Crisp County Power Commission Dropping Lake Blackshear Water Levels

Draining Lake Blackshear

CORDELE, GA – Crisp County Power has been hard at work draining Lake Blackshear since as early as Monday morning. And, as you can see it behind me here, with more than 18 thousand cubic feet of water rushing out as they try to get ahead of what they’re calling a “High Flow event.”

Crisp County Power Commission manager, Ronnie Miller, says that after the rainfall from last weekend in the northern part of the state caused flooding there, it was decided that Crisp Power needed to be out in front of it for when that flow would make its way down south.

“We noticed Sunday that we were starting to get projections of a 24 river flow coming down, so Monday morning we decided to start lowering the lake, and make room for the high flow that’s coming this weekend,” said Ronnie Miller, Production Manager, Crisp County Power Commission.

But, it’s not just Crisp county and the Lake Blackshear community keeping an eye on the draining water, as members of Albany’s Flint Riverkeeper like Emory Collins are already seeing the impact as they monitor the situation for those south of the lake.

“The awesome power of nature, really. The power of water is an amazing force. It’s beautiful, but it can also be very dangerous,” said Emory Collins, Flint Riverkeeper.

And, Miller says they may not be done with opening the floodgates before the weekend.

Especially since this weekend could result in river heights not seen since 2015.

Above all else, members of the Crisp Power Commission and Flint Riverkeeper are saying the same thing for those living on the river… stay out of the water.

“We just want to get the information out, and let people know, so they can be prepared as they see the flow come through. And, we also ask that they stay off the lake for the next few days as the high flows come through,” said Miller.

“Be aware and prepare, and just get out of the way. Don’t risk your life over something that’s replaceable. Be safe,” said Collins.

Brian Roche reporting.

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