PROJECT NAME AND STATE:  J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake, GA and SC
                  
AUTHORIZATION:  Flood Control Act of 1944

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION:  J. Strom Thurmond dam, completed in 1954, is located 22 miles north of Augusta, Georgia in Clarks Hill, South Carolina, and consists of a 2,282-foot long, 200-foot high concrete section and a controlled spillway, 1,096 feet long. It provides a total storage of 2,900,000 acre-feet. The authorized project purposes include Hydropower, Flood Control, Recreation, Water Supply/Water Quality, Fish and Wildlife, and Navigation (no longer operated for NAV as there is no commercial traffic). The multi-purpose project’s 80,000 acres of land, 70,000 acres of water, and 1,200 miles of shoreline inhabit seven counties in Georgia and South Carolina.
                      
ACTIVITIES FOR FY 2019:  Complete spillway gate j-seals and intake gate lifting chain replacements.  Initiate spillway gate control upgrades.  Perform routine hydropower operations and maintenance with all units available. Operate recreation areas at established reduced levels of service and recreation seasons.  Complete asphalt re-sealing and pavement repairs in Petersburg campground.  Perform routine shoreline management, environmental stewardship and compliance activities. Complete maintenance stocking of grass carp to continue hydrilla control efforts to reduce the impacts to bald eagles by AVM.   Identify and prioritize potential underwater cultural resources sites for future investigation during low water conditions.
                    
ACTIVITIES FOR FY 2020: Complete spillway gate control upgrades.  Perform routine hydropower operations and maintenance with all units available. Operate a reduced number of recreation areas at lower than established levels of service and recreation seasons.  Perform routine shoreline management, environmental stewardship and compliance activities.
                
ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION:  Budget amount of $11,142,436 will be used to operate and maintain hydropower facilities at acceptable levels and recreation facilities at reduced service levels and reduced operating seasons.  Thurmond is one of the most visited projects in the nation.  The project served 4,464,705 visitors generating recreation user fee revenue of $907,860 returned to the United States Treasury in FY18.  Associated visitor spending within 30 miles was $150,747,413 and jobs supported by recreation were 1,267.  The project supplied 7 communities with water.  The J. Strom Thurmond Power Plant produced 516,484 megawatt hours in FY 2018, returning $19,482,319 in revenue to the United States Treasury.  J. Strom Thurmond project prevented an estimated $180,374,176 in cumulative flood damages from 1955 to date.  Timber harvested on project lands provided $1,060,000 in revenues in FY 2018. Costs for operation and maintenance contracts are $2.9M and the contractors will use up to 43 employees during the peak season to clean, mow and maintain project areas.   

                   
ADMINISTRATION POSITION:  Project is consistent with current Administration policy.
                       
ACTION OFFICER:  Margarett (Mackie) McIntosh                                  11 June 2019

                                      CESAS/912-652-5320