CullmanTimes.com, Cullman, Alabama

Local News

August 13, 2009

Stream erosion’s effect on Smith Lake discussed at meeting

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  • Joey Hester, director of planning for the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments, speaks to the Cullman County Commission Tuesday on two plans designed to fix a stream that is eroding sediments into Smith Lake. Amanda Shavers-Davis

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By Patrick McCreless

The Cullman County Commission discussed how erosion from a local stream is negatively impacting Smith Lake and ways to fix the problem during their regular meeting Tuesday.

At the meeting, Joey Hester, director of planning for the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG), presented two possible plans to fix an erosion problem at the York Branch Stream, located on private property near Highway 278 and the 308 exit on Interstate 65.

“The original call for this came from ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management),” said Cullman County Commission Chairman James Graves.

Graves said an ADEM employee recently examined the area and determined the stream was eroding large amounts of sediments into Ryan Creek, which in turn flows into Smith Lake. He said ADEM was concerned the sediments might negatively impact the ecosystem of the lake.

The first plan, which would cost approximately $100,000, would have workers add more natural curves into the stream, thereby reducing the level of erosion.

The second plan, and the one recommended by NARCOG, would cost approximately $185,000 and require a straightening of the water channel and building structures on the banks of the stream, which would allow water to flow more easily. In addition to the higher construction costs, Hester said the plan would require the individual who owns the land around the stream to give up more property for the project.

Hester said he could probably acquire grant funding from ADEM, which would help the commission with the cost of either plan.

He noted that he had to wait to apply for funding until the property owner chooses one of the plans.

Also during the meeting, the commission approved a contract with the Loretto Volunteer Fire Department, giving the firefighters access to a barricaded area off of old Highway 69 near Smith Lake. At a previous meeting, a representative from the fire department requested access to the recently barricaded area — stating the department had been using the area to draw water from the lake and to launch their rescue boat for years.

At that time, the commissioners said they were unaware the fire department was using the area and had closed if off because people were using it as a garbage dump.

As part of the contract, the fire department will be required to maintain a gate and fence around the area and provide a key to the county commission.

Not discussed during the meeting were possible cuts to the county’s budget for the next fiscal year. At the commission’s previous meeting, Graves said that due to a slump in sales tax revenue, the budgets of all county departments might be cut by as much as 10 percent. He also said the commission would likely discuss the cuts at Tuesday’s meeting.

Graves said Tuesday that the commission was not yet ready to go over any possible cuts since they had yet to receive a proposed budget from the Probate Office and had not had a chance to look over the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office’s proposed budget.

  • Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.

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