May 22, 2013
Residents like Gary Mcintosh are worried they won't be able to enjoy Lake Seminole the same way after October 7th, when the Corps of Engineers closes the lock at the Jim Woodruff Dam.
"Usually we go through 12, 13, 14 times a year down to the river. This more or less is gonna means that my houseboat is gonna be locked forever in Lake Seminole."
So in protest, residents from all over organized an event to help change the Corps' mind.
In this protest, boaters will travel through the Jim Woodruff lock as many times as possible in hopes of stopping this closure.
"We're coming out today to try to communicate to the public what we feel about our river way and that we love our lake."
But why close a lock that is so seemingly popular with the people?
The Army Corps claims the Jim Woodruff lock costs more than its worth to keep open, but not all agree.
"Quite frankly, I don't understand the purpose. They said "financial" but my understanding is that the dam has to be manned anyway so I don't understand why they have to eliminate the locks."
"If anything this lock generates money. There's bunches come from Georgia, Alabama every year on river trips."
The lock provides access to the Tombigbee River in Mobile and the Mississippi River all the way up to the Great Lakes.
"Hopefully, we can raise enough awareness about this and they can see exactly what they're doing, what they're stopping and maybe they'll revoke it."
On October 7th we'll find out if the protest actually helped save the lock.
