Buckeye Lake Businesses Hurting

Low water levels at Buckeye Lake have caused trouble for surrounding businesses. 

Last week, 14 of those businesses submitted economic injury forms to the state, which will now use the forms to apply for an economic disaster declaration.

Chris Alexander, owner of Alexander’s Landing, has seen a 62 percent decrease in business this year. He’s one of the owners who submitted a form to get the area declared a disaster. 

"I’ve always been a firm believer in work hard and we’ll survive," Alexander said. "But the problem is, I think we will survive, I really do. But everyone out here used to thrive. This used to be a thriving business community, but right now it’s just really stagnant."

Usually, during the summer, the water sits just below Alexander’s docks. He said at normal levels, he has to step up to get on a pontoon boat. However, this year, he said he almost has to sit on the dock and hop down into the boat. It’s something most boaters aren’t dealing with as they choose to simply stay off the lake or go somewhere else. 

"Totally dead out here," Alexander said. "Normally you would see half a dozen fishing boats, even on a really calm day, a slow weekday like this, you’ll see fishing boats out all over the place. There’s not a one, and that really surprises me."

The state is now reviewing the economic injury forms before submitting for aid from the federal government. If it goes through as an economic disaster declaration, area businesses will receive low interest loans to help during these desperate times.