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The Corps of Engineers' George W. Andrews Lock & Dam
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This dam is located near Columbia, AL. A non-power dam, its purpose is
to maintain channel depth between the Woodruff and George impoundments,
and since the whole idea is to maintain navigation, it has a lock
measuring 82 feet wide by 450 long. The lift is 25 feet between normal
pool levels.
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The dam has both gated and uncontrolled spillways: the gated section has
four 60 foot wide by 19 foot high Tainter gates.
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The reservoir is the smallest of the lower 'hooch lakes: 1,540 acres at
normal pool of 102 feet MSL. That elevation is also the crest of the
uncontrolled spillway, so there is no real flood storage.
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It seems a waste to us to have a dam like this without a power house of
some kind. Apparently, the city of Dothan, AL, and the MEAG (Municipal
Electric Authority of Georgia) had received a license from the FERC to
construct a 24 Megawatt plant here, but surrendered the license in 1990
after they decided the project was not economically feasible. Then
several other entities decided to take a shot at it, and finally the
license was transferred... then transferred again. At this point we're not
sure what the status is or who has the license, but we were just there
(May 2006) and we didn't see a power plant... or even the beginnings of
one. Oh, well...
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What do you reckon is at the end of "Nuclear Plant Road"? Oh...
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We were following the 'hooch back up through LA (lower Alabama...) on a
trip back from Destin (boy, is THAT place over-rated... but thats
another story). As we approached where we thought Andrews Dam should be, we
were saying, "You know, Farley should be around here
somewhere". No sooner spoken than a fence appears, posted with
"Patrolled by Armed Security" signs all over it... we figured
that must be the place!
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Farley is one of three Southern Company Nuke plants... we'll dig up some
specs on it later.
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At a day use area where we got the pictures of Andrews from the west
side, you are warned that if you hear a warning siren... kiss your behind
goodbye! Actually it said the guv'ment would be along to help. FEMA,
maybe?? Rots o' ruck!!
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More nuclear power paranoia silliness...
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