Rain Not Upping Lake Levels Yet

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

All of the rain over the past few days has not put a dent in the lake levels yet.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hartwell Lake remains about five feet below full pool.

Corps spokesman Billy Birdwell said that means the Drought Trigger Level 1 status issued recently will not be lifted.

“The reason it has not changed is because once we enter that drought level, Hartwell and Thurmond lakes stay in that level until they are at least two feet above that trigger point,” said Birdwell.  “The reason that is, is so that we do not immediately go right back into it.”

Rainfall totals in the area Tuesday were upwards of 2 inches in some spots.

However, Birdwell said that is still not enough to lift the drought status in what is traditionally the driest time of the year.

“We have less rain at this time of the year than we do at other times of the year,” said Birdwell.  “So this is not unusual for this time of the year.  Even so, we are just slightly below the trigger level.  We are managing the water carefully.  We are holding it as high as we can. But at Trigger Level One, we have limits on how much we can discharge from Thurmond.  So for those who wish for us to reduce outflows, Level 1 is actually a good thing for that.”

As of the other day, Hartwell Lake’s level stands at 655.2 feet above mean sea level, while Russell Lake is at 474.74 feet above mean sea level, or just below full pool, and Thurmond Lake is at 325.02 feet above mean sea level, or about five feet below full pool.