Lake Jackson (Georgia)
Encyclopedia
Jackson Lake is one of the oldest reservoir
s in Georgia, 44 miles (70.8 km) southeast of Atlanta
in a rural area situated within parts of three counties (Jasper
, Newton
and Butts
). The Lloyd Shoals Dam was built in 1910 by Central Georgia Power Company, and electricity was originally generated for the city of Macon
. Relative to others in the state, it is a smaller lake (about 4750 acres (19.2 km²) with 135 miles (217.3 km) of shoreline) which still generates electricity and provides a location for watersports, boating
, skiing
, wakeboarding
and fishing
.
Jackson Lake is formed by the confluence of the Yellow
, Alcovy
and South
rivers. Tussahaw Creek is also a significant tributary. Below the Lloyd Shoals Dam, the lake's outlet is the Ocmulgee River
.
In 1907, Jordan Massee, Sr. and associates bought the Macon Railway and Light Company from Jacob Collins of Savannah. After acquiring it, Jordan Masse, Sr. became the president. When he was 35, he put together the Bibb Power Company. Soon after the Bibb Power Company was organized, it came to be known as the Central Georgia Power Company.
The power company acquired the land that the facility is on from Captain William F. Smith of Butts County, GA, who had long been a supporter of the kind of facility that the power company was planning on building at that location.
The power company hired Theodore Ellis and associates, which was based in Macon, GA, to clear the basin for the future reservoir
. Since it was a rural
area and no hotel
or inn
was near by, the workers had to sleep in tents at night. Theodore Ellis's relative, Roland Ellis,who was a lawyer
and advised Theodore Ellis and associates on the legal matters, and was on the board of directors.
Even though of the economic decline of that time, Jordan Masse Sr. of the Central Georgia Power, still convinced A.B. Leach and Company of New York to endorse the project. Thereafter, A.B Leach hired Masse to sell bonds
. So, Masse arranged a trip for 200 northern bankers to come south and survey the site.
First, he had them come on a private train car to Macon, Ga. After a tour of that city, he took them to the dam site, where there was a barbecue
of 14 pigs
waiting for them. That day, they observed the dam
site where the Lane Brothers were pouring the concrete
foundation, on funds already acquired.
James I. Buchanan of the Pittsburg Trust Company was the first banker he sold, and soon after, most of them invested. Another notable investor was a Representative for Bank of Scotland and the son of the English Earl of Weymouth.
After the necessary funds were given, the power company hired David W. Hilliard to supervise the construction of the multi-million dollar project. There were two shifts of hundreds of men, with the second shift working through the night. By now, the power company had constructed wooden cabins for the workers to live in.
The main concern for the construction was how to get the supplies to the building site.
In 1911, the Lloyd Shoals Dam project was completed at 100 feet tall and 1,070 feet of concrete masonry. Then, it had four 2,400 kilowatts generation units. In 1916, a fifth unit generating 2,400 kilowatts was added, and a year later a sixth unit generating 2,400 kilowatts was added. With all six units operational, it can have an output of 14,400 kilowatts. Because of improvements since then, it now can generate up to 21,00 kilowatts.
In 1928, Georgia Power
bought out the Central Georgia Power Company, along with several other utilities in the area. The first few years after Georgia Power acquired the facility, it had a staff for generating and maintenance, as well as a superintendent.
It became part of the Central Georgia Power Group in 1978. It is the only member of that group located on the Ocmulgee River
.
In January, 1983, there was a fire that badly damaged the powerhouse, that was replaced the next year. The wiring and most of the electrical equipment had to be replaced as well as the transformers and part of the building's top floor. They also rewound generator 6. The fire did not damage the dam structure itself. The reconstruction cost $2.8 million
Now it is maintained by personnel from Wallace Dam.
, channel catfish
, white crappie, redear sunfish
, redbreast sunfish
, bluegill
, spotted bass
, largemouth bass
, striped bass
, and hybrid bass.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s in Georgia, 44 miles (70.8 km) southeast of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in a rural area situated within parts of three counties (Jasper
Jasper County, Georgia
Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 11,426. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,660...
, Newton
Newton County, Georgia
Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 62,001. The 2010 Census showed a population of 99,958. The county seat is Covington....
and Butts
Butts County, Georgia
Butts County is a county located in the northern half of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 24, 1825. As of 2000, the population was 19,522. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 23,759...
). The Lloyd Shoals Dam was built in 1910 by Central Georgia Power Company, and electricity was originally generated for the city of Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. Relative to others in the state, it is a smaller lake (about 4750 acres (19.2 km²) with 135 miles (217.3 km) of shoreline) which still generates electricity and provides a location for watersports, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
.
Jackson Lake is formed by the confluence of the Yellow
Yellow River (Georgia)
The Yellow River is a tributary of the Ocmulgee River in the U.S. state Georgia.The river rises north of Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County and flows south through the outer eastern suburbs of Atlanta, passing through the easternmost corner of DeKalb County before entering Rockdale County...
, Alcovy
Alcovy River
The Alcovy River is a tributary of the Ocmulgee River in north-central Georgia in the United States. Via the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the watershed of the Altamaha River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.-Course:...
and South
South River (Ocmulgee River)
The South River is a tributary of the Ocmulgee River in the U.S. state of Georgia. It originates in the city of East Point in Fulton County and eventually flows into Lake Jackson, joining the Yellow River and the Alcovy River to form the Ocmulgee....
rivers. Tussahaw Creek is also a significant tributary. Below the Lloyd Shoals Dam, the lake's outlet is the Ocmulgee River
Ocmulgee River
The Ocmulgee River is a tributary of the Altamaha River, approximately 255 mi long, in the U.S. state of Georgia...
.
Lloyd Shoals Dam
In 1907, Jordan Massee, Sr. and associates bought the Macon Railway and Light Company from Jacob Collins of Savannah. After acquiring it, Jordan Masse, Sr. became the president. When he was 35, he put together the Bibb Power Company. Soon after the Bibb Power Company was organized, it came to be known as the Central Georgia Power Company.
The power company acquired the land that the facility is on from Captain William F. Smith of Butts County, GA, who had long been a supporter of the kind of facility that the power company was planning on building at that location.
The power company hired Theodore Ellis and associates, which was based in Macon, GA, to clear the basin for the future reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
. Since it was a rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
area and no hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
or inn
INN
InterNetNews is a Usenet news server package, originally released by Rich Salz in 1991, and presented at the Summer 1992 USENIX conference in San Antonio, Texas...
was near by, the workers had to sleep in tents at night. Theodore Ellis's relative, Roland Ellis,who was a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and advised Theodore Ellis and associates on the legal matters, and was on the board of directors.
Even though of the economic decline of that time, Jordan Masse Sr. of the Central Georgia Power, still convinced A.B. Leach and Company of New York to endorse the project. Thereafter, A.B Leach hired Masse to sell bonds
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
. So, Masse arranged a trip for 200 northern bankers to come south and survey the site.
First, he had them come on a private train car to Macon, Ga. After a tour of that city, he took them to the dam site, where there was a barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
of 14 pigs
PIGS
PIGS is a four letter acronym that can stand for:* PIGS , Phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis, class S, a human gene* PIGS , the economies of Portugal, Italy , Greece and Spain...
waiting for them. That day, they observed the dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
site where the Lane Brothers were pouring the concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
foundation, on funds already acquired.
James I. Buchanan of the Pittsburg Trust Company was the first banker he sold, and soon after, most of them invested. Another notable investor was a Representative for Bank of Scotland and the son of the English Earl of Weymouth.
After the necessary funds were given, the power company hired David W. Hilliard to supervise the construction of the multi-million dollar project. There were two shifts of hundreds of men, with the second shift working through the night. By now, the power company had constructed wooden cabins for the workers to live in.
The main concern for the construction was how to get the supplies to the building site.
In 1911, the Lloyd Shoals Dam project was completed at 100 feet tall and 1,070 feet of concrete masonry. Then, it had four 2,400 kilowatts generation units. In 1916, a fifth unit generating 2,400 kilowatts was added, and a year later a sixth unit generating 2,400 kilowatts was added. With all six units operational, it can have an output of 14,400 kilowatts. Because of improvements since then, it now can generate up to 21,00 kilowatts.
In 1928, Georgia Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
bought out the Central Georgia Power Company, along with several other utilities in the area. The first few years after Georgia Power acquired the facility, it had a staff for generating and maintenance, as well as a superintendent.
It became part of the Central Georgia Power Group in 1978. It is the only member of that group located on the Ocmulgee River
Ocmulgee River
The Ocmulgee River is a tributary of the Altamaha River, approximately 255 mi long, in the U.S. state of Georgia...
.
In January, 1983, there was a fire that badly damaged the powerhouse, that was replaced the next year. The wiring and most of the electrical equipment had to be replaced as well as the transformers and part of the building's top floor. They also rewound generator 6. The fire did not damage the dam structure itself. The reconstruction cost $2.8 million
Now it is maintained by personnel from Wallace Dam.
Fishing
There are several species of fish in Jackson Lake, including white catfish, bullhead CatfishBullhead catfish
Ameiurus is a genus of catfishes in the family Ictaluridae. It contains the three common types of bullhead catfish found in waters of the United States, the black bullhead , the brown bullhead , and the yellow bullhead , as well as other species, such as the white catfish Ameiurus is a genus of...
, channel catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
, white crappie, redear sunfish
Redear sunfish
The redear sunfish , also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch, is native to the southeastern United States, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America...
, redbreast sunfish
Redbreast sunfish
The redbreast sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to the river systems of eastern Canada and the United States....
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, spotted bass
Spotted bass
The Spotted Bass , also called "Spotty", "Leeman", or "Spots" in various fishing communities, is a species of freshwater fish sunfish family of order Perciformes. One of the black basses, it is native to the Mississippi River basin and across theGulf States, from central Texas through the Florida...
, largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, striped bass
Striped bass
The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
, and hybrid bass.