental Regulatory Agencies
to protect against downstream fish kills due to low oxygen. We
proposed that because of the existing and upwards of 4,000 new
lakeside homes likely to be built during the new license period, all
of which probably served by onsite septic systems, that the new
license should include a broader-based Source Water Protection
Program. The stakeholders, including Duke Energy, accepted this,
and Duke Energy proceeded to conduct extensive water quality
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Update: Jocassee Dam & Other NRC Issues
Ed. Many FOLKS members do not live at Lake Keowee year-round and many that do
don’t take the local papers. We therefore feel an obligation to present in The Sentinel information
of controversial import from time to time. This is one of those times. The link below is to a
Greenville News Editorial, titled “Duke takes positive steps on dam”, dated September 4, 2013
that is quite thorough in describing two ongoing issues. These issues are clouded by accusations
of NRC insider whistleblowers. From the sidelines, we believe that there has been an ongoing
technical difference of opinion on the probability of failure of the Jocassee Dam between Duke
Energy and the NRC. We also believe, based on our experience with Duke Energy technical
personnel and consultants, that they have top notch personnel. Given all of that, we agree with
the Editorial that “Residents in the Upstate who live close to the Oconee Nuclear Station deserve
the peace of mind that Duke (Energy) is moving forward.” Technical disagreements must be
resolved and required protections put in place. Clearly, the issue of dam failure, as evidenced in
the “Inundation Study,” is of much greater scope and concern for many SC citizens other than
just those who live near ONS. Indeed, it would be a catastrophe of monumental proportions
all the way down the Savannah River Basin – based on the latest Inundation Study.
Over the past year we have printed several articles about the dams and dykes around
the Keowee-Toxaway Project and how they are monitored and maintained. In the
January-February 2013 Sentinel, we printed an article about the most recent “Inundation
Study” that replaced one performed in the 1990s. In the introduction of a related Forum,
we noted that the newly updated Design Flooding Event for Jocassee Dam was based on
36” of rain in a 72-hour period; the ground was fully saturated; all impoundments down
the Savannah River Basin (SRB) were full; and coincidently, the Jocassee Dam suddenly
failed in a 2-1/2-hour period – a “design flood failure.” This “design flood failure” scenario
is used for emergency planning purposes and is a very conservative estimate of the areas
that could be inundated by a complete dam failure. In his presentation, Duke Energy
Chief Dam Safety Engineer Brad Keaton noted that the Jocassee Dam can safely pass this
Design Flooding Event without overtopping or failing.
FOLKS does not profess to be “experts,” or even highly knowledgeable, about dam
failure statistics, but we do believe that the Design Flooding Event represents an extremely
high severity stress test. There have been several Duke Meetings with the NRC, the last
one being held on August 28 at the NRC Regional Office in Atlanta.
The proposals presented to protect against a catastrophic SRB flood include:
a discharge diversion wall at the west end of the Keowee Dam and an isolation drain
structure in the nuclear plant’s turbine building to prevent water from rushing in; and
See p. 19
Friends Of Lake Keowee Society
4065 Keowee School Road
Seneca SC 29672
864-882-3655
Board of Directors
Robert Swank, President
Gary Burns
Bob Cassam
Carl Dunn
Cathy Reas Foster
Dave Goeckel
Dot Jackson
Lisa Janik
Kathy Kojis
Jack Lewis
Rod McGinley
Brooks Wade
Morris Warner
Ed Weiland
Executive Director
Ben Turetzky
Committee Chairs
Annual Fundraisers, Bob Malone
Annual Fundraisers, Don Ackerson
Buildings & Grounds, Don Brewer
Membership Business, Dick Millward
Membership Family, Jim Hamilton
Grants, Ben Turetzky
Technical, William J. Miller
Web Administrator, Judy Koepnick
The Sentinel
Advertising, Rod McGinley
Editor/Layout, Judy Koepnick
Advisors
Dr. Jeffrey Adelberg
Dr. Larry Dyck
Dr. Alan Elzerman
Prof. Mary Haque
Dave Kroeger
Dr. Walker Miller
Lois Ardelean
Bill Ebeling
Dr. John Hains
Dr. John Hayes
Dr. Drew Lanham
Dr. Calvin Sawyer
Ombudsmen
Bob Cassam
The FOLKS Sentinel is published six times
a year and mailed to all active FOLKS
members. Any reproduction or duplication of
this publication, or any part thereof, must be
done with the publisher’s written permission.
FOLKS is not responsible for the claims
made by the advertisers.
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Practical Limnology:
Iniquities of the Fathers
By Dr. John Hains, Clemson University
Well anyway, I like that title. It’s Biblical. It’s provocative.
And it fits the topic. But that’s not where it begins. It begins
back when I was a child. My father and I were at a lake in North
Carolina and my father and some other men were discussing
(what else?) fishing. And the men were telling jokes…jokes that I
didn’t “get.” (Incidentally, this is still a problem at times.) But the
one that really got to me was in response to the question: “How
does carp taste?” The response was: “Depends on how you cook
it.” And then…here’s how to cook a carp. (I note that I’ve heard
this applied to gars as well as all sorts of other “unsavory” fish.)
Here’s the recipe:
throughout the Southeast, the Northern snakehead is on its way,
and on and on. For every successful introduction of an invasive
species, generations thereafter will live with those iniquities – the
ecosystem will too.
So what do we do about it? The answer depends on the
species, the habitat, and our specific interest in the resource.
Sometimes, if we catch the problem early enough and we get
lucky, we can control the invader or manage it in some manner.
But whenever we consider potential solutions to difficult
problems, the first response on the list usually is: do nothing. And
in some cases, there’s almost nothing we can do about successful
exotic species, other than learn to live with them. Actually, that’s
probably the best we can do for most of them…which leads me
to another piece of helpful advice, this time from Stephen Stills,
“Love the one you’re with.” Or at least in the case of the carp, eat
it.
Nail the carp to a board, fill it with manure, bake it, then
throw the fish away and eat the manure.
Sound appetizing?
Here’s how to smoke a carp: Roll the fish tightly in a
newspaper, light one end and then suck hard on the other
end. I “got” that one fairly quickly, but it took years for me to
understand the humor in that first recipe. What does any of this
have to do with the Bible? Pay close attention.
Invasive species are a fact of life. We introduce them, they
invade on their own, other wildlife introduce them for us, and
when we can’t control them, we might as well learn to love them…
or perhaps create some good recipes. And as surely as this region
develops economically and the social environment changes with
it, the ecosystem is just as dynamic and constantly contends with
both the “natural” processes as well as those we inflict on it. Some
are worse than others.
I have long been fascinated, in particular, by one aspect
of the second commandment. In that commandment (KJV)
are the words, “…visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation…” Somehow, as
the child of a father, I felt that this sounded unfair. Of course now
I understand the various metaphorical (and literal) meanings for
this, but I think about this when I think about carp and similar
organisms. It’s not as weird as you’re thinking. Here’s a parable
to explain:
Many years after that day with my father, while I was
doing some work on the Columbia River, I learned that the
Bonneville Power Authority had placed a bounty on squawfish
(a.k.a. northern pikeminnow, which are predators on young
salmon migrating to the sea). Fishermen were bringing these
fish to collection sites and being paid a nice sum for every single
squawfish. I asked the fishery biologist if squawfish were, perhaps,
good to eat. He responded, “Depends on how you cook it....” You
can guess the rest. I just smiled and listened to the old joke that I
had asked for. Fishermen standing nearby snickered at the punch
line. Me too. F
A few years ago, some people (probably fishermen) who
thought they knew better than wildlife managers how to manage
fisheries, added a new fish species to a large lake with a power
plant on it. A few years later, this exotic species caused the power
plant to shut down…more than once. There is absolutely no way
to eradicate that invasive species. The iniquities of those fathers
will be visited not just on the third and fourth generation but
EVERY generation that comes after.
Carp were introduced to this continent in a similar manner,
intentionally, in 1877. They don’t, as far as I know, cause power
plants to shut down but they are considered to be an invasive
species. Incidentally, joking aside, they do taste good. (But then,
I have never found a fish that didn’t taste good.) So carp are a
living example of the application of the second commandment
to exotic species.
Lake Keowee is not immune to this action. Blueback
herring were introduced unintentionally by the Department of
Natural Resources. All sorts of things are released from aquaria,
someone introduced Hydrilla to Lake Keowee, carp have been
there since the lake formed, Asiatic clams are widely distributed
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From p. 2
level 4 drought. The Normal Non-Drought Operating range is set
from 800’ to 794’ rather than 795’ in the Trial Baloon, and the
maximum drawdown is changed from 25’ to 10’.
Provision for Dock Modifications to reach water during
extreme droughts: FOLKS again led this negotiation and
succeeded in getting a last minute additional change. Basically, the
Shoreline Management Plan calls for a maximum dock size (dock
plus pier) of 1000 ft². We suggested that there should be a period
during which dock owners whose docks would be grounded
during extreme droughts be allowed to increase size. The end
point was that there will be a one-year period starting in 2019 for
application and an additional year for build out of an additional
200 ft², and the final “nibble” was that any increase could not
be implemented sooner than 2014 if certain RA conditions were
met. After this period, the maximum dock size reverts to 1000 ft².
Another provision is that multiple boats could be kept at a dock
during extreme droughts.
The Duke Energy Study Plan originally included an
erosion study on Lake Jocassee but not on Lake Keowee
because one had been done there a few years ago. We noted that
the visual evidence was clear that there is considerable erosion on
the Lake Keowee Islands. FOLKS requested that the consultant
who did the erosion study come to a Stakeholder Meeting so we
could discuss that study. After some discussion of specific islands
on Lake Keowee that we thought had significant erosion, the
Proposed Study Plan without Lake Keowee was submitted to
the FERC. We commented and enlisted the support of US Fish
and Wildlife, and the FERC decision on Study Plans included an
Erosion Study of Lake Keowee Islands. The final result is that
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Duke Energy is going to stabilize approximately 12,500 linear feet
of 8 islands. The stabilization will be enhanced riprap with grass
imbedded.
Another issue that we impacted was the Habitat
Enhancement Program (HEP). FOLKS had noted early in the
process that the Catawba-Wateree Relicensing included a Habitat
Enhancement Program, and although it was included there as a
mitigation requirement, we stressed that a similar Program was
important to the well-being of the Keowee-Toxaway Project
as well. Consequently, the RA includes $1million that will be
increased to upwards of $3million by a $500/new dock HEP fee.
These funds will be used to improve the shoreline habitat of both
lakes.
There is also $600K in the RA to be given to the Oconee
County Land Bank plus in excess of $1million to purchase
additional lands in Northern Pickens County near Jocassee Gorges
to be held in trust. There is also $10K/year provided to Oconee
and Pickens Counties for environmental education and litter
awareness. And last, but not least, one of the original objectives of
FOLKS 20 years ago was to eliminate all unincapsulated foam
floatation for Lake Keowee docks. That will be done by 2018. As
you see, we have important work to do for the next 40-50 years!
In addition to our Relicensing activities, we have also
conducted a 5-feeder stream bacterial contamination “compliance”
status study under the current very wet/high flow conditions.
Those results will be reported to DHEC, Duke, Greenville Water,
and Pickens and Oconee Counties.
Finally, I hope all are enjoying the fall-like weather and the
return of FOOTBALL. I know I am! F
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Duke Acquires 4.5 MW Urban
Municipal Solar Project in California
August 16, 2013
By PennEnergy Editorial Staff - Source: Duke Energy
Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), announced it has acquired a 4.5
megawatt (AC) solar power project in San Francisco from solar
developer Recurrent Energy.
The Sunset Reservoir Solar Power Project is the largest solar
generation facility in San Francisco.
“With the addition of this project, we continue to grow
our solar footprint in California,” said Duke Energy Renewables
President Greg Wolf. “As this asset continues to contribute to the
state and city’s renewable energy goals for years to come, we look
forward to being a positive presence in this community.”
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
is purchasing the emissions-free energy under a 25-year power
purchase agreement. “The Sunset Reservoir solar project more
than tripled San Francisco’s municipal solar generating capacity,”
said Harlan L. Kelly Jr., general manager of the SFPUC. “The
renewable, greenhouse gas-free energy from Sunset Reservoir
and all of our other facilities help power public buses, the San
Francisco International Airport, health clinics, and other vital
city services.”
The solar power system, developed and operated by
Recurrent Energy since 2010, consists of nearly 24,000 solar
panels mounted on top of the Sunset Reservoir. The facility
provides electricity for the city and county of San Francisco’s
municipal services and facilities.
“This agreement with Duke Energy Renewables shows
the continued movement of solar into mainstream power,” said
Recurrent Energy CEO Arno Harris. “Their investment in the
Sunset Reservoir project further shows solar’s ability to attract
capital from conventional energy investors.”
In April, Duke Energy Renewables acquired the 21-megawatt
Highlander solar power projects in Twentynine Palms, Calif. The
Sunset Reservoir project adds to Duke Energy Renewables’ more
than 100 megawatts of generating capacity at 16 U.S. solar farms.
Since 2007, Duke Energy has invested more than $3 billion to
grow its commercial wind and solar business. F
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Joint State Savannah River Basin Caucus Summit
Several hundred people gathered at the Big Oaks
Recreation Center in Hartwell, Georgia near the Hartwell
Dam on Wednesday, September 18 to attend an historic, first,
Joint South Carolina/Georgia Caucus Meeting on Savannah
River Basin (SRB) issues. The “Caucus” is a group of State
Representatives whose districts touch the Savannah River in both
Georgia and South Carolina. This is a new approach, replacing
the Governors’ Committees that met periodically without much
really happening. A major objective of this initiative is to avoid
having decisions about SRB issues like assimilative capacity and
water withdrawal sharing made by the courts.
addressed the assemblage and pledged to develop solutions that
will provide for the future needs of both states. Included among
the other numerous speakers were Herb Burnham, Executive
Director of LHA, Harry Shelley of FSV and Ben Turetzky, who
briefly discussed the KT Relicensing process and the effect of
the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) in providing reduced amounts
of water releases downstream for a longer time during severe
droughts.
The meeting also included a discussion of the “Intelligent
River Project” developed at Clemson by Dr. Gene Eidson and
his team. Dr. Jason O. Hallstrom made an excellent presentation
describing this very promising project that has now been
deployed in the SRB measuring and transmitting water property
data in real-time to a central computer at Clemson. This type of
information, in the hands of those managing a river basin, is the
missing link that will allow for responsive and effective “adaptive
water management”.
FOLKS and the Lake Hartwell Association (LHA)
are both members of the Savannah River Advisory Committee
that is facilitated by Harry Shelley of Friends of the Savannah
River (FSV). This Committee was formed by SCDHEC and
SCDNR several years ago as a pilot for all of the River Basins
in South Carolina. One of the major issues that LHA has been
spearheading is that the USACE (Army Corps of Engineers)
should be utilizing “adaptive water management” techniques in
the SRB. FOLKS supports that position. A case in point was
during the very last drought; Col. Hall wanted to reduce water
outflow from Thurmond and one of the state regulatory agencies
said “no”. That triggered an Environmental Assessment that took
precious time and money. The net effect of reducing outflow
from Thurmond earlier would have been to keep more water in
Lake Hartwell and reduced demand from the KT Project.
The Summit Meeting concluded with the signing of
the $1,000,000 Savannah River Comprehensive Study by, from
left to right, Colonel Thomas J. Tickner, the new Colonel of the
Savannah District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers,
Commissioner Mark Williams-Georgia DNR, Director Alvin
Taylor-South Carolina DNR, and a representative of the Nature
Conservancy. This study will update the Basin Drought Plan
based on the most recent droughts.
We are hoping to have a forum in 2014 on the Intelligent
River Project, so stay tuned! F
Both Governor Haley and Georgia Governor Deal
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Friends of Jocassee
Thank Volunteers
Friends of Jocassee (FOJ) had a remarkably
successful annual clean-up on Saturday, September 14 at
Lake Jocassee. Our area of focus was Devils Fork State
Park, the lake shore of Lake Jocassee, and Jocassee Lake
Road, the responsibility for which FOJ has recently
assumed.
With the help of over 100 volunteers, including
FOJ members, Boy Scouts, power boaters, kayakers, and
Lake Jocassee and Jocassee Gorges lovers from near and
far, we picked up over a 100 bags of trash! We couldn’t
have done it without you, and we all thank you so much.
If you weren’t able to make it, you missed some
mighty fine hotdogs, mountain music, and spectacular
Lake Jocassee weather. Come see the beauty of Lake
Jocassee!
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A Lake Keowee Fishing Adventure in My Center of the Universe
Bill Walker, Keowee Anglers
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Suddenly, at 4 AM, I was awake. I got up and went out to
re-experience Lake Keowee as my center of the universe. Having
done this often in the last 11 years, I thought I knew what I would
find. However, I did not imagine the ways in which, in addition
to revealing again my center of the universe, Lake Keowee had its
own special adventures in store for me this morning.
In the dark I took my fishing gear down to the dock and
loaded it into my boat. There was no wind. The water along the
lakeshore was still and silent. The crickets were singing along
the shore almost masking the occasional chirp of a tree frog. As
I stepped into my boat, I triggered a few small waves that lapped
against the floats on my dock. I started my almost-silent motor,
undid the mooring lines, and backed out of my dock. Once out
of my dock where fishing rods might have gotten hung up, I
arrayed my rods ready for action. I set my depth finders for lowintensity display with black background for minimal interference
with my night vision, turned on my running lights, and headed
out to one of my dark, quiet, peaceful places where before dawn
any houses in the area don’t have any lights on. Plenty of these
dark places still exist waiting to be found scattered among Lake
Keowee’s islands or in its long narrow quiet bays.
After I got there and turned off my engine, I turned out
my running lights to free my night vision. I looked around
enjoying the sights and sounds of the moonless, starry night.
Orion, the warrior, had one leg and his body already up over
the eastern horizon where there was still not the slightest hint
of the coming dawn. Above me at the top of the starry dome,
Cassiopeia, seated in her W-shaped chair, looked out over all the
heavens. And north of me the two bears, Ursa Major and Ursa
Minor, wandered the sky with Polaris, the North Star, holding
onto the little bear’s tail. A shooting star streaked across the sky,
probably a leftover from the meteor showers forecast for earlier in
the morning, which I had missed. I sighed at the wonder of all
those stars showing in the moonless sky.
I let my eyes trace the daytime path the sun takes across the
sky, which is also the location of the ecliptic in the night sky. At
night in this narrow band of sky all the visible planets can be seen
if they are in the sky at all. This morning, in the ecliptic high
above the eastern horizon, Jupiter shone brightly in all its glory.
And closer to the horizon, barely discernible through the eastern
haze, I thought I might have seen a glimpse Mars.
All around me the still water surface mirrored the stars
above. The earth appeared like a huge donut of the circling
shoreline. Stars not only twinkled above, they also appeared to
be visible down through the donut hole. And here I was floating
in the middle of the hole surrounded by a ring of land. Beyond
that ring, above and below, the entire universe twinkled around
me. I felt alone in the center of the universe.
I mused that it’s not even clear the universe has a center.
Here I was, here we all are, traveling through the vast emptiness
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of space on a huge spaceship, Earth. The difference between our
Earth-ship and science fiction spaceships is that on spaceship
Earth the people all live on the outside of the ship, living in a
layer of atmosphere that is unbelievably thin compared to the
size of Earth! Our atmosphere is so thin, that if the Earth were
the size of a basketball, the atmosphere we live in around it would
only be as thick as about 3 sheets of plastic garbage bag. And
here we are, soaring through the void of space toward who knows
where among the stars and galaxies, living on the outside skin of
our vehicle!
Finally, I pulled myself away from my reverie and picked
up a rod rigged with a fish-colored, DAWG-100 top-water lure.
I could barely see the outline of the shore and cast cautiously,
trying to get close to shore, but not up in the brush on the bank.
As my lure flew into the darkness, I held by breath and waited to
hear what sound my lure would make when it landed. I heard a
small satisfying splash somewhere back in the dark reflection of
the shore as my lure hit water. I sighed to myself in relief that it
had not hit rocks or bushes. Then I retrieved the lure with regular
jerks making it zigzag toward me in the water, a pattern called
“walking the dog.” Nothing happened on my first two casts. As
I walked the DAWG back from the dark shadows the third time,
a little slap sounded somewhere near my lure, but I didn’t feel
anything on the line. Probably a bass too small for my lure had
tried to take a trial bite to see what this swimming thing was,
and missed. Larger bass have no problem taking this lure, but at
this water temperature, the larger bass don’t spend much time in
the shallows. I tried a couple more casts. When nothing more
happened, I moved on along the shore.
“Whoo, WhoWho, OooWho, OooWho”, an owl called
from the dark not so far away. I paused and looked up. Again
I heard it. “Whoo, WhoWho, OooWho, OooWho, OooWho,
OooWho.” The owl kept on calling as I moved on down the
shoreline to a shallow point on the main lake. While listening to
the owl I almost missed another slap at my lure. I let the lure sit
still in the water for a moment before moving it again. I gave it
a tentative twitch and again a sucking slap at my lure, and a little
bump on my line. But nothing hooked up, and the strikes were
not repeated.
Now a hint of dawn light was glowing on the eastern
horizon. With too few clouds to create a spectacular sunrise,
the glow simply grew and got brighter as I moved up the shore.
Now I cast more confidently because I could see the shoreline
better and could gauge more accurately its distance from me. I
took great pleasure in the Zen of being able to cast the lure right
where I wanted it, right next to a rock here, right next to a fallen
tree there by the shore, an so on. I have practiced a lot, and with
enough light I can simply look at a spot and flick my arm for a
cast, and most of the time the lure lands in the small area where
I’m looking. It’s a fun kind of target practice.
Finally I gave up on this section of shore,
See p. 12
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From p. 11
started my engine, and moved to a shallow point where the
previous morning I had seen from a distance a white wading bird
looking for minnows. The white wading bird was there again
this morning. I turned off the main engine70 yards away and
stalked closer using my trolling motor. As I came right up to
within casting range of the point, I saw the bird was all white,
fairly large ... and with golden yellow legs! With legs of that
color it almost surely had to be a Great White Heron. What a
treat! As I watched, it struck its head into the water several times,
catching and swallowed a minnow each time. I thought maybe
a bass might also be there stalking the minnows. I looked at the
water slightly off shore from the heron and cast in that direction.
My DAWG landed in the water about 12 feet from the heron.
The heron stopped and looked over at my lure as it splashed.
As I started walking it through the water toward me, the heron
leapt into the air, half hovered with flapping wings, and half flew
toward my lure. The last thing I wanted right then was to catch
the heron. I started reeling in my lure as fast as I could. The
heron hover-flew after it with wings flapping as if treading air. It
was keeping up with my frantic retrieve but not quite getting into
a position to strike. Finally, as the lure approached my boat, the
heron, banked away and flew back to the shallow point to resume
its own version of fishing. Wow, in 11 years I had never before
seen a Great White Heron on Lake Keowee! And this had been
a thrilling display!
quickly performed the fizzing operation and turned it loose. I
was only partially successful in my fizzing. I did well enough so
that I couldn’t net it again, however it still came up to the surface
occasionally. I finally went on my way, and I’m not sure whether
it survived or not.
Finally the sun rose above the ridges and its rays hit the
water. Catching bass is difficult after the sun hits the water, so
I headed in. All this time I had not seen another boat. Lake
Keowee and the heavens above had been all mine! I felt like I
had had the lake and my wondrous adventures all to myself. On
my way back to my dock around 7:15AM I saw my first other
boat of the morning: the Duke Mosquito Control Boat running
up the lake.
I went on to try a few more points as the sunrise grew
brighter and brighter. No bass expressed interest in my lure.
Finally up ahead along the shore I saw what I thought was a
white piece of trash floating in the lake. I went over to pick it up.
When I got to it, I discovered it was really a fish, floating belly
up but alive, and struggling to dive down into the water. At first
I thought it was a large White Bass. White Bass are rare in Lake
Keowee, but I have caught them here.
Even though I’d caught no bass this morning, I was thrilled I
had gotten up and gone out on the lake. I’d experienced so many
great sights and sounds. You can’t have these kinds of adventures
without getting out on the lake. Again I fondly remembered my
father’s saying, “He who goes fishing and complains that he didn’t
catch any fish forgot why he went.”
However, as I looked at it more carefully, I realized I was
looking at a fish I had never seen in my 11 years of fishing Lake
Keowee. Actually I’d never seen one of these in my entire life of
67 years. I netted it, brought it into the boat for a photo, and
tried to use my fizzing tool to get the air out of its belly so it
would no longer float belly up and would be able to submerge
and swim away. (Google “fizzing bass” or “fizzing tool” for more
information on this procedure.) I took a quick photo with the
fishing wiggling on my ruler. The fish was a full 18 ¾ inches
long! Here’s the picture!
After I got back home I emailed a picture of my mystery
fish to Dan Rankin, Region 1 Fisheries Coordinator for the
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. I asked him
about my mystery fish, and he identified it as a gizzard shad, and
said that DNR had first noticed these fish in Lake Keowee about
two years ago. He described the gizzard shad as follows:
Mystery Fish Follow-up
“The gizzard shad is a forage fish and does provide forage
for larger bass. There may be some benefits for larger bass in
having the larger prey item. We do sometimes see improved
condition factors of the bigger largemouth bass in a population
where gizzard shad are present. Overall though I still think
the costs outweigh this slight benefit. The problem in larger
reservoirs is gizzard shad tend to grow very fast and get out
of the prey range for black bass species. Gizzard shad do feed
heavily on zooplankton (and phytoplankton), and also compete
with other fish for invertebrates. There’s really no way to predict
how abundant the fish will become, but in many southern
reservoirs the gizzard shad can occupy a major portion of the
overall biomass. Thus, a major amount of the productivity of a
system can get ‘locked up’ in a species that often grows too large
to provide forage for resident game fish. With Lakes Keowee
and Jocassee being oligotrophic lakes, fertility and primary
productivity are already very limited in terms of fueling a robust
The fish had all the characteristics of a shad, but I had
never seen a shad longer than an inch or two. Could this really
be a giant shad in Lake Keowee? That answer would have to
wait for later. I felt that had to get it back into the water. I
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fishery. Neither lake has a large predator like striped bass to help
control numbers of large gizzard shad.”
Dan speculated that gizzard shad had possibly been
introduced by someone dumping their bait bucket in the lake.
To keep unauthorized species from being introduced into lakes
and upsetting the ecological balance, law 50-13-665 was recently
passed in South Carolina. Law 50-13-665 states:
“Except for bait lost while fishing, it is unlawful to
intentionally release any aquatic species, including bait, regardless
of the stage of its life cycle, into the waters of this State without a
permit from SCDNR.”
“It is unlawful to use any nonindigenous fish as bait that
is not already established in the water body being fished except
the following minnows: fathead minnows, golden shiners, and
goldfish, including ‘black salties’. No game fish may be used
as bait to catch fish recreationally except for bream (other than
redbreast). Trout may be used as bait only on Lakes Hartwell,
Russell, Thurmond, Tugalo, Yonah, Stevens Creek Reservoir and
the Savannah River. When using game fish as bait to catch fish
recreationally they must be included in the daily creel limit.”
If I had known all this when I had the gizzard shad in my
boat, I would not have released it back into the lake.
Rainmaker Irrigation
Landscape Design Install
10227 Clemson Blvd
Seneca, SC 29678
[Ed. For a good description of fishing conditions this time of
year, when the surface water temp of Lake Keowee in the vicinity of
Mile Creek Park drops from around 85-90°F in early September to
around 73°F by the end of October, reread Bill Walker’s article in the
September/October 2012 edition of The Sentinel.] F
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[email protected]
www.callrainmaker.com
864-882-3655
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Lake Sweep Activity
Once again the hot spot of the Fall Lake
Sweep was Fall Creek with “only 15 bags” taken
off of the peninsula going out to Jumping Off
Rock. In the Fall Sweep the crew from Cliffs
Fall South took 18 bags of beer cans bottles and
other miscellaneous items from the peninsula.
Qualified divers from Boy Scout Troop
701 in Brevard NC will be coming down to
“sweep the bottom” under Jumping Off Rock
and down at the Falls on Saturday October 5.
We will try to get some underwater photos to
validate that Blue Bud Light is still the beer of
choice!
NOTE TO ALL LAKE SWEEP
VOLUNTEERS AND ISLAND ADOPTERS:
PLEASE GET GROUP PHOTOS OR
PHOTOS OF PILES OF GARBAGE AND/
OR BAGS OF TRASH IN 2014 SWEEPS.
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Keowee-Toxaway (KT) Hydroelectric Project Relicensing
Summary of the Stakeholder Team’s September 18, 2013, Relicensing Agreement
Duke Energy received its Existing License from the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 1966 authorizing the construction and operation of Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, Jocassee
Pumped Storage Station, and Keowee Hydro Station. The Existing
License expires in August, 2016.
SUPPORT FOR WATER DEMANDS ON PROJECT RESERVOIRS (Section 3.0)
Current and Future Water Needs Guide Decisions – Acknowledge
existing and projected future (through 2066) water withdrawals in
the Upper Savannah River Basin were considered and will be considered when evaluating proposals for additional Project water use
FERC’s relicensing process encourages people with interests in
hydroelectric projects to work together and recommend the balance
they would prefer FERC to adopt in the New License – a balance
that would represent the “best future” for the Project that is developed locally rather than by the FERC.
Protect and Enhance Usable Water Storage – Proposed new, expanded, or rebuilt water intakes must be designed to operate with
the lake as low as the hydro station can operate or justified for a
shallower elevation
Local recommendations carry much more weight with the FERC
if they’re supported by a broad representation of local stakeholders
including the agencies charged with overseeing the applicable laws.
At the core of this local process is the Keowee-Toxaway Stakeholder Team with 40 representatives from 22 organizations including
environmental, water quality, and conservation organizations;
local governments; homeowner groups; lake-area developers; water
suppliers; a Tribe; four state resource agencies, four federal agencies,
and Duke Energy. Even more stakeholders have participated in
seven Resource Committees charged with developing, overseeing,
and analyzing the 14 FERC-required studies.
New Operating Agreement (NOA) – Duke Energy will pursue a
NOA with US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA) that:
Beginning in September 2012 with editing and reshaping Duke
Energy’s initial draft proposal (called a Trial Balloon), stakeholders
have prepared for and participated in 20 all-day Team meetings
(and many other committee meetings) to craft the September 18,
2013, Relicensing Agreement detailing how the Project should be
managed. Stakeholder Team members are currently reviewing the
Relicensing Agreement with their governing bodies to determine
if they will enter into this contract with the other signatories by
signing the Relicensing Agreement. The deadline for signing the
Relicensing Agreement is November 29, 2013.
Normal Min. Elev.
(ft local datum / ft
AMSL)
Lake Jocassee
100.0 / 1110.0
Lake Keowee
100.0 / 800.0
86.0 / 1096.0
96.0/ 796.01
*ODPSQPSBUFTUIFXBUFSBWBJMBCMFJOUIF#BE$SFFLBOE
Richard B. Russell Reservoirs into the storage calculations
t
%PFTOUQFOBMJ[FUIF,51SPKFDUXIFO64"$&MBLFTBSF
drawn down for maintenance
t
&ODPVSBHFTSFHJPOBMESPVHIUSFTQPOTFCZJOUBLFPXOFST
at the USACE lakes
The LIP also defines actions to decrease the volume of water leaving
Duke Energy’s reservoirs as the severity of a drought increases.
There are only three ways to do this: 1) reducing water releases
from Lake Keowee into the USACE’s Hartwell Lake; 2) reducing
water supplier withdrawals by encouraging their customers to
implement water conservation measures and 3) reducing withdrawals by lake neighbors for lawn irrigation. Water also leaves the
reservoirs through evaporation, hydro unit leakage, dam seepage,
and ground water infiltration, but these are not controllable.
The following three actions are taken at each more severe drought
stage after Stage 0.
AMSL = Above Mean Sea Level
1 Approximately one foot higher than current operation
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t
LOW INFLOW PROTOCOL (LIP) (Section 3.0, Appendix D)
The LIP will provide a Project-wide, coordinated response to
droughts. It is a drought response procedure that defines five
stages of increasingly severe drought (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) based on
well-defined, objective triggers. The triggers are combinations of
the storage in Duke Energy’s reservoirs, the current drought level
defined by the USACE’s Drought Contingency Plan, and meteorological conditions as indicated by the US Drought Monitor and US
Geological Survey’s streamflow gages in the area.
LAKE LEVELS DURING NORMAL PERIODS (Section 2.0)
During normal (non-drought) conditions, Duke Energy will maintain lake levels between the following maximum and minimum
levels:
Normal Max. Elev.
(ft local datum / ft
AMSL)
*TDPOTJTUFOUXJUI3FMJDFOTJOH"HSFFNFOUJODMVEJOH
the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP)
Water Resource Planning – Duke Energy will provide one-time
funding of $438,000 to support water quantity planning and management initiatives in the Savannah River Basin
Below are highlights of the Relicensing Agreement. Components
of the Relicensing Agreement dependent upon specific Stakeholder
Organizations signing the Relicensing Agreement are denoted with
an asterisk*.
Reservoir
t
16
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864-882-3655
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Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee
Working with the SC State Historic Preservation Office, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the SC Department of Parks,
Recreation and Tourism (SCDPRT), Duke Energy will develop
interpretive signage and displays at the Jocassee Gorges Visitor
Center and selected Project Access Areas and create a traveling
exhibit available for various visitor centers, exhibits, and schools to
help visitors better understand the history of the area. The history
of the Cherokees and the development of the area’s hydroelectricity
will be included in this information.
At the worst drought condition (Stage 4), the minimum elevation
for Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee decreases to these Critical
Reservoir Elevations:
t
+PDBTTFF$SJUJDBM3FTFSWPJS&MFWBUJPOPGGUMPDBM
datum / 1080 ft AMSL (i.e., maximum drawdown of
30 ft)
t
,FPXFF$SJUJDBM3FTFSWPJS&MFWBUJPOPGGUMPDBM
datum / 790 ft AMSL (i.e., maximum drawdown of 10
ft). Note: this elevation will become effective in 2019.
Prior to then, the Critical Reservoir Elevation will be
94.6 ft local datum / 794.6 ft AMSL. The Existing
License permits a 25 ft drawdown; under the New
License, the maximum drawdown would not exceed 10
ft.*
t
-BLF,FPXFFBOE-BLF+PDBTTFFXJMMCFESBXOEPXO
together
t
-BLF,FPXFFTFMFWBUJPOXJMMCFLFQUBUPSBCPWF
ft local datum / 791.5 ft AMSL until Duke Energy’s
usable storage reaches 12 percent, at which time no
further water releases will be made from Lake Keowee
to support downstream water needs
t
PUBLIC RECREATION (Section 6.0)
Most of the new amenities under the current Recreation Management Plan (RMP) approved by the FERC on July 19, 2010, have
already been installed and are being used by people enjoying the
lakes. Duke Energy will file a new RMP with the Application for
New License that will include additional amenities to be completed
during the first 10 years of the New License.
%VLF&OFSHZXBUFSTVQQMJFSTBOEBQQSPQSJBUFGFEeral and state agencies will form a Keowee-Toxaway
Drought Management Advisory Group to promote
coordinated actions and communications during
droughts
t
Devils Fork State Park – New courtesy dock at the main
ramps, designated area for divers
t
Double Springs Campground – Add approximately 25
acres, lease it to SCDPRT, provide toilet and 12 additional
campsites*
t
Keowee Town Access Area – Trails, single vehicle parking,
and signage to support wildlife viewing and bank fishing
t
Fall Creek Access Area – Trails, single vehicle parking, and
signage to support wildlife viewing and bank fishing
t
Mile Creek County Park – Up to ten primitive campsites;
up to five bank fishing stations; additional Duke Energy
investment up to $350,000 for ten camping cabins and
septic tanks*
t
Cane Creek Access Area – Single vehicle parking and signage to support wildlife viewing and bank fishing
t
"MM1BSUJFTUPUIF3FMJDFOTJOH"HSFFNFOUBOEBOZGVUVSF
water intake owners on the Project have responsibilities
under the LIP
t
"MM1BSUJFTXJMMFODPVSBHFXBUFSJOUBLFPXOFSTPOUIF
downstream USACE Reservoirs to implement water
conservation measures similar to the LIP
t
New Access Areas on Lake Keowee – Designate High Falls
II (36.19 ac) and Mosquito Point (10.25 ac) as reserved for
future public recreation needs
NOTIFICATION AND CONSULTATION DURING MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS (Section 4.0,
Appendix E)
The Maintenance and Emergency Protocol (MEP) anticipates
situations when it may not be possible to meet normal license
conditions, identifies organizations that will be notified and consulted, and provides the procedures for doing so. Some examples
of these situations include hydro unit outage; dam safety emergency; energy, voltage, or capacity emergency; lake drawdown for
maintenance; high water events; and support for local or regional
emergencies.
t
Keowee-Toxaway State Park – Develop camping and
non-motorized boating facilities at 15-acre lake, connect
the park to municipal water, pave an access road to a
new primitive camping area, and construct 10 primitive
campsites, 3 camping cabins, a canoe/kayak launch, a new
parking area, event cabin, outdoor gathering space with
fire pit, a fishing pier using the existing bridge abutment, a
picnic pavilion, a portage around the existing water-retaining structure impounding 15-acre lake, and 2 bathhouses*
t
Stamp Creek Access Area – Trails, single vehicle parking,
and signage to support wildlife viewing and bank fishing
HISTORIC PROPERTIES (Section 5.0)
Archaeological and historic sites within the Project Boundaries
are important parts of the region’s identity and will be protected
under a new Historic Properties Management Plan developed in
collaboration with State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices
and others under guidance of the National Historic Preservation
Act. Known sites will be protected and plans to deal with newly
discovered sites will be in place.
t
Existing Access Area Leases – Extend existing access area
leases for term of New License for High Falls County Park,
Mile Creek County Park, Warpath Marina (with caveats),
Devils Fork State Park, and South Cove County Park*
t
New Access Area Leases – Offer new leases for Bootleg
Access Area to the SC Department of Natural Resources
(SCDNR); Crow Creek Access Area to Pickens County;
15-acre lake at Keowee-Toxaway State Park to SCDPRT;
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864-882-3655
and Fall Creek, Keowee Town, Stamp Creek and Cane
Creek to Oconee County*
t
Island Ownership – Retain Duke Energy ownership of all
islands for term of New License for public recreation use
t
Bank Fishing – Designate all portions of the Project Access
Areas as available for bank fishing except for minimal areas
needed for safety and user conflict management
t
Future RMP Revisions – In every 12th year of the New
License, conduct a new Recreation Use and Needs Study if
needed and revise the RMP if necessary
t
Commercial Facility Restrictions – Duke Energy will not
use or permit lessee use of commercial recreation amenities
at the Crow Creek, Cane Creek and Stamp Creek Access
Areas
t
World of Energy Picnic and Fishing Access Area – designate a trail for angler access to the Oconee Nuclear Station
discharge canal and operate and maintain the existing
picnic and fishing facilities near the World of Energy for
public recreation
t
Granny Gear Access Area – Maintain to also support use of
nearby Dug Mountain Access Area*
year to Pickens County to support elementary and middle
school education on environmental stewardship and litter
prevention*
t
SHORELINE MANAGEMENT (Section 7.0, Appendix G)
Shoreline Management Plan – The new Shoreline Management
Plan will be effective on September 1, 2014, and will be reviewed
and updated as necessary, but no more frequently than every ten
years
Unencapsulated Foam Flotation – All unencapsulated foam flotation will be removed from residential boat docks on Lake Jocassee
and Lake Keowee no later than September 1, 2018
Increase Maximum Dock Surface – There will be a window of
opportunity for owners of previously approved existing docks to
increase the maximum allowed surface area of their dock by up
to 200 square feet if needed to reach deeper water during severe
droughts
Follow the Water – Docks can be moved to follow the water during
LIP Stages 2, 3, and 4
Commercial Marina Restrictions – Future commercial marinas will
only be allowed on Lake Keowee’s “big water.” No commercial
marinas will be permitted in the narrower portions of the Cane
Creek, Crooked Creek, Stamp Creek, or Crow Creek arms of
Lake Keowee. No commercial marinas will be permitted on Lake
Jocassee.
Land Conservation (Section 6.0)
t
Nine Times Tract – Duke Energy will provide $1,044,000
to support acquisition of the Nine Times Tract (1,648 ac)
by Naturaland Trust*
t
Oconee County Conservation Bank – Duke Energy will
provide $600,000 to the Oconee County Conservation
Bank*
t
Sassafras Mountain Observation Tower – Duke Energy will
provide $350,000 to SCDNR to support construction of
an observation tower, restrooms and interpretive signage at
Sassafras Mountain*
t
Leased Land Areas – Duke Energy will offer low-cost leases
to SCDNR for the Licklog (46 ac), Dismal Creek (21
ac), Fishers Knob (45 ac), Eastatoe Creek (23 ac), and the
Laurel Preserve (504 ac) tracts for term of New License*
t
Land Use Restrictions – Duke Energy will restrict use of
the Jocassee Spillway Tract, Bad Creek South Tract, and the
Jocassee East Tract to supporting power production, power
transmission, and public recreation*
t
Land Purchase Opportunities – SCDNR will have the
opportunity to purchase the Jocassee East, Laurel Preserve,
Eastatoe Creek, Bad Creek South, Jocassee Spillway, Licklog, and Dismal Creek tracts if Duke Energy determines it
no longer needs the properties during the term of the New
License*
Water Intakes on Lake Jocassee – No intakes for public or industrial water supplies will be authorized on Lake Jocassee
Shoreline Erosion Stabilization – Duke Energy will stabilize actively
eroding sites on nine Lake Keowee islands plus the east side of Fall
Creek peninsula and two future recreation sites, High Falls II and
Mosquito Point. Approximately 12,500 feet of shoreline will be
stabilized with rip-rap enhanced to provide additional aquatic and
wildlife habitat.
SPECIES PROTECTION (Section 8.0, Appendix H)
Project Headwaters Restoration – Habitat and species research and
restoration on Project headwater streams will be enhanced by a
one-time Duke Energy contribution of $100,000 to SCDNR for
matching grants*
Trout Fishery – Duke Energy will monitor the oxygenated, cool
water elevation band for the trout fishery in Lake Jocassee*
Black Bass Spawning – Except during droughts or emergencies,
Duke Energy will operate the Project to support black bass spawning between April 1 and May 15*
Protecting Special Species – Although study of the area’s aquatic,
botanical, and wildlife species and habitat showed rich and thriving
communities, no Threatened or Endangered species were found
within the Project Boundaries. If found in the future, Duke Energy will implement formal species protection plans. Duke Energy
will protect known sites in the Project Boundaries with Special
Status Species and botanical Priority Species through its SMP
Recreation User Education and Outreach Partnerships (Section 6.0)
t Safe Boating – Duke Energy will support an annual community safe boating educational effort in the Project area
t
Environmental Education – Duke Energy will provide
$10,000 per year to Oconee County and $10,000 per
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Litter Collection – Duke Energy will support semi-annual
litter collection on Project islands*
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Shoreline Classifications, signage, and other restrictions.
Fish Entrainment Reduction – Duke Energy will modify intake
and tailwater lighting at the Jocassee Pumped Storage Station and
will change the hydro unit start-up sequence at the Station when
operating pumping mode to reduce fish entrainment.*
Habitat Enhancement Program (HEP) – Duke Energy will establish a program to create, enhance, and protect aquatic and wildlife
habitat within the watershed flowing into the Project Reservoirs.
Non-profit and governmental organizations will submit proposals
to a Proposal Review Committee that will recommend appropriate
proposals for funding. Duke Energy will provide $1,000,000 initially to fund the HEP and these funds will supplemented by fees
paid by lake use permit applicants.*
WATER QUALITY (Section 9.0, Appendix I)
Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations – Formal studies confirm what’s
already known: Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee have excellent
water quality, especially concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO)
which is particularly important to the ecological heath of the lakes.
Even though DO will remain at or above state standards due to the
design of the dams, Duke Energy will monitor DO annually for
the month of August and report the results to the SC Department
of Health and Environmental Control.
Source Water Protection Program – With $1,000,000 in seed money from Duke Energy, a new non-profit group will be formed to
develop projects to monitor and maintain superior water quality at
Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee. Potential projects include adapting state-of-the-art watershed models to the KT area to anticipate
potential water quality threats, regularly monitoring water quality,
and instituting a septic tank repair program.*
From p. 3
“armoring” of the east bank power block and intake dyke south of
the station. Another proposal, hardening the Keowee Dam with
concrete, was ruled out. A final determination on which option is
best will come after the flood hazard analysis submitted by Duke
has been approved by the NRC, the newspaper reported. Duke
Energy said it will officially submit its plans in December; a final
proposal is due in March.
To read the article in its entirety, search online: “Duke takes
positive steps on dam.” FOLKS will closely follow the NRC activity
and public coverage of this issue. Go to www.greenvilleoonline.
com and search for “Jocassee Dam.”
With regard to the second issue discussed in the editorial
-- the advanced ONS fire safety system upgrade -- Duke
Energy had volunteered to the NRC to be one of the two first
adopters of such a system in the US. As we understand it, this
was clearly not a “one size fits all” fire safety system, and Duke
missed its committed completion time, noting that it had grossly
underestimated the complexity of the project. It was a surprise
that the problem was not recognized and the need for a delay
communicated earlier by either Duke Energy or the resident
NRC Staff at ONS. Nevertheless, in spite of the Union of
Concerned Scientists’ unreasonable (in our estimation) demand
for imposition of the maximum daily fine, the NRC and Duke
Energy have agreed to a new Project Plan Timeline, which
Duke Energy has committed to meet. In the interim, there are
a number of compensatory measures in place; however, the
NRC has notified Duke Energy that their latest inspection has
indicated some issues in themitigation steps in place.. F
Water Quality Model – Duke Energy will provide the water quality
model used during relicensing as well as the water quality data used
to develop it to the Friends of Lake Keowee Society.*
GENERAL AGREEMENTS AND PROCEDURES (Sections
11.0 – 33.0)
Because the Relicensing Agreement is a contract, it also contains
contractual language to further spell out the responsibilities of the
Parties in implementing the contract and procedures and limitations for addressing situations that might develop during the term
of the Relicensing Agreement. F
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Membership Update
Donations & Endowment Contributors
Welcome and thank you to the new members and to
those who have renewed at levels above Family in 2013
between July 6 and September 18.
New Business Members
Blue Ridge Bank
New Family Members
Linda & David Benson, Patti & Scott Grove, John Kent,
Ellen & Doug Young
New & Renewing Patron Members
Elaine & Richard Bushey, Dawson & Gary Castle,
Robert DiBella, Nancy & Charles Dougherty, Lynn &
Alan Fayard, Cathy Reas & James Foster, Jill Fournier,
Prudy & Wayne Gersch, Kristen & John Hunter,
Juanita % Roger Keranen, Barbara & Larry Kolze,
Carolin & John Malone, Barbara & Michael McGrey,
Jeffrey McWey, Joseph Mihelick, Marilyn & Bill Miller,
Kathy & Michael Panther, Randy Renz, Janis & Wayne
Sayatovic, Sarah & Harold Seale, Charlotte & George
Shaak, David Thomas, Aaron Smith & Brian Tolleson,
Jane & James Van Senus, Julie Brewer & John Voss,
Annbeth & Robert Wilkinson
New & Renewing Sponsor Members
Nancy Allen, Ed Weiland
When you renew, please consider
stepping up to the next level:
1BUSPOt4QPOTPS
BECOME A COMMUNITY CONTACT
We need your help soliciting membership
in your community. FOLKS is not an
organization just for waterside residents. We
ALL live in a watershed, and we ALL have an
our property. Becoming a Community Contact
membership when the opportunity arises. We
would also be pleased to conduct an informal
gathering in your community.
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22
864-882-3655
zone on an adjoining property could also affect your permit due
to the fact that new structures or erosion control can be no closer
than 50 feet from that zone as shown in this diagram.
It’s All About CLASS
By Dave Kroeger
Reprinted with permission from Upstate Lake Living
Edwards Publications
What about the Impact Minimization Zone?
You may not think that life on the lake means you have class,
but it does.
The SMP defines this class as shoreline areas having stable
sand, gravel or cobble substrates.
Of course we are not talking about social rank, style or
taste but rather the class that has been assigned to your lake
frontage. These classifications can have a major effect on the use
of your lakefront property.
As for restrictions, applicants must first try to avoid
IMZs, but if complete avoidance is not practicable, then
construction within these areas may have specific mitigation
requirements imposed by the federal, state or local resource
agencies. Furthermore, shoreline stabilization within the project
boundaries must adhere to the shoreline stabilization technique
selection process.
Duke Energy has analyzed and classified every foot of
Shoreline in the Lake Keowee Shoreline Management Plan
(SMP). There are 11 classifications of shoreline on Lake Keowee
but, for this issue, let’s look at just the “environmental” and
“impact minimization zone” classifications. These two will
most likely effect your shoreline use, whether you belong to
the “Existing Group” of lakefront property owners, who have
improved their lakefront with a dock or some type of erosion
control, or the “New Group,” those who own lakefront property
and plan to either build or market the property in the future.
In a nutshell, work done on IMZ shorelines will require
things like larger boulders and natural plants and grasses that can
be integrated into, above and below the structure. This will apply
to both the “new” and “existing” group upon any construction or
erosion control that takes place.
One purpose of these shoreline classifications is to provide
spawning, rearing and nursery habitat for fish, and rearing
nursery and adult habitat for amphibians, reptiles and birds.
What is an Environmental Zone?
A couple of takeaways from this would be to understand
that there is a pretty complex set of guidelines that govern
shoreline use on our Upstate lakes. If you have an active, approved
permit, know when it expires and tap into the resources available
to stay up-to-date.
The SMP defines this class as vegetated areas or cove heads
with stream confluence.
These types of shorelines exist where there is stable,
wetland-type habitat and/or emergent vegetation.
Common types of emergent vegetation may include,
but are not limited to: Black willow (Salix nigra), Alder (Alnus
serrulata), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Cattail
(Typha latifolia) or Rushes (Juncus effusus).
Shoreline classifications and detailed information can be
found on the Duke Energy link: http://www.duke-energy.com/
pdfs/KT_Class_LUR_final.pdf ; for Lake Hartwell, call 706-8560300 or visit http://www.sas.usace.army.mil ; or contact Kroeger
Marine Construction at 864-882-7671 or www.kroegermarine.
com . F
Restrictions in an environmental zone include no
removal of vegetation, no construction, excavation or shoreline
stabilization inside the project boundaries. The important thing
to remember about this particular class is that it is dynamic in
nature. Even though a property may not originally be designated
as environmental this can change over time. An example of this
would be during low water periods when some of the above listed
vegetation may grow. The opposite is also possible as, during
periods of high water, some types of vegetation may die off.
Duke Energy Lake Services has a detailed review process
for environmental class.
For the “existing” group of property owners the only time
a growing environmental area would affect existing construction
would be at the point a new permit was applied for requesting
change in structure or erosion control. Also pertaining to both
groups, any amount of environmental frontage will be deducted
from the total allowable shoreline frontage.
For the “new” group, no structure or erosion control can
occur within 50 feet of an environmental zone. An environmental
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864-882-3655
Gardening, Naturally!
Gardening for the Common Good
by Kay Wade
Well, gardeners, we’ve come a long way towards saving
the planet. We’ve been at it for quite a while, after all. Remember
when we were being roundly criticized for wasting water? Not so
much anymore. We’re using drip and low-flow irrigation systems
to water our gardens, and planting rain gardens to catch water
instead of letting it run off and erode soil. We’re doing our part
to keep water cleaner, too, by planting wider buffers between
lake and lawn, and choosing low-phosphorus fertilizers to feed
that lawn. We’re even, quietly, removing sections of lawn that
don’t make sense anymore, replacing it with groundcovers and
shrubbery, saving even more water.
quiet wonder at the way scraps disappear, and the barrel never
gets full.
Of course, many of us gardeners are using every scrap of
compost we can lay our hands on. Just look at the proliferation
of front and back yard vegetable gardens as a for-sure sign that
we’re saving the planet. Even if it’s nothing more than a tomato
in a pot, we are taking fresh food more seriously, and growing
what we like to eat. Compost, which feeds the soil which feeds
the plants, increases the disease and pest resistance of our favorite
foods and flowers, so we can rely more on Mother Nature and less
on pesticides. Win-win!
Speaking of lawns, Mr. B. has traded his gasoline lawn
mower in for a reel mower. That’s a big deal. Two-cycle lawn
mowers, especially older ones, turn gasoline into significant
carbon dioxide … as much as 20 pounds of carbon dioxide from
one gallon of gas, according to one source. Reel mowers, on the
other hand, deliver a pretty good cardio workout and the prettiest
grass in the neighborhood. Plus they are almost silent; there is
no gas to spill and fumes to breathe. And no grass catcher bag
to empty, so the nitrogen-rich clippings are left to return that
element to the earth, further reducing the need for chemical
fertilizer.
We still have a long way to go, of course. It will be up
to gardeners to save the monarch butterflies (by planting more
milkweeds) and native bees (by planting more native flowering
plants in general). 60,000 bumblebees dead in a parking lot in
Oklahoma, in a single day this summer, done in by a landscape
crew spraying flowering trees in the neighborhood, is no joke. If
we do reach for chemical solutions, we simply must get better
about timing. And we really need to lighten up on weeding out
every living thing we didn’t plant ourselves. Nature is pretty
clever about planting the right plant in the right place to suit her
needs. Not everything we gardeners do is an improvement over
what Nature has already done.
Gardeners are catching on to the concept of feeding the
soil so the soil can feed the plants. We’re finally shelving the blue
water fertilizers in favor of natural plant food, like HollyTone,
bone and cottonseed meals, and compost.
Our understanding of Nature’s work is getting better,
but of course there is always more to learn. Gardeners will take
the lead in educating the rest of the world about symbiotic
relationships: between bee and flower, between berry and bird,
between tree and fungus. We don’t always have to know scientific
terms to know there is something which makes us look more
closely at the relationship our own yard has with the rest of the
planet. It’s almost surreptitious, the way we gardeners are making
small, incremental changes in our lives for the better. Keep it up,
guys. F
That compost, by the way, is not just about returning
nutrients to the soil. Most gardeners I know are also avid recyclers.
Recycling has become bit of a game to see just how little we can
throw into a dumpster. Recyclers know that a compost pile will
break down everything from banana peels to old cotton socks,
and the more you feed it, the better it works. Almost everyone
I know these days has some kind of compost barrel or pile, and
while they may or may not use that black gold, they often express
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864-882-3655
FOLKS Corporate & Business Members
We appreciate the support of our Corporate and Business Members and know that they will appreciate your patronage.
When you do so, please thank them for supporting FOLKS.
Corporate Members
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc.
City of Seneca
Cliffs Land Partners, LLC
Crescent Resources
Duke - World of Energy
Greenville Water
ITRON
Keowee Key Property Owners Assn.
Michelin North America
The Reserve at Lake Keowee
Waterford Pointe Homeowners Assn.
The Happy Berry
Head-Lee Nursery
Hidden Cove
ING Financial Partners
The Investment Center
Jay Scott Real Estate
JC Sports
Jocassee Lake Tours
Jocassee Outdoor Center
Jocassee Real Estate
Justin Winter & Associates, LLC
Kroeger Marine and Construction
The Lake Company-Lake Keowee
Lake Keowee Real Estate
Lake Keowee Marina
Lighthouse Restaurant & Event Center
Natural Natives
Northwestern Supply
Palmetto Lakeside Service
Patti & Gary - 1st Choice Realty
Precious Cargo Diving
Professional Gardening Services
Perry & Sally Rogers, Real Estate Inc.
ReMax Foothills at Lake Keowee
South Carolina Bank and Trust
Southern Heritage Nursery
Spencer & Stutsman, CPAs
Strickland Marine Center
Terminix
The Tiki Hut
Trees Unlimited/Shorescapes
Upstate Insurance Agency
Upstate Pet Sitting
Winchester Enterprises/Mr. Mulch
Wine Emporium
Business Members
1st Choice Realty
Action Septic Tank Services
Airey Law Firm, Ltd. Co.
Archadeck
Blinds And Us
Blue Ridge Bank
Bob Hill Realty
Body Balance of Seneca
Carolina Boat Club
Custom Docks
Dave Stone - Edwards Jones Investments
Don Brink CPA
Dorn’s Landscape Service
English Home Builders
Financial Dynamics
For The Birds, Inc.
Goldie & Associates
Greg Sosebee & Associates
www.keoweefolks.org
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www.keoweefolks.org
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864-882-3655
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
FRIENDS OF LAKE KEOWEE SOCIETY, INC.
4065 Keowee School Road, Seneca SC 29672
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone
Student
$15/yr
Family
$35/yr
Patron
$100/yr
Sponsor
$250/yr
Benefactor $500/yr
Sustainer $1,000 or more
Occupation (past/present)
Business
e-mail address
$100/yr
Corporate $500/yr
Do your neighbors and friends belong to FOLKS? If not, please pass this newsletter along and encourage
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DUES AND DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
FOLKS is 501c (3) public service watershed organization.
www.keoweefolks.org
27
864-882-3655
FRIENDS OF LAKE KEOWEE SOCIETY, INC.
4065 Keowee School Road
Seneca SC 29672
Address Service Requested
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SENECA, SC
PERMIT NO. 70
Photo courtesy Ben Turetzky