Ulcofauhatchee
[12] Follow Big Dam Road to lloyd Shoals dam at Jackson Lake. One of the oldest reservoirs in Georgia, construction on the Lloyd Shoals Dam began on April 29, 1908 with parts of the dam completed and operational by 1911. Constructed by the Central Georgia Power Company (now Georgia Power) to provide electricity for the city of Macon, the dam was a massive project, creating a 4,750 acre lake with 135 miles of shoreline. Return to Stark Road, and turn right. Travel about 3.5 miles and turn right on jackson lake Inn Road. Travel 2.5 miles to the turnaround at the lake. [13] In its infancy, Jackson Lake was a fairly
exclusive site and hosted many well-to-do visitors. At the end of this road is the site of the Jackson lake inn, a rather high-end lodging from the 1930s which hosted bandleader Guy Lombardo, an early motor boating enthusiast who won many championships and set several records in the fledgling sport of speedboat racing. Continue around jackson lake Inn Road the way you entered for 1.5 miles and turn right on Barnett’s Bridge Road. [14] In a little over a mile, you will cross the van Kersey Bridge over tussahaw creek, a tributary of the Ocmulgee. According to Ken Krakow’s book Georgia Place-Names, Tussahaw means either “stream of life,” or
“warrior shooting at you.” Travel about 2.7 miles and turn right on Highway 36. [15] One mile ahead, you will cross the South river as you re-enter Newton County. Prior to 1850, the South River was considered to be the Ocmulgee. Today, the Ocmulgee begins aer the South and yellow Rivers converge just south of here. [16] In about 1.3 miles, you will cross the yellow river. e Creek Indian name of the river was the Welauneehatchee. [17] Aer you cross the yellow River, in about 1.4 miles, you will pass through the
Hydroelectricity Georgia began as river country. ere are no large, natural lakes in the state. In the early 20th Century, the rising demand for power and our increasingly sophisticated technology allowed for the creation of a series of large lakes for the generation of hydroelectric power. Jackson Lake was constructed
by the Central Georgia Power Company (later Georgia Power Company) in 1908 and was the highest dam planned at that time and first to raise water 100 feet above its original surface. From the heightened elevation, water flows downhill through turbines in the dam, producing electricity.
Construction of the Lloyd Shoals Dam. Photo: Georgia Power
Hydroelectricity was, for many years, a primary source of power in the United States. It was not until 1961 that coal became the major fuel used by utility companies to generate electricity. Today, only 2% of Georgia’s energy is supplied by its 20 hydroelectric dams. ere are 14 fossil fuel plants in the state and 67% of Georgia’s power is now supplied by burning coal. Hydroelectricity is a cleaner energy source than fossil fuels, able to reuse its primary power source of water. It does not come without an ecological price, however, as the damming of rivers drastically alters the natural habitat and landscape. e creation of lakes around Georgia has provided many opportunities for sportsmen to enjoy the water for fishing or boating and there has been an obvious upward economic impact on lakefront real estate. Today, there are few rivers in Georgia whose flow has not been affected by the construction of a dam either up or downstream, though most are now proposed to supply drinking water.
Alcovy River Ramble: e Shoals
27