LMA has been working diligently to get the multi-slip docks stopped on Lake Murray. These docks are a result of funnel development which means a builder has little property on the shoreline of the lake but builds back from the lake, thus the term funnel development. He and then puts a multi-slip dock in to give lake access to the properties off of the lake. LMA believes that the fuel and oil, etc. from these marinas cause far more problems than the 1 dock per 100 ft that SCE&G allows the individual home owner who lives on the lake. We do not believe these marinas should be allowed. In an effort to assess the problem SCE&G has just released the following information:

For more information please read attached files

1- Moratorium Press Release

2- Multi-Use Dock Moratorium

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From the Lake Murray News, February 16, 2006, pg. 17, by Ed Schnepel, Director LMA.

On January 12, 2006 the Lake Murray Association and DHEC met in what was described as an open, friendly, and helpful meeting. The meeting focused on a new water quality-monitoring plan for Lake Murray proposed by the Lake Murray Association. Lee Barber, LMA president and Roy Parker, LMA environmental committee chairman communicated to a committee of seven DHEC participants the Association’s concern about negative impacts on water quality. These negative impacts are caused by the increasing population around the lake and especially plans for several multi-unit housing developments with accompanying marinas and docks.

LMA stated the purpose for the monitoring program was to:

· Focus monitoring on coves for fecal coliform and elevated

phosphorus levels.

· Detect water quality problems and alert DHEC to LMA findings

· Identify water quality trends.

· Do comparative monitoring. Select a standard or reference

cove with low development impact and compare water

quality there to water quality in coves with high population

density and/or to coves having marinas.

David Chestnut, senior scientist, Bureau of Water, and DHEC participant suggested water turbidity tests and Secchi depth tests for water clarity could be very helpful in monitoring water quality. During the summer months LMA may also consider conducting chlorophyll (a) tests.

A joint in-depth discussion was conducted dealing with analyzing water samples for fecal coliform and total phosphorus. Items covered in the discussion ranged from training on proper sampling and chain of custody requirements of the certified laboratory in Columbia, which the LMA has contacted to analyze the samples to the best way to get the water quality program recognized. DHEC was quick to point out that the LMA’s sampling would have value especially if problem areas were identified which DHEC could then further investigate and sample.

The LMA feels the meeting was very helpful with a healthy exchange of information. Further, there was a strong show of support by DHEC for the LMA focus on monitoring water quality in coves which they feel could be supplemental to their efforts on Lake Murray.

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Lake Murray News Feb 23, 2006. Ed Schnepel, LMA Director

On Monday February 13^th the Lake Murray Association Board of Directors met to discuss a broad array of subjects. Tom Ruple reported they have gotten back roughly 1,500 of the 3,000 Lake Murray user surveys that were printed up. The data are still being compiled and will be finalized shortly. This has been a good response. The information gained will be useful for all aspects of Lake Murray management including dam relicensing committees and lake level management.

Dave Landis reported the boat show was very successful. LMA volunteers spoke to approximately 600 people and collected over 200 lake user surveys. They sold Lake Murray merchandise and signed up new members.

President Lee Barber discussed plans for the upcoming Saluda area meeting on February 21, 2006 at the Hollywood Ruritan Club. He addressed the high quality of the speakers scheduled and the importance of the subjects to be discussed.

In probably the most important discussion of the evening Roy Parker delivered a report on the proposed Lake Murray Association lake water quality monitoring program. Roy had just returned from the Southeastern Lake Management Conference in Columbus, Georgia. His attendance at the four-day conference/workshop was approved and expenses paid by the LMA. Roy felt he gained significant insight into lake management, which will directly benefit him and his environmental committee.

Roy then reviewed the proposed water-monitoring program. Topics discussed included.

Mission statement

Goals to prove or disprove long-held water quality beliefs

Proposed start up date

Cove types to be monitored

Sampling criteria

Sampling logistics

Analytical laboratory

Number of samples

Annual cost estimates

Quality standard for fresh waters (FW)

After much discussion the Board of Directors agreed this is a first-of-its-kind program. It is a program that has not been seen or conducted in this magnitude by any other groups. Its importance, if successful, will be a primary defense of lake water quality for all lake users. A vote was taken and funding for the project was approved unanimously.

The remainder of the meeting dealt with various committee reports. One report of importance dealt with the LMA Osprey and Windsock program. Committee chair Ken Fox has written to various conservation groups from out of state and has secured plans for a fabricated steel Osprey nesting platform that has proven highly successful. He showed photos to the Board of Directors and did a cost estimate. His committee was directed to investigate use of local technical schools and state agencies in an effort to get more platforms produced a lower cost. At least two to three platforms will be built and installed this summer. These will augment the additional nesting sites already built and maintained by the LMA on the lake.

Look for the Lake Link Newsletter from the LMA in March.

Reminder – Membership fees and contributions to LMA are qualified as tax deductible by the IRS. Consult you tax advisor.

Environmental Concerns

The Lake Murray Association hosted a large crowd at its Lexington area meeting at Lexington High School on April 18, 2006. The meeting was advertised as an environmental meeting. The group heard from the Lake Murray Association environmental committee on the subjects of lakeside lawn fertilization, unrestricted water runoff, the wood duck nesting project, and the brand new LMA water-testing program.

Roy Parker, LMA environmental chairman started the discussion by pointing out that the most common problem on the lake is over-fertilization of lakeside lawns. Most store bought lawn fertilizers contain phosphorous which most local area lawns particularly centipede do not need. When the unused phosphorous runs into the water it damages the lake by depleting oxygen and feeding algae which increases growth of undesirable vegetation and hurts the desirable vegetation. Roy recommends a soil test by the extension service and then adding only those elements they identify as necessary.

The next problem identified was unrestricted water fun off into the lake. It was shown that this common occurrence was harmful in that the runoff carries soil particles with it and that reduces water clarity. The soil particles also carry hydrocarbon pollution from oil and gas on paved areas and chemicals such as phosphorous from lawn areas. In order to alleviate all of the pollution problems Roy stressed the importance of designing buffer areas along the properties that are adjacent to the lake. These buffer areas would be planted with vegetation to absorb and filter the runoff before it enters the lake water.

Richard Kidder then began a discussion of the past and future water testing programs conducted by the Lake Murray Association and its volunteers. He noted that the past program concentrated on water clarity. While this program was effective in showing problem areas mostly in the narrow up lake area the LMA saw the need for more involved testing. After showing the present DHEC and SCE&G water testing locations with lights on a Lake Murray map, Rich then discussed the new LMA program. The new program is focused on testing in cove areas off the main channel for a variety of pollutants such as fecal coliform, phosphorous, and hydrocarbon elements.

He showed how the Lake Murray Association has worked with DHEC in getting the program in place and how the testing will be completely certifiable when presented to DHEC. It was pointed out that volunteers have already ridden with the DHEC testing teams on the lake in order to better train the remaining participants. Rich finished his discussion by pointing out the expected costs of the program and the pursuit of grant money available to LMA. He also discussed the possible tax exempt (consult your tax advisor) donations and contributions to the program by groups and individuals truly concerned with the water quality of Lake Murray now and in the future.

Roy Parker then returned with a brief discussion on the LMA wood duck program. This program is attempting to bring the beautiful wood duck back to the lake by the placing of wood duck nesting boxes. These boxes may be home built by plans that can be obtained from Roy or one of a number of boxes obtained by the LMA through a grant from the Governor’s Office.

Representatives of SCE&G then addressed the group on issues of water levels and Saluda Hydro operations. Jim Landreth, SCE&G Vice President of hydro operations explained the slow refilling of the lake from 348-foot draw down for dam repair has been the result of lower than normal rainfall (six to seven inch deficit to date). He stressed that there is nothing that can be done operationally by SCE&G to raise the lake level. It is simply water from up lake areas entering the main lake that will bring back higher levels. In the good news department Jim pointed out that all repair programs on the dam have been completed and as long as the dam is not affected by any dangerous impacts no large drawdowns will be necessary for the foreseeable future.

A brief discussion of Saluda Hydro operations as far as reserve capacity and interaction with other operating plants was completed by Randy Mahan, SCE&G Special Projects, and Jim Landreth.

A question and answer period on Lake Murray Association activities followed with questions answered by LMA president Lee Barber and Executive Director Joy Downs. Efforts by the LMA and SCE&G in securing the multi-slip dock moratorium were discussed along with continuing developer pressure through political channels on this subject. LMA activities through the seven committees involved with the Dam relicensing were discussed. The importance of the quarterly meeting between SCE&G and the LMA to resolve issues was stressed.

Two LMA programs/events have been affected by the current low lake levels. The popular LMA Pontoon Tour of Homes has been cancelled for 2006. This decision was made reluctantly after a number of beautiful homes in the Timberlake area were obtained. Access to the homes by water was just not possible. The LMA will plan to resume this enjoyable event next spring. The water quality-testing program will also slip its start date until the volunteers for the sampling can get their boats in the water.

The meeting closed with an acknowledgement of all the work done by the Board of Directors of the Lake Murray Association. President Lee Barber was specifically recognized and he passed his gavel to Dave Landis, the new president. Before adjourning the meeting Dave gave special thanks to the Bistro of Lexington, Southern Patriot Lake Tours, and artist Jeffrey Day for donating door prizes.

To get more information on the topics discussed contact:

Roy Parker royparker38@earthlink.net

Richard Kidder rkidder@pbtcomm.net

www.lakemurrayassociation.org 803-749-3888

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Seismic remediation of Saluda Dam officially complete;

Maintenance work on intake valves begins Monday

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Aug. 3, 2006) – SCE&G recently receved confirmation from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that the spillway structure at the Saluda Dam on Lake Murray will not require any work to meet new earthquake safety criteria. According to a letter from FERC received by SCE&G this week, the commission agreed with the engineering analysis submitted by SCE&G that the structure would withstand the strongest predicted earthquake that could be expected to strike the region, and still function properly.

“We are pleased that FERC agreed with our assessment,” said Jim Landreth, vice president of Fossil & Hydro Generation for SCE&G. “This was the final detail in the safety enhancements made to the Saluda Dam.”

Completed in 2005, the backup dam was built to meet changes in earthquake safety criteria as directed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

On Monday, Aug. 7, SCE&G will begin moving barges next to the intake towers near the dam in preparation for routine maintenance on two of the towers. The maintenance work is unrelated to the backup dam project. The barges will be in place for about two weeks.

“Part of the project will require some increased water releases after Labor Day,” said Landreth.

Landreth said that once the maintenance project is complete, SCE&G will be conducting required dissolved oxygen testing as part of the Saluda Hydro relicensing process. “The testing will take place in mid-to-late September and will last about three or four days,” he said. “The process will require the operation of all five units at the plant at some point, but will have a minimal impact on lake levels.

“As always, our goal for maintenance work and environmental testing associated with the Saluda Hydro Plant is to have as minimal an impact as possible on our neighbors above and below the dam and to provide as much advanced notice as possible,” said Landreth. “We expect the impact on lake levels to be no more than two inches or so.”

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 613,000 customers in 24 counties in the central, southern and southwestern portions of South Carolina. The company also provides natural gas service to approximately 294,000 customers in 34 counties in the state. Information about SCE&G is available on the company’s web site at www.sceg.com.

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