MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The annual Neely Henry Lake Association’s Poker Run will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 9am til 2pm. Prizes are awarded for Best Hand: 1st-$500.00; 2nd-$250.00; 3rd-$150.00!! You can pre-register at the NHLA website (www.NeelyHenryLake.org) or on the day of the Run, at the Southside Landing. Entry is $25.00 per hand, buy as many hands as you want!

More information (maps, drawing locations, etc.) will be sent and posted in the coming days. Be on the lookout! Load your boat with friends and family and get out on the lake for a fun-filled day…you could be a Winner! The proceeds from this event are utilized by NHLA for various community projects and to help preserve, protect, and improve life on the Coosa.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON APRIL 3, 2024
Neely Henry Lake Association Selected as Recipient of Alabama Scenic River Trail Waterway Enhancement Program Grant Rainbow City, Alabama – April 3, 2024.

The Neely Henry Lake Association is proud to announce that we have been chosen as one of the recipients of the Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) Waterway Enhancement Program grant for 2024. This program supports local organizations in their efforts to enhance freshwater recreation opportunities across Alabama.

Neely Henry Lake Association has been awarded $2,200.00 to support our project titled “Rainbow City Paddle Launch.” This project will be to install the first assisted launch device available to the public on Neely Henry Lake, benefiting paddlers and contributing to the overall improvement of waterway access and quality in our local community.

The ASRT Waterway Enhancement Program aims to fund projects that enable more people to get out and enjoy Alabama’s waterways, aligning with our organization’s mission to preserve, protect, and improve life on the Coosa River. We are honored to have been selected as one of the six awardees for this cycle.
Likewise, we are thrilled to receive this grant from ASRT, as it will enable us to make a meaningful impact on our local waterways. This funding will allow us to provide safe and stable entry for those using kayaks, canoes, or paddle-boards furthering our commitment to safe and accessible waterway usage in Alabama.

We extend our sincere gratitude to ASRT for their support and investment in our organization’s efforts. We also thank the ASRT Grant Review Committee for recognizing the importance of our project and selecting us as a recipient.

For more information about the ASRT Waterway Enhancement Program’s impact on our project, please contact Dave Tumlin at 256.368.5200 or davetumlin@comcast.net. Additional details about our organization can be found on our website at www.neelyhenrylake.org.

About Neely Henry Lake Association:
Neely Henry Lake Association was established in 1999 and has been involved in a number of community activities focused on improving the public’s understanding of our lake and its importance to the environment and community. For many years, NHLA has been a partner in Renew Our Rivers; has constructed and deployed hundreds of fish habitat improvement structures; has advocated for boater safety and decreased water fluctuation; has been a vocal supporter of ensuring that the water quality and quantity in Neely Henry Lake is maintained to the highest standards; and has sponsored a number of community educational programs.

Contact:
Dave Tumlin
President

Neely Henry Lake Association
3504 Rainbow Dr—Ste. 415
Rainbow City, AL 35906
(256) 368-5200

For information on the Alabama Scenic River Trail contact:
Martha Grace Mize
Development and Outreach Coordinator, Alabama Scenic River Trail
media@alabamascenicrivertrail.com
205.523.5834

Please mark your calendars for the April meeting of the NHLA Community. This meeting will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 6:30 pm, at the Rainbow City Community Center, next to the Library in RBC.

We are very pleased to have as our speaker John Moore, Director of Economic Development for the City of Gadsden. Mr. Moore will share details of the City of Gadsden’s recently completed long-term development plan, focusing on the lakefront. This meeting is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to learn more about what the future may hold for this part of Neely Henry Lake and the city.

We will also provide updates on various NHLA projects, upcoming speakers, and other important issues.

Feel free to forward this notice to your friends and neighbors so they may also join us. There will be light refreshments provided, as well as door prizes awarded!

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Sincerely,

Dave Tumlin
Pres., NHLA

**UPDATE***
We have a confirmation for the build site. It will take place at River Rocks Campground and Marina (below I-759 bridge), Gadsden, AL at 9:00 am, on both March 27 and April 3, 2024. If you haven’t already, please mark your calendars with the date, time and location. If you want to volunteer, call or text (preferably) Kelly Stephens at: 770.402.6328.

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SPRING 2024 FISH HABITAT CONSTRUCTION

As we do every year, the Neely Henry Lake Association will be partnering with Alabama Power to construct and replenish fish habitat on our Lake. This has been an annual project with APCO for nearly 15 years and has had a positive impact on fish populations.

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 27, and Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

The first day is for construction and usually only takes a couple of hours, provided we get enough help! The following week is deployment and takes about the same amount of time.

The location has not been finalized as yet. Since we staged at Greensport Marina last fall, we are hoping for this spring to be at River Rocks Landing and Campground…we will let you know the final decision. But mark your calendars!! Remember, if you help with deployment, you can suggest locations that only NHLA members will know about!

If you are interested or have questions, please get in touch with Kelly Stephens at 770.402.6328.

Thanks for your support.

Dave Tumlin
Pres., NHLA

2nd Annual Alabama Fishing Show and Expo March 8-10 in Downtown Gadsden

GADSDEN, AL—February 26, 2024—The biggest fishing show and expo in the Southeast returns to Gadsden for the 2nd Annual Alabama Fishing Show and Expo March 8-10 at The Venue at Coosa Landing. The East Tennessee Fishing Show and Expo in Knoxville each February is the largest fishing show in the Southeast and with Gadsden’s 2023inaugural show being such a success, Greater Gadsden Area Tourism is once again sponsoring this premiere Etowah County event.

Vendors from across the United States will be on hand with the newest and best fishing and lake/salt-life related products to help you get ready for the fishing season. Kayaks, bass and pontoon boats, custom lures, fishing accessories, fishing rods/tackle, marine electronics, apparel, and more will be on display.

“We’ve been attending the East TN Fishing Show and Expo for a number of years, exhibiting bass fishing and Neely Henry Lake, and more recently, trout fishing at Noccalula Falls,” said Greater Gadsden Area Tourism Executive Director Tina Morrison. Our lakes, rivers and creeks are some of our most valuable tourist assets and we are very excited to welcome thousands of visitors to Etowah County that weekend.”

There will be seminars from professional bass and trout anglers, as well as anew tournament for kids. The Kids Fishing Rodeo will be Saturday, March 9th at Coosa Landing, right next to the show venue. Fishing will begin at 10:00 am and end at Noon. There will be two age groups: 4-7 years old and 8-12 years old. Participants can register at Coosa Landing starting at 9:00 am the morning of the event or go AlabamaFishingShow.com to register in advance. The Kids Fishing Rodeo is FREE and there will be prizes for both age groups. The first 100 kids to register will receive a free kid’s fishing pole and tackle box. Register your kids today.

Expo hours are Friday, March 8th: 10am-7:30pm. Saturday, March 9th: 10am-7pm. Sunday, March 10th: 10am-5pm. Admission prices at the door are $12 for adults and $8 for children 6-12 years old. Children 5 and under are free. If you would like to skip the line and purchase a VIP ticket in advance, go to AlabamaFishingShow.com.

The show will be held at The Venue at Coosa Landing, 201 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, AL 35903.

For more information:
Sheilia Bunch, Show/Event Promoter, 865-567-9606
www.alabamafishingshow.com
www.facebook.com/alfishingshow

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2024!!!

With 2023 in the rear-view mirror, I am truly excited about what 2024 holds for us! We had several “successes” in 2023 and the coming year can be even better.

I want to first thank all of you and your families and friends who supported us last year in various capacities: enjoying the speakers at our meetings, helping out with our Fish Habitat Renewal projects, participating in the Christmas Boat Parade, enjoying the summer Poker Run, assisting with Renew Our Rivers and providing your concerns regarding the Chandler Mountain power project that we shared with the Feds and Alabama Power.

At our end-of-year Community meeting/dinner in December, we had a great turnout of the members and families. We also had many new members attend as well. My thanks to you all for participating!

During the dinner meeting, recognizing that we had some folks who had not been members very long and weren’t aware of some of NHLA’s accomplishments, we had the opportunity to share some of those activities:

• In 1995, petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to get the trees cut and removed from the shoreline up and down the river to increase safety
• Initiated and partnered with APCO to get winter water levels raised and stabilized so that the lake could be used during the winter
• Supported and contributed to Message In a Bottle and the Water Festival community education programs
• Support and contribute to Renew Our Rivers
• Partnered with APCO on Fish Habitat Renewal for over 10 years
• Working with APCO, we were able to get a regular maintenance draw-down scheduled every 5 years
• Supported the State of Alabama’s effort to develop a Comprehensive Water Management Plan
• Stood firm in our opposition to the proposed Rendering Plant
• Continue to stay focused on the ongoing Water War with Georgia and its impact on our lake levels and the quality of water

In 2024, we will continue our efforts for many of the above activities and will keep everyone informed and seek your support as needed.

The Water War is not over! We need to get our elected representatives focused on the Comprehensive Water Management Plan for our state! We also will be working with Gadsden State to establish a scholarship for a deserving student.

Again, thank you for all of your support…I look forward to what more we can accomplish as a TEAM in 2024.

If you have ideas for speakers or you have any concerns that you think NHLA can help with, don’t hesitate to let us know. We are here for YOU!

Sincerely,

Dave Tumlin
President
Neely Henry Lake Association