Local businesses cope with drought
By DONNA HINSON

This hazard marker, set in place by the Army Corps of Engineers on Clark's Hill Lake during full pool levels of 326-330 feet, is normally submerged up to the sign atop the pole. Boaters cannot know where the hazards are at the lake's current level of 319 feet because the hazard markers have not been set for the current drought.

As Georgia's rainfall deficit hovers around 13 inches and the water level at Clark'ss Hill Lake sits 11 feet lower than full pool, Lincoln County businesses that rely heavily on lake activity are feeling a pinch in the pocketbook.

"It's definitely affected us," says Jeremy Dawkins, owner of Lincolnton Marine. "For the last quarter of this year, we're off 50 percent due to lake levels and the media hype about them." However, Dawkins admits that some of the decreased revenue is due to the fact that his boat sales and repair business is in the process of moving to its new location on the McCormick Highway. "Some of it is self-inflicted because of less advertising and having to be closed for a few weeks," he says.

One factor hurting boat sales is that there are fewer and fewer usable boat ramps as the lake level drops. "If the lake is full, there are a ton of ramps. Right now, there are fewer than 10. If it (the lake level) goes down to 315, there won't be any," says Dawkins. And in Lincoln County alone, the boat ramp situation is even worse. "Right now, Lincoln County is not set up for boat ramps during drought. The only one I know of is at Soap Creek Marina, and that's only because Toye Hill poured that one out as far as it would go during a previous drought." However, according to Dawkins, there is still plenty of water at Clark's Hill Lake that is usable for recreation, but the Army Corps of Engineers has only marked the lake for hazardous areas when the lake is at full pool, or 330 feet. Dawkins says that if the Corps would put out markers for drought stages, people would still be willing to use the lake for recreation. "That hurts our business. There are still 45,000 acres of usable water. I know plenty of lake communities that stay busy with only 25,000 acres."

Still, Dawkins, who has spent 15 years either working with boats or building docks, is far from panic. He, like many longtime lake residents, has seen the lake levels rise and fall several times over the years. That explains why he decided to go ahead with his move and expansion to his sales and repair business. "It doesn't bother me. This is going to come back eventually. It always does. People tell me they can't believe I'm building this new location, but I'm not worried," says Dawkins, who also says that he is relying on God to ease the drought. "November and December are normally dry months. But if He wants to, God can make those wet months."

Rocky Branch Golf Course General Manager Al Holloway says that the decreased number of vacationers at the lake cut his summer business by about 10 percent this year. "People who would usually come and stay for a week and play some golf didn't come because they couldn't get their boats in," says Holloway.

Those who did golf this summer played on irrigated turf. The golf course has managed to stay green because of almost 10 inches of rain that fell last June in the southern part of Lincoln County. "It filled all six of my ponds. We've been able to water aggressively," says Holloway. The golf course has its own irrigation system, drawing water from the ponds. But now, Holloway says, he has almost used all the water that rain provided. "We just went out and measured. I've got one more week of water, then I'm at my end."

But Holloway, who has managed the golf course since it was built in 1996 is also sure that the needed rain will come. Rocky Branch routinely cuts way back on watering from November through February and will continue that pattern this year. "I do believe that next April when we need the rain again, we'll get full again. I've been here all my life," says Holloway.

Carole Radford, a realtor for Turner Realtor in Lincolnton is in agreement with Dawkins and Holloway in believing that the lake levels will rise. Radford tells the story of the ribbon-cutting at Savannah Lakes Village in the early 1990's. A young reporter asked builder John Cooper what he thought would happen with that year's drought. Radford saw Cooper put his hand on the young man's shoulder and say, "Son, I think it's going to rain." According to Radford it did begin to rain shortly thereafter. "And the lake was back to full pool in three weeks," she laughs. "You just have to have faith that the lake is going to come back up. And then it will go back down. It's just the way it works," she adds.

Radford and fellow realtor Clay Turner say that their business has actually been brisk recently, but with sales of in-town homes instead of lakefront property. Those sales are down because of the hype surrounding the drought, and not any problem with the properties. "This is actually the best time to buy lake property," says Turner "because you can see what you're getting. If you go out to see the properties when the lake is full, you have to feel around with poles to check for stumps and other hazards."

The panic surrounding falling lake levels exists mainly among outsiders coming in to look at property. If they're not familiar with natural cycles, they hear stories of the drought and see the increased shoreline and get scared. According to Turner, "People need to learn to understand the lake levels and respect them. Locals and people who have vacationed or camped here do not lose faith and sales to them are steady."

One positive effect for potential buyers is that the slow sales are bringing inflated prices down to fair prices. Turner says that the developers at the new Eagle Pointe subdivision had strong initial sales and made back their investment. Now, they are still holding approximately 20 lots and have been willing to cut prices down to market value. "They want to free up their cash and move on to the next project," says Turner. Other sellers who cannot afford to drop their asking prices have decided to take their property off the market and wait for the lake to rise.

Not every business can take the drought conditions in stride. Chuck Beggs, who has owned Lincolnton Feed and Seed for eight years, is one example. "Business has definitely been off compared to previous years," he says. Customers, including farmers and businesses are hesitant to buy grass seed, sod and fertilizer.

Lincoln County farmers and cattle owners have had a most difficult year. Many are struggling to feed their cattle as they have had to feed their animals hay that would normally be stored for the winter, and they cannot plant new grass that will not get enough water.

As the drought continues, Lincoln County residents will be asked to conserve water more and more. Already, there is no outdoor watering allowed for landscaping or car washing.

In upcoming weeks, the Lincoln Journal will examine how residents are coping and what officials are doing to address the situation.

(Editor's note: The preceding article is the first in a series on the lowering lake levels at Clark's Hill Lake. Subsequent articles will examine the concerns of Lincoln County farmers and steps the federal, state and local officials are taking to address the situation.)