low water at cumberland lake

[daniel2229]

Check out http://www.conleybottom.com/2006_frames/updatePhotos.htm

The water is so low at Lake Cumberland, that the management at Conley Bottom Resort has rebuilt the launching docks. They make forms, pour cement, and push it into the water with a Cat. Then they make new forms and pour cement so that the two meet.

Necessity IS the mother of invention!

 

[Mike722]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

I would have never thought that you could push a long concrete slab without it cracking.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

I have family that lives on a point directly across from Conley Bottom, I can remember when there was no cement at all and you might meet Ned Beatty and Burt Reynolds if you weren't careful!!

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

I like the picture of them making the ripples in the concrete. I wonder how many times he fell into the concrete before he perfected that technique?

I would have thought it would have been much more complicated to put the ripples in, maybe a big piece of machinery or something. It amazing how something so simple can be so effective.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

I think the only way you can push a concrete slab without it cracking or breaking is if it has much rebar and wire mesh embedded in it. One of the pictures seemed to indicate that.

Of course, I would still frame and pour the concrete as close to its final resting place as possible.

It kind of looks like they are paving the shoreline and lake floor. Is that some sort of mega-launch ramp?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

I know of several people who poured concrete under water to secure things and make ramps at their lake front homes. It is a chemical cure so as long as you don't disturb it till it sets up you're good to go. Problem is, it's hard to get it smooth since you can't see and it's hard to move your body against the water's resistance.

We came out of a 2 year drought here this spring. Most ramps were closed. Good time to buy a boat so I did and got a good price. No problem now, we have had ample rain this year and I am enjoying my cheap boat.

Mark

 

[daniel2229]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

Kentucky is part of the extreme drought area in the Southeast. Officials think that it is possible for the lake to drop another ten feet or so.

But here is the upside to this situation. Think of all the walleyes that will love that hard bottom when the lake refills again. Just throw in some large rocks.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

I thought the low water levels were intentional to repair the dam?

 

[daniel2229]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

That is correct. But the word here in Ohio was - don't bother going to Cumberland, there isn't enough water to launch a boat. The economy is already suffering in KY, so some of the marinas decided to be proactive and do something this summer to combat a lagging tourism.

It is anybody's guess as to when the lake will come back to normal pool.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

Think positive. The glass is half full. Here, lakes were down long enough for weeds to thrive in the rich soil that had been lake bottom. When the lakes filled back up, it was as if they all were new, with all the vegitation in the shallows, but they had the seasoned fish of an old lake. Walla Utopia.

Mark

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: low water at cumberland lake

Misinformation at it's finest yet AGAIN!

Cumberland Lake is low 20 ft. due to the damage to the dam. Instead of repairing the dam to spec, which would cost 10's of millions of dollars, they decided to do a facial repair, and keep the dam permanently lowered 20 feet or so. For right now there isn't any state money earmarked for it's permanent repair so that the water can be raised the original 20 feet higher, but after this years election for Governor we hope to change that. A few businesses had to shut down their docks entirely since they didn't have the money to drop their docks or extend their ramps the length that was needed. A lot of 'Maw & Paw' type businesses suffered for the decision of our degenerate Governor.

I fish Lake Cumberland quite a lot, and the low water levels has hardly anything to do with the drought. Most impoundments in Kentucky haven't suffered by the drought conditions, and have only lost maybe a couple of feet below summer pool.

As for the concrete being poured underwater ....
Concrete, under the right formulation, sets up best underwater for these types of applications. A few years ago I was on a Habitat for Humanity tour outside Mexico City, Mexico. We had some very highly ranked engineers working with us on these projects, and we learned to flood foundations after we poured them, so that they would set up faster and more firmly than under the normal high heat conditions.