John Coley's (lakemartinvoice) Blog

Lake Martin scored a major victory when FERC approved Alabama Power's plan to raise the winter water level to 483, effective this year.Alabama Power has also requested to move up the date to fill the Lake Martin to summer level up to January 15, 2008.  THIS IS ALL GOOD NEWS.Lake Martin's winter w...

Do you have a a cabin on Lake Martin with no little or no closet space?  Why not buy a nice armoire for $50?Lots of the waterfront homes around Lake Martin were built in the 1960s, so that means no storage.  The owners can fix them up or keep them rustic, but lack of closets can be a hassle.  In ...

Lake Martin Magazine interviewed me a couple of weeks ago about the effect of the drought on the Lake Martin real estate market, and general trends affecting buyers, sellers, and realtors. They included it in an article called "Special Report: The Water Issue" in the November 2007 issue. I though...

The recent drought on Lake Martin has threatened to lower the water level below the intake valves of Elmore County. They are extending the intakes to deeper water.  This video was made on 10–26–2007 at the County’s intake station, which is on the Little Kowaliga branch of Lake Martin.  To get the...

The drought this year has threatened to lower the level of Lake Martin to below where the intake valves for the water works of the City of Alex City are located. The City has had to extend their intake valves to deeper water.  This video was filmed 10–26–2007 on the Tallapoosa River just above Ri...

Lake Martin HOBOs President Jesse Cunningham announces that Alabama Power is taking a major step by requesting to hold more water in the lake during the next few winters.  Cunningham reports in an email, "I received word on Friday from Charles Stover with Alabama Power that they have just filed a...

The winners of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics, are advising buyers to act now on Lake Martin.OK, OK, maybe Leonid Hurwicz, Eric Maskin, and Roger Myerson haven't come right out and literally said that, but a quick review of their work should tell you that they would advise it.  Their work laid...

The historically harsh drought that has hit Lake Martin in 2007 has been highlighted by The Weather Channel Network.  They sent reporter Julie Martin (no relation) to shoot a video spot that aired last night.   Click here for the video.  If for some reason it doesn't auto play after the commercia...

If you own Lake Martin waterfront property that is in Elmore County, chances are that your assessment (and therefore property taxes) went up this year.  I have heard lots of anguish from taxpayers that were shocked by their increase this year.  I don't know that those in Elmore County are any wor...

Real Island Marina - one of Lake Martin's older full service marinas - is located in Elmore County on the southwest side of the lake.  It's close to Lake Martin landmarks such as Kowaliga Marina, Kowaliga Bridge, Willow Point, Parker Creek, and Sand Island.  The Real Island / Little Kowaliga area...