Neely Henry Lake Association Meeting

Members of Alabama Power Company’s Environmental Affairs Department will be the featured speakers at the May 5th NHLA meeting.  The primary topic of their discussion will involve the potential benefits to the Neely Henry Lake fishery of an expanded and improved fish habitat enhancement 
program.  Alabama Power Company personnel have the experience and expertise to work with the Neely Henry Lake Association and other community volunteers (fishing organizations, recreational anglers etc.) with the goal of developing an expanded/improved fish habitat enhancement program that could improve the fishery on Neely Henry Lake.  Methods and techniques to accomplish this goal will be discussed at the May 5th meeting.

 Habitat enhancement has been utilized on many “aging” reservoirs throughout the United States and, if these programs are conducted in the proper manner, have proven to be successful.  Neely Henry Lake was impounded in 1966 and after 50 years most of the woody structure that was covered when the lake was impounded is now gone.  The “original” structure provided cover, a spawning habitat for various species of fish and an attachment surface for nutrients that were utilized in the food chain.  Of course, this helped provide conditions for fish to thrive and grow in Neely Henry Lake.  Although the Neely Henry Lake Association has worked with Alabama Power Company for many years placing fish habitat in the reservoir, it is probable that the fishery on Neely Henry Lake would be improved with an expanded/improved fish habitat enhancement program.   

It is also very important to recognize that improved fish habitat in a reservoir involves promoting the growth of beneficial aquatic plants and recognizing detrimental plant species (invasive plants etc.) that can be damaging to the aquatic ecosystem.  This will also be a subject of discussion by Alabama Power Environmental Affairs personnel at the May 5th meeting.

The public is invited to attend this meeting.

Meeting details are as follows:  Date:  Thursday, May 5th -- Time: 6:30PM -- Location:  Rainbow City Community Center, 3702 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City Al 35906 (Adjacent to the Rainbow City Library)

There will be refreshments and door prizes.