by:  Matt Campbell, President,  Lake Watch
 Appeared in April 2023 issue of Lake Magazine

Lake Martin water quality monitoring

Now that swim season is upon us, Lake Watch volunteers are back to work providing twice-a-month water quality testing at 17 or more sites across Lake Martin. Lake Watch Swim Alert Director Eric Reutebuch said test results will be posted on the Lake Watch Swim Alert webpage.

“Results of our bacteriological testing will be posted at Lakewatch.org/swim-guide and to the Alabama Water Watch statewide database. We expect our testing will confirm excellent water quality throughout Lake Martin.” Reutebuch said. “If our testing identifies areas on the lake that at the time do not appear to meet ADEM safe swimming standards, that information can be used by persons recreating on the lake to make their safe swimming decisions.” 

Testing on tributary streams

 This swim season, Lake Watch will further expand bacteriological testing on the Tallapoosa River and its tributary streams and report data to the Alabama Water Watch data bank, as well as directly to ADEM. We find that, on many of our tributary streams, testing reveals E. coli measurements that do not meet the applicable ADEM minimum standards.

Apparent sources of this pollution include the expanding poultry industry in our watershed, storm water runoff from cattle pastures and shortcomings in community wastewater treatment. Lake Watch is seeking to confirm sources of pollution in the river and streams and to address measures that would protect and improve our clean water. Water quality advocacy for our streams is good for Lake Martin. Fishing, kayaking and eco-tourism on the river contribute economic value to our rural communities; moreover, the pure recreational value of our river and streams is fundamental to our Alabama heritage and our lifestyle. Property owners, farmers, foresters, business owners, local government ...  are urged to help develop best practices to prevail throughout the watershed. Get involved as partners in our Clean Water Priority. 

Alabamians, don’t take clean water for granted. Celebrate your clean water and protect it.  

Oversight of industrial discharge from Alabama Graphite Products, LLC

Lake Martin area citizens are concerned over Lake Martin receiving industrial pollution from the Alabama Graphite Products plant now under construction in Kellyton. Citizens have asked Lake Watch to provide a measure of oversight regarding this industrial discharge. Lake Watch has resolved to do so. Our Alabama State administration and local government have been delighted to welcome Westwater Resources, Inc., and its subsidiary, Alabama Graphite Products, LLC, to the Lake Martin Regional Industrial Park to produce graphite product for use primarily in electric vehicle batteries.

We understand this will be the first graphite processing plant of its kind in the U.S. and that it will use environmentally friendly, patent pending, proprietary technology. The graphite processing plant is to receive fresh water from Alexander City and, after pre-processing the waste at the plant, will return a stream of wastewater to the Alexander City Sugar Creek municipal wastewater treatment plant. The Sugar Creek plant effluent discharges into Lake Martin.

ADEM has issued to Alabama Graphite Products, LLC, a State Indirect Discharge (SID) final permit, dated Sept. 29, 2022. The public wants to be informed about what will ultimately be discharged into Lake Martin. Lake Watch is concerned that, at this point, the characteristics of discharge and the acceptable wastewater profile referred to in the SID permit may still be open questions.

Prior to issuance of a permit, representatives from Lake Watch and Lake Martin HOBOs attended an informative and reassuring meeting of executives and engineers from Alexander City and Alabama Graphite. Lake Watch will request a follow up meeting with ADEM soon. We want EPA, ADEM and Alabama Graphite to provide the very highest standards of environmental protection for this new graphite processing technology. We want Westwater Resources, Inc., and Alabama Graphite Products, LLC, to spare no cost in providing clear, clean discharge from its operations. 

Clean Water Bouquet Awards 

A Clean Water Bouquet goes out to the Camp Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant project. Lake Watch understands that ADEM is poised to award a very substantial grant to the Town of Camp Hill for construction of a first class WWTP. Over past years, Camp Hill’s settlement ponds have drained into Sandy Creek and then on to Lake Martin. Thanks goes to all persons who are making this project happen, especially including ADEM Director Lance LeFleur, Rep. Ed Oliver, County Commissioner Emma Jean Thweatt and Camp Hill Mayor Williams-Cole. This is great news for Sandy Creek and Lake Martin. 

A Clean Water Bouquet goes out to the Wind Creek State Park project for construction of a forced main to Alexander City’s Sugar Creek WWTP. Lake Watch understands that ADEM is poised to award a very substantial grant for this infrastructure project. The Wind Creek State Park settlement ponds have drained into Lake Martin. Thanks goes to all persons who are making this project happen, specially including ADEM Director Lance LeFleur, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rep. Ed Oliver, County Commissioner Steve Robinson and Alexander City Mayor Baird. This is great news for Wind Creek State Park and Lake Martin.

Matt Campbell is president of Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Inc., a non-profit, all volunteer, 501(c)(3) environmental organization working to protect the clean water of Lake Martin and the Tallapoosa watershed.