With the expansion of Plant Vogtle and a number of other prominent Georgia Power power plants, it is easy to forget that the utility has a somewhat vast network of hydroelectric generating units – operating 16 lakes total, with much of the land and water available for recreational use. In fact, Georgia Power is the largest non-governmental provider of recreation facilities in the state.
Those hydro units produce about the same amount of electricity as one of the reactors at Vogtle, comprising another key part of the generation portfolio for Southern Company’s largest subsidiary, providing part of the power to nearly 2.5 million customers in 155 of Georgia’s counties.
Most of the major rivers in the state feature some Georgia Power impact, from Morgan Falls Hydroelectric Generating Plant on the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs to the Sinclair Dam Hydroelectric Generating Plant on the Oconee River in Eatonton. Some of these dams date back more than 100 years. Such as Tallulah Falls Dam, built in 1914 and with a generation capacity of 72,000 kilowatts – the fourth most of any of the 19 hydro units across the state.
But the lakes’ value as recreation areas for Georgians might be even greater. Overall, Georgia Power owns and manages more than 100,000 acres of land, including lakes and campgrounds – with more than 1,000 miles of shoreline for habitat and recreational use. Those lakes (technically reservoirs) range from Lake Burton and Rabun in the very northeast corner of the state, to Lake Oconee in Middle Georgia, all the way down to Lake Chehaw (also known as Lake Worth) outside Albany, with many more in between.
More than 20,000 of those acres are wildlife management areas operated by the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Even duck and deer hunting is a possibility on some of these lands, when in season.
“We invite everyone to responsibly enjoy our lakes this summer. As stewards of these beautiful spaces, we welcome thousands of visitors each year and prioritize both safety and enjoyment,” said Jennifer Winn, vice president of land at Georgia Power. “Our commitment to preserving Georgia’s natural beauty is evident in our maintenance efforts, including over 61,000 employee volunteer hours last year, and partnerships with local groups to protect the environment.”
Georgia Power hopes that visitors will be safe and use some planning before enjoying the water. They urge parents to always have a dedicated adult watching children around and in the water at all times, using life jackets as needs and, also, if at all possible, utilizing swim lessons to encourage children to learn how to swim. Even knowing how to swim may not stop a drowning but it greatly reduces the chances for sure.
