Are We Witnessing the Death of Reelfoot Lake?

Reelfoot Lake was once referred to as one of the Eight Wonders of the World and its very formation was a miracle. Thirty-five years after the birth of America a catastrophic event happened that forever changed the face of northwest Tennessee.

During the winter of 1811-12 a series of earthquakes began to shake the tri-state area causing this entire area to rise into the air and then sink. The Mississippi River ran backwards for three days to fill the void and what was once a forest area became Reelfoot Lake.

That 18,000 acres of wetlands, woods and water became one of the greatest natural resources in America and a fish and wildlife reserve. It is one of only 14 Natural National Landmarks to be found in Tennessee. Generation after generation of fishermen, hunters and trappers have enjoyed its bounty and many have made their living from it.

Each year about 600,000 people travel hundreds of miles to fish its waters and vacation with their families bringing into the area economical and financial prosperity. The lake supports restaurants, resorts and small businesses.

As a wildlife reserve, Reelfoot Lake is the home of thousands of pairs of birds like cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Egrets, owls, and mating pairs of ospreys and Bald Eagles. It supports 34 species of rare or endangered plants and animals. It is also the winter home of migrating Bald Eagles, hawks and 550,000 waterfowl. The lake itself supports bass, catfish, crappie, carp, bluegill, and several other species of fish.

But all that is tragically and rapidly changing. Lost will be the sportsman paradise, the natural game reserve and a source of income for many residents and businesses. This change is not being caused by a natural disaster like the one that formed Reelfoot Lake 199 years ago, but by a willfully executed plan. It is a man-made disaster that is poised to destroy Reelfoot Lake.

Anyone who drives by the lake can readily notice the low water levels, exposed stumps and expanding shoreline. With the hot dry summer, most assume that the dryness of the season is to blame for the low water but it has had help, a lot of help.

In late May of this year, the Reelfoot Lake Spillway Project began with the intent to repair the existing spillway and eventually replacing it with a new system and bridge. During the process of digging out a large basin alongside Highway 21 across from the lake, they hit the water table and their huge hole flooded with water.

To counteract the problem and to allow for the work to continue, 20 wells, each about 134’ deep, were dug around the hole and they began to remove water from the water table which kept the hole from filling again.

However the pumping of great amounts of water from these wells has added to the problems caused by the dry summer. The lake began falling to its lowest level in 25 years. While not directly pumping water from the lake itself, the wells are inadvertently removing water from Reelfoot Lake, which as all surface water does, feeds the water table beneath thus affecting water supplies, including that used for drinking water.

Only the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation knows the exact amount of water that has been removed from the water table beneath the lake but meters on the pipeline show that it is being removed at the rate of 14,000-16,000 gallons per minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Each of the 20 wells are pumped into one of four pipelines which deliver the drawn water to Reelfoot Running Bayou heading it on a journey to the Obion River and ultimately to the Mississippi, lost to Reelfoot Lake forever.

Each line has a meter registering the amount of water that has already flowed through that pipe and the rate at which it is being pumped. The immense flow is clearly evident by these readings and by the roar of water leaving these pipes.

Meter readings of October 10, 2010 show a total of over 2.3 billion gallons of water has flowed through them, if meters were set to zero when installed in May. Even if this number is not exact, the amount of water leaving these pipes is unmistakable. Coupled with the close proximity to the lake and the dropping of its water levels, this is of grave concern to local residents and businesses.

Area residents are reporting cracked foundations, walls and concrete slabs as the ground underneath their homes is being deprived of moisture. On October 14-15th the city of Samburg had two major underground water main break, I believe caused by shrinking soil.

Extremely low water levels also means NO fishing, NO tourists, NO business and will lead to the closing of area resorts & restaurants. Winter duck hunting will suffer as well, affecting the revenue usually brought into this area by hunters.

The longer these pumps are allowed to continue to deplete the water table, the greater the damage will be. Annual rainfall will not be enough to replace what is being taken away, especially if these pumps are not shut off.

The United States Geological Survey posted on their website charts showing a dramatic drop in water level beginning in earnest around the time the well were dug and the pumps turned on in late May.

Among the questions being raised by area residents are these: Why does the TN Department of Environment and Conservation allow this to continue?

Why does the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge not put a stop to the pumping when it will ultimately affect wildlife here, especially waterfowl and birds whose main diet is fish such as the osprey and the Bald Eagle?

Why is this being ignored by environmentalists who are usually super-sensitive to any action taken that endangers wildlife?

Big questions are why does no one seem to know it is going on and why is the situation being ignored by most politicians. It is up to concerned citizens to make them aware and hold them accountable.

Fliers are being distributed to individuals, businesses and politicians and calls are being made to increase awareness on the issue. By going online to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LdREje89z8
you can view a short video entitled “Are We Witnessing the Death of Reelfoot Lake?” which expresses these concerns. It also shows vividly the amount of water that is being removed from the water table and the effects it is having on Reelfoot Lake. You will have to see it to get a grasp of just how serious the problem is.

Everyone in northwest Tennessee needs to view the video and see the man-made disaster that threatens property, businesses and the economy of the Reelfoot Lake area. Perhaps as we strive to get this information to the unaware public, someone will take notice and help us save Reelfoot Lake before it is too late.