SAVANNAH, Ga. – The three reservoirs on the upper Savannah River Basin operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, declared the second flow reduction in two months in response to the pool elevation at Lake Thurmond dipping below Drought Trigger Level 2, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024.
The current pool elevations for September 10, 2024, are 654.46 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl) for Lake Hartwell, and 323.71 ft-msl for Lake Thurmond.
The drought management plan was developed based on scientific data and in coordination with various state, federal, local agencies and public input. To view the chart for trigger action levels, visit Drought Trigger Action Levels. To view the plan, click Drought Plan.
The pool elevations at J. Strom Thurmond and Hartwell initially fell below Drought Trigger Level 1 Aug. 9, 2024. At that time flows were restricted to 4200 cfs at Thurmond.
The Corps limits outflow from Thurmond Dam to a daily average of 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) after entering Drought Trigger Level 2. As of September 9, outflows were further reduced to 3,800 cfs due to the 28-day running average flow for the Broad River Gage falling below its 10th percentile.
Water managers will continue to adjust Lake Hartwell releases so it stays in balance with Lake Thurmond. Reducing outflow decreases the amount of hydropower generated through the dams but conserves more water in the reservoirs.
The Hartwell Basin rainfall totaled to about 2 inches, 30 percent of the average for August-September 2024. The reservoirs have not experienced similar, sustained low inflows during these months since last year at this time.
April-Sept 2024, rainfall totaled about 65 percent of the average for Hartwell and 93 percent for Thurmond. Inflows have averaged between 42 percent and 61 percent of average for the last four months. The reservoirs experienced similar inflows last year resulting in even lower pools last winter. The National Weather Service is predicting above normal rainfall and temperatures for the next three months with conditions drying as we enter 2025.
Corps officials urge boaters to use extreme caution when at the lakes. Rocks and tree stumps, normally deep underwater, are closer to the surface, some just out of sight, especially in coves and along the shoreline. Boaters should use the main channel whenever possible. All visitors should wear a life jacket whenever in, on or near the water.
For more information about drought conditions in the Savannah Basin, please visit our frequently asked questions page at: https://savannahcorps.wpcomstaging.com/
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