POWERSOUTH URGES SAFETY AROUND THE LAKE THIS SUMMER

---

ANDALUSIA, ALA. – PowerSouth Energy Cooperative reminds you to take care while enjoying Gantt and Point A lakes this summer.

Every year, injuries and fatalities occur due to water-related accidents, so it’s important to guard yourself and your family against conditions and situations that could be dangerous. A spot that looks calm and safe one moment can become dangerous within a few seconds as water levels and flows change, often without warning. Calm waters could change quickly into one with rapidly moving, dangerous waters.

Perhaps the simplest practice to prevent injury is to be mindful of your surroundings –the weather, water vessels and other lake-goers – when in or near the water.

“Boating and recreational sports is a popular activity on our local lakes, but it can also be a dangerous one,” said Mark Ingram, PowerSouth Communication Manager. “Nationwide, nearly 1,000 people die in boating accidents every year. We want everyone to enjoy the lakes this summer while being safe at the same time.”

PowerSouth operates two hydroelectric dams and stations on Point A and Gantt Lakes and encourages the public to keep these tips in mind when enjoying the lakes:

• Boaters, swimmers and fishermen alike should remember to pay careful attention to a dam should one be nearby.
• Be sure to be acquainted with and pay close attention to the warning signs, buoys and horns near dams. Sirens are activated one minute before the flow of water is increased at both Point A and Gantt lakes. Swimmers, boaters and fishermen are advised to get out of the water and away from the river as quickly as possible upon hearing the sirens.
• Never anchor a boat below a dam, and be sure to leave the vessel’s engine on when passing by a dam.
• Swimmers and fishermen should be cautious of getting too close to a dam as water levels can change rapidly.

“Everyone should respect the posted signs near the dams and be alert,” Ingram said. “A loud horn indicates that the hydro units are being activated to produce electricity, and you should quickly leave the area.”

Following the laws

“PowerSouth relies on the Game and Fish Division and Marine laws to govern and enforce all rules and regulations applicable to boating and safety and, most importantly, we rely on the public to adhere to these laws,” said Abb Riley, PowerSouth’s Senior Real Estate Specialist.

By law, children under the age of 12 should always wear a life jacket while in a boat. Boaters should also keep in mind that the direction of lake travel is counter-clockwise, and the speed limit for open zones in most lakes is somewhere around 35 mph.

Another important boating law is that you must be at least 16 years old and possess a boater’s license to legally operate a vessel of any kind in Alabama. Boat operators should also be wary of drinking alcohol and having it on board; it’s possible to receive a DUI while boating.

Keeping the lakes beautiful

PowerSouth would also like to remind lake-goers to preserve the beauty of the facilities when enjoying the outdoors.

“PowerSouth has the civic responsibility of making sure that our facilities are well maintained,” said Riley. “Our lakes are used by the public on a daily basis, and Point A dam is frequented by fishermen. We want to maintain the image of being responsible and to offer the public a safe, clean place to relax and enjoy.”

Fishing line recycling receptacles at the Point A recreation area boat launch and the Gantt lake boat launch on Highway 29 N, allow fishermen to recycle used fishing line. Receptacles are emptied monthly, and all nylon monofilament line is mailed to Berkley Recycling for use in creating artificial underwater habitat structures.

“We learned about the fishing line recycling program several years ago and decided to put out receptacles around the lakes. We return the used fishing line to the manufacturer, who recycles it,” said Keith Stephens, PowerSouth Manager of Environmental Services. “Recycling the line helps keep the lake clean and may help avoid environmental impacts to wildlife. We encourage everyone to put their used fishing line in the receptacles.”

FOR MORE LAKE INFORMATION, INCLUDING RIVER LEVELS, VISIT WWW.POWERSOUTH.COM AND CLICK “LAKE INFORMATION” UNDER THE “ABOUT US” TAB.

– end –

About PowerSouth:

PowerSouth serves the wholesale energy needs of 16 electric cooperatives and four municipal electric systems in Alabama and northwest Florida, with more than a million consumers in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida counties. PowerSouth is dedicated to providing reliable energy at the lowest possible cost to its members.

For more information:

Mark Ingram, Corporate Communication Manager

334.427.3330

mark.ingram@powersouth.com

www.powersouth.com

PowerSouth is an EEO and AAP employer

<< Back to all News Releases