| Jackson Lake | |
|---|---|
| Lloyd Shoals Dam and Lake Jackson | |
| Location | Butts / Jasper / Newton counties, Georgia, USA |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Yellow, Alcovy, South rivers; Tussahaw Creek |
| Primary outflows | Ocmulgee River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 4,750 acres (19.2 km2) |
| Shore length1 | 217 km (135 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 161 m (528 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Jackson Lake is one of the oldest reservoirs in Georgia, 44 miles (71 km) southeast of Atlanta in a rural area situated within parts of three counties (Jasper, Newton and Butts). The Lloyd Shoals Dam was built in 1910 by Central Georgia Power Company, and electricity was originally generated for the city of Macon. Relative to others in the state, it is a smaller lake (about 4,750 acres (19.2 km2) with 135 miles (217 km) of shoreline) which still generates electricity and provides a location for watersports, boating, skiing, wakeboarding and fishing.
Jackson Lake is formed by the confluence of the Yellow, Alcovy and South rivers. Tussahaw Creek is also a significant tributary. Below the Lloyd Shoals Dam, the lake's outlet is the Ocmulgee River.
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In 1907, Jordan Massee, Sr. and associates bought the Macon Railway and Light Company from Jacob Collins of Savannah. After acquiring it, Jordan Masse, Sr. became the president. When he was 35, he put together the Bibb Power Company. Soon after the Bibb Power Company was organized, it came to be known as the Central Georgia Power Company.
The power company acquired the land that the facility is on from Captain William F. Smith of Butts County, GA, who had long been a supporter of the kind of facility that the power company was planning on building at that location.
The power company hired Theodore Ellis and associates, which was based in Macon, GA, to clear the basin for the future reservoir. Since it was a rural area and no hotel or inn was near by, the workers had to sleep in tents at night. Theodore Ellis's relative, Roland Ellis,who was a lawyer and advised Theodore Ellis and associates on the legal matters, and was on the board of directors.
Even though of the economic decline of that time, Jordan Masse Sr. of the Central Georgia Power, still convinced A.B. Leach and Company of New York to endorse the project. Thereafter, A.B Leach hired Masse to sell bonds. So, Masse arranged a trip for 200 northern bankers to come south and survey the site.
First, he had them come on a private train car to Macon, Ga. After a tour of that city, he took them to the dam site, where there was a barbecue of 14 pigs waiting for them. That day, they observed the dam site where the Lane Brothers were pouring the concrete foundation, on funds already acquired.
James I. Buchanan of the Pittsburg Trust Company was the first banker he sold, and soon after, most of them invested. Another notable investor was a Representative for Bank of Scotland and the son of the English Earl of Weymouth.
After the necessary funds were given, the power company hired David W. Hilliard to supervise the construction of the multi-million dollar project. There were two shifts of hundreds of men, with the second shift working through the night. By now, the power company had constructed wooden cabins for the workers to live in.
The main concern for the construction was how to get the supplies to the building site.
In 1911, the Lloyd Shoals Dam project was completed at 100 feet tall and 1,070 feet of concrete masonry. Then, it had four 2,400 kilowatts generation units. In 1916, a fifth unit generating 2,400 kilowatts was added, and a year later a sixth unit generating 2,400 kilowatts was added. With all six units operational, it can have an output of 14,400 kilowatts. Because of improvements since then, it now can generate up to 21,00 kilowatts.
In 1928, Georgia Power bought out the Central Georgia Power Company, along with several other utilities in the area. The first few years after Georgia Power acquired the facility, it had a staff for generating and maintenance, as well as a superintendent.
It became part of the Central Georgia Power Group in 1978. It is the only member of that group located on the Ocmulgee River.
In January, 1983, there was a fire that badly damaged the powerhouse, that was replaced the next year. The wiring and most of the electrical equipment had to be replaced as well as the transformers and part of the building's top floor. They also rewound generator 6. The fire did not damage the dam structure itself. The reconstruction cost $2.8 million
Now it is maintained by personnel from Wallace Dam.
There are several species of fish in Jackson Lake, including white catfish, bullhead Catfish, channel catfish, white crappie, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, bluegill, spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, and hybrid bass. [1]