Marina making move because of drought. (Jackson: houseboat, contractors, restaurant)

[John1960]

RUSSELL COUNTY, Ky. -- A marina on Lake Cumberland has requested a permanent relocation as a result of lower lake levels experienced at the Kentucky lake this year.
Alligator 1 Marina, currently located in Russell Springs, Ky., has requested a move up Wolf Creek to the Cave Springs Recreation Area. To prepare for the move, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared an environmental assessment to evaluate the impact of the move and will be accepting comments regarding the project until Friday.

The Marina's store, restaurant, houseboat, cruiser and runabout slips will be moved throughout the next several months to the new location. The marina's Web site doesn't say exactly when the move will take place, but says some new unused slips will be moved in March.

Marina owners all over the lake have been feeling the effects of lower lake levels this year at Lake Cumberland -- according to a Corp report, tourism was down 22 percent. That was largely due to the lake being lowered by more than 40 feet earlier this year to reduce stress on a weakening Wolf Creek Dam.

But, things are looking to improve. Lake levels are expected to be raised by as much as 10 feet early next year as $300 million in improvements to the dam continue to be made. Contractors have pumped nearly 155,000 gallons of concrete into the foundation since January, and that grouting process will be finished early next year.

If the dam failed, it would flood communities along the Cumberland River, including portions of Putnam and Jackson counties.

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