Life on the Lakes

Greetings from Entergy Hydro Operations.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am Henry Jones, Manager of Hydro Operations. I recently took over for Doug Sikes, who retired after over 30 years of service. I have been in the Hot Springs/Malvern area for the past five years working to secure the new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydro license for Remmel and Carpenter Dams, and I have come to really appreciate the people here and all that this area has to offer. I look forward to many years in this position.

You will notice that this issue of Life on the Lakes is larger than usual. We have a lot to tell you about. You’ll find information on drawdown dates, buoy regulations, artifact looting, and hypothermia. Included is an insert that gives information about the upcoming Trash Bash. I do hope you will find time to participate in the Trash Bash, the public shoreline cleanup scheduled for September 6th.

Also in this issue you’ll learn that we have overhauled our Shoreline Permit Program. This change was needed because of a new requirement from FERC that we implement a Shoreline Management Plan. This plan was developed in cooperation with local citizens and resource agencies. In addition, there is a new requirement for review by the State Historic Preservation Office and the Caddo and Quapaw Indian Tribes any time there is an activity being proposed that involves ground disturbance. We have worked hard to simplify the implementation of these new requirements in our permitting process. To obtain a copy of the Shoreline Management Plan or the new Shoreline Permit Program, you may contact our office at 501-844-2148.

I also want to use this issue of Life on the Lakes to introduce you to my staff. Many of you have already met or talked on the phone to some of them. If you call Hydro Operation’s telephone number you will probably hear Patsy McKnight’s voice. She is able to help answer most of your general questions concerning the permitting process. Bobby Pharr is our Lakes & Property Coordinator. He has responsibility for the overall management of Project lands and shoreline to meet our FERC license requirements.

Ted Smethers assists in shoreline and lake issues when time allows after his emergency planning, license compliance and generation planning functions. Together Patsy, Bobby and Ted have over 36 years experience in Hydro and are a very competent team available to assist you as you utilize our lakes resource.

May you continue to enjoy your life on the lakes.

W. Henry Jones, Manager, Hydro Operations

New Shoreline Management Plan for Lakes Hamilton & Catherine

You may have heard that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued Entergy a new license last December to operate Carpenter and Remmel Dams and manage the shorelines of the lakes those dams create, Lakes Catherine and Hamilton (also known as FERC Project 271). The terms of the new license went into effect in March, and they require Entergy to maintain and, in some cases, increase the amount of oversight it exercises over how the shorelines of the lakes are managed. Specifically, Entergy was required to develop a detailed Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). An SMP is a comprehensive plan to manage the multiple resources and uses of a project’s shorelines in a manner that is consistent with the purposes of protecting and enhancing the scenic, recreational, and other environmental values of the project, as required by the license.

To determine the appropriate levels

of oversight for different areas of the lakes, Entergy’s approved SMP for Lakes Hamilton & Catherine identifies three Shoreline Management Classification designations: General Use, Limited Use and Resource Management. Designations recognize varying current uses and environmental sensitivities. Each Shoreline Management Classification specifies what types of facilities or activities may or may not be allowed along a particular shoreline segment.

If you are interested in additional information on Lakes Hamilton & Catherine Shoreline Management Plan, please contact Hydro Operations by telephone at 501- 844- 2148 or by email at bpharr@entergy.com.

Entergy’s Permit Authority

Under the terms of the new FERC license, Entergy only has authority to issue  permits for certain private shoreline facilities and activities for use by single-family dwellings that can accommodate no more than 10 watercrafts. Requests for private facilities that are to accommodate more than 10 watercrafts and/or to be used by multifamily dwellings or commercial operations will require not only Entergy approval, but also additional regulatory review and approval from FERC.

Entergy may issue conditional permits allowing adjoining lakefront property owners to construct private facilities on Entergy’s shoreline lands and waters. This is a privilege granted by Entergy. In exchange for this privilege, adjoining lakefront property owners must comply with all permit conditions, Entergy’s regulations, specifications and requirements, as well as all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.

What Requires a Permit?

All shoreline facilities, structures and ground disturbing activities on Entergy’s Project 271 lands or water require a permit from Entergy prior to installation or placement. Some of the most common types of facilities, structures and activities that require a permit include:

Boat Docks • Piers • Landings • PWC Ramps/Docks • Decks • Walkways    

Boardwalks • Bridges • Inflatable Platforms • Steps • Mooring Buoys

Boat Lifts (when outside the slip) • Seawalls • Riprap • Fill/Dredge

Excavation • Roads • Regulatory Buoys • Heat/Air Exchange Piping

Waterlines • Utility Facilities • Water Withdrawal

Permit Program Revised

To meet the requirements of the new FERC license, Entergy has made several changes to its general requirements and specifications for private facilities along the shorelines of Lakes Hamilton and Catherine, including the following:

New Facilities:

Applications for seawalls, boat ramps, dredging and excavation must be submitted to Entergy by October 1 if the proposed construction activity is to be performed during the following winter’s drawdown.

Riprap is required up against and in front of the entire length of all new seawalls, up to just below the water surface.

The maximum height of new seawalls is three feet above the surface of the lake.

Only stationary/pile docks are allowed in water depths of 7 feet or less.\

Boat docks are not intended to accommodate off-lake lots.

Storage lockers are allowed, as long as no more than 25 square feet of the dock’s deck is occupied by the locker.

Floating docks using pipe stem anchoring systems must have a bolt or similar

device installed to prevent the pipe from being able to slide out through the pipe stem’s sleeve. Pipe stems are not to extend more than 15 feet above the surface of normal water level.

Roofs are not to extend more than 15 feet above the surface of the normal water level and are allowed only over the slip portion of a dock and the fingers directly associated with the slip.

New and Existing Facilities:

Boat lifts and PWC ramps/docks along the outside of a dock require permits.

Placement of signs or advertising, other than permit tags provided by Entergy or required address lettering, is not allowed.

To learn more about Entergy’s requirements and specification for private facilities, visit our web site at www.entergy.com/hydro or call us at 501-844-2148.

Annual Winter Drawdown Schedule Set for Lakes Hamilton & Catherine

This winter Lake Hamilton will be lowered by nine feet beginning November 3. Lake Catherine will be lowered five feet beginning November 17.

Entergy will lower Lake Hamilton’s level in two phases to assist dock owners/contractors in temporarily relocating docks to the lower water level. The first phase will begin November 3 and end November 9, lowering the lake’s level 4-1/2 feet. Lake Hamilton will remain at this level until November 17 when the second phase will begin. The second phase will lower the lake the final 4-1/2 feet and should be completed on November 23.

Lake Catherine’s drawdown will be five feet and will begin November 17. It should take about seven days for Lake Catherine to drop five feet.

Preparing for the Drawdown

Dock owners should take the necessary precautions to ensure that their docks are able to adjust to changes in water levels. Failure to do so can cause damage to docks and boats.

Things to keep in mind if you’re a dock owner:

Is your dock in good condition?

Will your boat or motor be damaged by contact with the lake bottom?

Can your dock follow the rapid rise/fall of the lake without being damaged or losing its floatation?

Will your anchorage system adequately hold your dock in a high-flow situation?

Are you properly monitoring your dock during changes in water levels?

Drawdown Schedule

Lake Hamilton 

Start Phase 1 November 3, 2003

End Phase 1 November 9, 2003

Stable November 10 - 16

Start Phase 2 November 17, 2003

End Phase 2 November 23, 2003

Lake Catherine 

Start

November 17, 2003

End November 23, 2003

Refill Schedule

Lake Hamilton 

Start Phase 1 February 23, 2004

End Phase 1 February 29, 2004

Stable March 1 - 7, 2004

Start Phase 2 March 8, 2004

End Phase 2 March 14, 2004

Lake Catherine 

Start

March 8, 2004

End March 14, 2004

If the shoreline is steep or rocky in your area, you may wish to temporarily move your dock to deeper water. If you relocate your dock, be sure that it does not restrict navigation or become a boating hazard. Entergy will not require a permit for the temporary relocation of docks due to the drawdown, but the dock must be returned to its permitted location once the lake returns to its summertime level. Entergy also recommends that you use a licensed electrician to make any alterations to your wiring in conjunction with the drawdown.

Do not let reduced boating traffic on the lakes during the fall and winter months give you a false feeling of security. Fall and winter boating presents its own hazards. Changes in the lake levels are normal, but winter drawdowns expose shallow areas, debris and other hazards not normally seen. Boaters should be extra cautious while on the lakes during the drawdown period.

Hypothermia, the Silent Killer

With winter weather ahead, Entergy is warning boaters that cold water can kill and that many drowning deaths are caused by hypothermia. Cold water robs the body of heat 25-30 times faster than air. When someone falls overboard, their core temperature begins to drop within 10-15 minutes. And the water doesn’t have to be icy - it just has to be colder than you are to cause hypothermia.

Wearing a life jacket adds to survival time in the water, not only by minimizing motion needed to keep afloat, but also by helping insulate the body. The more energy someone spends after going overboard, the more quickly his or her body temperature drops. Boaters should pay extra attention to dressing warmly on cold days since wind can also rob you of heat. If you suddenly find yourself in the water, don’t panic as flailing around will only cause your body to lose heat more quickly. Boaters need to protect the head, neck, side of the chest and groin, those body "hot spots" that lose heat most quickly.

REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:

• Don’t take off your clothes. Instead, button, buckle, zip and tighten collars, cuffs, shoes and hoods. If possible, cover your head - in cold water about half of heat loss comes from the head.

• Devote all your efforts to getting out of the water. Act quickly before you lose full use of your hands, arms and legs. Board a boat, raft, or anything floating. Most boats will support you even when full of water. If you can’t right the boat, climb on top of it.

• Don’t try to swim, unless it is to reach a nearby boat, another person or a floating object you can climb or lean on. Even if it’s painful, remain as still as possible. Intense shivering and pain in cold water are natural body reflexes. These will not kill you, but heat loss will.

Are you Planning to Build a Seawall or Boat Ramp?

Looking at Dredging or Excavating Along the

Shoreline this Drawdown?

Additional regulatory review is required for all proposals requiring cutting and active disturbance of the lakebed or bank/shoreline areas (e.g. dredging, seawalls, boat ramps, excavation). Before issuing a permit for such activities, Entergy is required to provide the application to the Arkansas State Historical Preservation Office and the Caddo and Quapaw Indian Tribes for a 30-day review period. This additional review is to assure that any archeological sites and Historical Properties inside the Project Boundary of Lakes Hamilton & Catherine are afforded reasonable protection, as required by the National Historic Preservation Act.

October 1 Application Deadline:

All applications for bank stabilization, dredging, excavation, boat ramps or other requests that require cutting and active disturbance of the lakebed or shoreline, require a 90-day processing period and must be submitted to Entergy by October 1 if the proposed construction activity is to be performed during this winter’s drawdown. Because of this process change, we may not be able to accommodate late permit requests.

Federal and State Laws Prohibit the Removal of Artifacts from Entergy’s Project Lands

The Hot Springs/Malvern area is rich in cultural history, and the new license from the FERC assigns Entergy a role in preserving that history for the benefit of future generations.

Much of our heritage involves the Americans who lived here before the first Europeans arrived. Both the Caddo and Quapaw Indians lived along the Ouachita River. In fact, archeological findings provide evidence that Indian tribes from other parts of the country came to visit this section of Arkansas.

Entergy’s new license from FERC assigns responsibilities to Entergy for protecting historical properties, including archeological sites, within the project boundary. As a response to this license’s requirement, Entergy must prohibit the collecting, digging and removal of artifacts from the lake bed or shoreline of Lakes Hamilton and Catherine.

There are both state and federal laws prohibiting the collection of artifacts from within the boundaries of the project. If you see anyone looting artifacts from Entergy’s lake bed or shoreline lands, please call Entergy Hydro Operations at 501-844-2148, so that we can contact the applicable law enforcement agency.

Regulatory Buoys

Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the unauthorized placement of “5 mph” and “no wake” buoys on Lake Hamilton. In response, the Garland County Quorum Court passed Ordinance No. 0-03-23 on August 11, 2003 transferring from the Sheriff’s Office to Entergy the authority to issue permits for the placement of buoys on Lake Hamilton and the Garland County portions of Lake Catherine. Buoy enforcement will remain the responsibility of the Garland County Sheriff’s Office. This new ordinance specifies the qualifications for the permitting of both existing buoys and future buoys. Future buoy locations will be restricted to only commercial establishments, public launching ramps and public swimming areas. There will be no future permitting of buoys adjacent to residential shoreline.

In May of this year Entergy and the Garland County Sheriff’s Office mapped all existing buoys on Lake Hamilton. Only 23 of the approximately 100 buoys mapped were found to be properly permitted. All unpermitted buoys, placed prior to June of this year, are being reviewed for possible grandfathering (meaning they will be allowed to stay in place). Except for those approved for grandfathering, only buoys that are of a U. S. Coast Guard approved type and in locations that meet the original guidelines set up by Garland County Sheriff’s Office in 1995 will be allowed to remain. All others will be required to be removed from the lake. Individuals claiming ownership of buoys on Lake Hamilton can call Entergy at 501-844-2148 to find out if their buoy will be grandfathered and to obtain a buoy permit application. All owners of buoys will have until November 15 of this year to either remove their buoy or apply to Entergy for a buoy permit. Unpermitted buoys will be removed by the Garland County Sheriff’s Department. This applies to all buoys, whether they had been previously permitted or not. Please be aware that the ordinance places a $200 fine per buoy on the installation of an unapproved or unpermitted buoy. Also, any buoy that is permitted must stay in the location they were approved for. Those that are allowed to drift elsewhere are subject to being removed.

Trash Bash 2003

Public Shoreline Clean-Up

for

Lakes Hamilton & Catherine

Mark your calendar for September 6, 2003 and join us in a public cleanup day for Lakes Hamilton and Catherine and the Ouachita River below Remmel Dam. This event is coordinated by “Trash Bash Council, Inc.”. Members of the Council include: Entergy, Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Malvern Chamber of Commerce, Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission, Garland County Sanitation, Hot Spring County Sanitation, City of Hot Springs Sanitation, City of Hot Springs Parks Department, Lake Catherine State Park, and the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

This event will consist of a three-hour public clean-up effort (8 – 11 a.m.) of the shorelines of both Lakes Catherine and Hamilton. The clean-up event will be followed by an appreciation/award luncheon (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery on Fish Hatchery Road off State Highway 290. The appreciation luncheon for all registered participants in the clean-up will be provided by “Backyard Burgers of Hot Springs” and will include food and drinks, awards, prize drawings, live entertainment and environmental education booths. You are encouraged to bring the whole family and lawn chairs/blankets. 

LUNCH PROVIDED BY:

&

Southbridge Condominiums

There will be five check-in stations on Lake Hamilton and five check-in stations on Lake Catherine where participants will register, obtain bags and dispose of the trash collected. Since the lake will not be in a drawn down during this time, participation in a boat is preferred. You should wear a life jacket and bring some type of tool to reach out from your boat to retrieve trash along the shore (i.e. fish net, rake or hoe). For those without boats, there will be areas at Lake Catherine State Park, Carpenter Dam Park, Hill Wheatley Park and Remmel Dam Park for walkers to clean up.

For more information you can call Rosemary Darrow with the Malvern Chamber of Commerce at 332- 721, Julie Dickson with the Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission at 623-7871 or Bobby Pharr with Entergy at 620- 5674.

Trash Bash Check-In Stations

Ouachita River

Ouachita River at the new Hot Spring County Park at Rockport

Lake Catherine

Lake Catherine State Park Boat Ramp

Remmel Dam Park

Diamondhead Marina

Lake Catherine Shoe Factory Boat Ramp

Carpenter Dam Park

Lake Hamilton

Sunnybrook Landing

Hulsey Fish Hatchery Boat Ramp

Hill Wheatley Park

7 South Causeway

Jess Gideon’s Boat Ramp

(Treasure Isle Rd. & 270 W. Bridge)

4-Wheeling in the Lake

Most lakefront property owners are familiar with Entergy’s winter drawdown. These annual drawdowns sometimes expose the lake bed to undesirable activities such as driving 4-wheelers on Entergy’s land usually covered by water.

Riding and driving vehicles causes damages to the lake bed and increases erosion. Entergy strongly discourages the riding of 4-wheelers or other vehicles on the lake bed during the winter drawdown. If you see such activities, please report it to Entergy’s Hydro Operations at 501-844-2148.

Before you Buy, Improve

or Build on Land around

Lakes Hamilton or

Catherine:

√ Check the title to determine Entergy’s

ownership and easement rights.

√ Check Entergy’s Shoreline Management Plan to determine what shoreline facilities may be allowed along Entergy’s shoreline next to your property.

√ Check to see if all existing shoreline facilities have been permitted by Entergy.

√ Obtain a permit from Entergy before doing any work that may disturb the shoreline or lake bed, including clearing of brush and trees on the shoreline.

√ Install silt screens along the shoreline before clearing vegetation on your property to prevent silt going into the lake. Do you know of lakefront

property owners who are not

receiving this publication?

Send their names and addresses

to:

Entergy Hydro Operations

Editor

Bobby N. Pharr

bpharr@entergy.com

Ted Smethers

tsmethe@entergy.com

141 W. County Line Road

Malvern, Arkansas 72104

Hydro Information

www.entergy.com/hydro

501-620-5760