Inquirer: Vegetation causing problems for lakeside residents

Concerned Boater Denver Smith owns a really nice place on the Alabama backwaters on Lake Oliver. But he can't enjoy many of the amenities of lakeside living because of the rampant growth of vegetation in the water.

"I live on the Alabama side of Lake Oliver directly across the lake from Columbus," Smith wrote to me. "The aquatic growth in our lake has gone from troublesome to absolutely terrible the past few years.

"When this growth started initially a few years ago it was in sparse locations but now it has grown to such proportions I now can't even get any of my boats, wave runners, etc. out of my boat house for fear of plugging up the water intake of the engines.

"Georgia Power has done some insignificant spraying of some sections of the lake but the problem just continues to get worse

"Actually this is the first year I have seen the growth out in deep water areas of the lake rather than just around the shore.

"We pay premium prices for waterfront homes and if this condition is not properly addressed, this lake is going to be practically unusable for recreation in coming years."

I rode out and had a look and took some pictures, and Smith isn't exaggerating. The inlet that he and a couple of neighbors share is clogged with vegetation thick enough to choke most any kind of motor. In fact, the screw on his pontoon boat's outboard had a glob of it hanging off it.

I decided to do a little research because I've never lived on a lake and I know very little about plants other than the fact that those left in my care always die. Always.

Now because Lake Oliver is a Georgia Power impound, I started there and actually found a website called georgiapowerlakes.com. Really.

"Aquatic vegetation has many benefits to our lakes ecosystem," the website reads. "It provides food, shelter, breeding habitat for fish and wildlife, oxygenation of water, and aesthetics."

I don't think Smith and his neighbors share that enthusiasm. But they'll be glad to know that the utility company is aware of their problem and is doing what it can.

"However, some aquatic plants can interrupt enjoyment of lakes and reservoirs, particularly during the summer months," it continues. "They can prevent access to docks and even make navigating main channels of a lake very difficult."

According to the website, a Georgia Power contractor was supposed to spray Lakes Oliver and Harding three times last month, on Aug. 7-8 and Aug. 21-22 and on Aug. 28-29.

It looks like they sprayed the plants with fertilizer, but that's doubtful.

Next week, I will call my contacts with Georgia Power and find out if they have any plans to ramp up the attack on the vegetation.

If not, they could always hire me to take care of the stuff. It'd all be dead in a week.

Stay tuned.

This story was originally published September 8, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Inquirer: Vegetation causing problems for lakeside residents."