Neely Henry Lake Association

The NHLA led the effort to have hundreds of acres of stumps and timber removed from Neely Henry Reservoir due to boating safety concerns. We also requested that the Alabama Marine Patrol and Alabama Power Company provide navigational markers to help improve boater safety.

n 1999, the NHLA petitioned Alabama Power Company, the Corps of Engineers and FERC to establish a spring, fall and winter elevation level of 507 feet above sea level on the reservoir, rather than 505 feet. This improved boating safety and significantly increased property values and recreation/tourism.

The NHLA has been a key participant in Renew Our Rivers since its beginning in 1999. The program began on Neely Henry Reservoir and now covers most of the rivers in Alabama. More than 14 million pounds of debris have been removed from all participating areas.

The Neely Henry Lake Association worked with Alabama Power Company for many years in the license renewal process for Neely Henry Reservoir. As a result, Alabama Power Company's operating license was approved by FERC and the US Army of Engineers in June 2013.

We placed fishing line receptacles at specific boat launch areas on the Neely Henry Lake for collecting and recycling used fishing line. Discarded fishing line is hazardous to many species of birds, fish and aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms as well as boat propellers and motors.

Since 2005 members of the NHLA have worked with Alabama Power Company personnel to place hundreds of Christmas trees at various locations in Neely Henry Lake. The trees are secured to the bottom of the deep water of the lake with concrete weights. Good for the fish, safe for boaters.

The NHLA is working with Alabama state agencies, local, state and national political leaders, other lake associations, environmental organizations, angling organizations, civic organizations and concerned citizen groups in an attempt to prevent future major water losses to Alabama.

The NHLA participates in the Message in the Bottle educational program, which is a component of Renew Our Rivers. This program was named after a 19 year old "message" found in a plastic bottle during a 2001 Renew Our Rivers event. We have been a sponsor of this program since its inception.