Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Lake Murray water elevation, temperatures and more

We're half way through our coldest month (historically) at Lake Murray.  January has an average historical temperature of 44.05 degrees (average of daily high and low).  On the other hand, sometimes in the coldest months of January and February, we can have very pleasant weather.  For example, this coming Saturday, a high temperature of around 70 degrees is expected.

Also at this point, the lake level will begin to rise from a typical winter low of about 354-355 feet elevation to a spring/early summer high elevation of about 358-359 feet elevation (full pool is 360 feet elevation).  The Lake Murray water level today is at 355.56 - up .25 feet from January 1st.  Lake Murray's highest lake level runs from about early March to mid July (at or above 357 feet elevation).

Here is a chart with Lake Murray lake level elevations from February 1 - August 31, 2011:



Lake Murray Water Level Elevations
February 1, 2011 - August 31, 2011


For complete information on Lake Murray temperatures, lake level elevations, rainfall, weather forecast and water temperatures, visit my Lake Murray Environmentals website

Lake Murray was named a Top Ten Lake for Living and Boating by Boating Magazine in 2011!  Want to live on or near Lake Murray?  Contact Mel Coker, your Lake Murray Realtor.

Mel Coker
Lake Murray Resident & Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 223-6214
Lake Murray Real Estate
Lake Murray Website
  

Monday, January 9, 2012

William S. Murray - Namesake for Lake Murray

William S. Murray, a New York engineer that had the final conception plan for Lake Murray and did much of the engineering of the hyrdo project, died on this day 70 years ago in New York City.

CLICK HERE to read the entire obituary in PDF format
(I secured this on a special request to The New York Times - image may not be reproduced)


Mr. Murray was very involved in the early electrification of the United States.  He supervised the first high-tension electrification of a steam railroad; conceived and supervised an early Super-power Plan (mapped the power resources of the entire country); did engineering work on many other early electric generation projects; owned his own engineering firm and served on many important boards.

Portion of William S. Murray Obituary
from The New York Times - January 10, 1942
Several times in the 1800s, there were ideas or proposals to dam the Saluda River in the vicinity of the current Dreher Shoals Dam.  Again, in the early 1900s, several sites were considered for a dam, including a Bear Creek site and also at the Dreher Shoals area.  Finally, around 1925, Mr. Murray's firm, Murray and Flood, was retained to serve as supervisory engineer for the creation of a dam in central South Carolina.  They initially examined an area on the Santee River but found that unworkable.  Their studies found that a massive earthern dam on the Dreher Shoals site (about mid-way between Irmo and Lexington) would create a massive reservoir about 41 miles long and 14 miles wide at its widest point.    The plan was approved on July 8, 1927 by the U.S. Army Chief of Engineers.   Although there were many engineers involved in the massive project, William S. Murray was the most influential.  The South Carolina General Assembly named the new lake, Lake Murray, in Murray's honor.  The project was effectively completed on December 1, 1930 with the first delivery of hydro-electric power to Duke Power Company.

The State Newspaper headline for February 27, 1927: MAMMOTH HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT TO RISE ON SALUDA RIVER, NEAR COLUMBIA

And, a newspaper report from August 4, 1930 stated that "Lake Murray, as that tremendous storage reservoir is know, was named by an act of the general assembly of the state of South Carolina, in honor of that distinguished engineer, William S. Murray, whose foresight, vision and tireless energy were responsible for the launching of the project."

Note the error in The New York Times obituary of January 10, 1942:
"... and in 1927-30 they engineered hyrdoelectric development of the Saluda River in North Carolina.  This project included the erection of a huge dam, which formed a lake at one point 14 miles wide which the state of North Carolina named Lake Murray in honor of the engineer."   Of course, Lake Murray is in central South Carolina.

Mel Coker on Lake Murray
Mr. Murray's work in the 1920s and early 1930s related to this new hydro-electric power reservoir is greatly  appreciated today.   Last year, Lake Murray was named one of the Top Ten Lakes in the United States for Boating and Living.


Mel Coker
Lake Murray Resident and Realtor
Lake Murray Real Estate
Mel's Lake Murray Website

Sunday, January 8, 2012

2012 Real Estate Outlook

RE/MAX 2012 Top 10 Housing Predictions


Dave Liniger, the RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder (along with his wife), talks about his Top 10 Predictions for 2012.  He also discusses his ideas on how to speed up the recovery.  Take 3 minutes (and 16 seconds) to watch this interesting video.

CLICK HERE: Dave Liniger's Top 10 Predictions for Real Estate in 2012





Mel Coker
RE/MAX Realtor in Columbia, SC
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, SC real estate
(803) 223-6214 (office)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Lake Murray: 2012

What's happening at Lake Murray in 2012?


March 22nd - Taste of Lake Murray
The Taste of Lake Murray is the sole fundraiser for the 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray. Created 7 years ago, this event is designed to help raise the $100,000 necessary to produce the Annual 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray, including a Boat Parade and 2 fireworks shows.

April 12-15th - FLW Outdoors National Collegiate Championship
FLW College Fishing is the country's largest tournament-fishing competition for college bass clubs.

June - Purple Martins Return to Doolittle Island
North America's first officially designated Purple Martin sanctuary is at Lake Murray! It's also one of the largest roosting sites in America.

June 30th - Lake Murray 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks Show
Annual boat parade and fireworks show - one of the largest in the Southeast!

September 29-30th  - Oakley Big Bass Tour Event
The Oakley Big Bass Tour is the nation’s premier open big bass tournament series designed exclusively for amateur anglers.  The tour is focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the amateur level.

December 1st - Lake Murray's 82nd Birthday!
At 7:00 a.m. on December 1, 1930, the first electric power - 10,000 kilowatts - was delivered to Duke Power Company.  That's the reason Lake Murray was built and born... hydro-electric generation.

Mel Coker
Lake Murray Resident and Realtor
Owner & Webmaster for Lake Murray website and this blog
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Real Estate Website  |  email
(803) 318-2007