NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

June 6, 2000

CONTACT: Norman Young (850) 892-8001

LOW WATER IN LAKE TALQUIN POSES HAZARDS FOR BOATERS

The drought is taking its toll on another Tallahassee area lake. The water level in Lake Talquin, an 8,800-acre man-made reservoir on the Ochlockonee River west of Tallahassee, has dropped nine inches during the past couple of weeks because of a lack of rain.

As a result of lower water levels, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is warning operators of boats and personal watercraft on Talquin to be cautious because of increased exposed tree stumps and floating timber.

"Boat operators should slow down and be aware of their surroundings," said Capt. Paul Ouellette, FWC's boating safety coordinator. "It is wise to have someone in the front of the boat as a lookout for obstacles."

Rich Cailteux, an FWC fisheries biologist, said there is not enough water coming into the lake from upstream rivers to maintain recommended minimum flow below the Jackson Bluff Dam on the lower Ochlockonee River.

The City of Tallahassee, operator of the C.H. Corn Hydro Power Plant at Jackson Bluff Dam, is trying to maintain a balance between lake levels and a minimum outflow, which is needed for fish survival below the dam.