CORPS OF ENGINEERS DECLARES DROUGHT TRIGGER LEVEL 1 ON LAKE HARTWELL

In response to the pool elevation at Hartwell and J. Strom Thurmond Lakes dropping, the three reservoirs on the Upper Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, have triggered the first drought trigger level Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, and will transition to drought releases at Thurmond over the weekend.

The pool elevations today are 656.0 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl) at Hartwell Lake and Dam, and 326 ft-msl at J. Strom Thurmond Lake and Dam. Under the current drought plan, the District limits outflow from Thurmond Dam to a daily average of 4,200 cubic feet per second (cfs), when in Drought Trigger Level 1.

Entering Drought Trigger Level 1 activates the Corps of Engineers’ Drought Management Plan, which conserves water in the reservoirs by reducing the outflows from the Thurmond Dam. Water managers also adjust Hartwell releases, as needed, to stay in balance with Thurmond Lake. Reducing outflow decreases the amount of hydropower generated through the dams but conserves more water in the reservoirs.

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

In addition, if the 28-day average stream flow at the Broad River gauge near Bell, Georgia, falls below 10% of normal, managers will further reduce the flow from Thurmond to a daily average of 4,000 cfs. The Corps of Engineers expects the pools to stay in Level 1, continuing a gradual decline into December. (Currently 49%)

April-July 2024, rainfall totaled about 90% of the average for Hartwell and 99% for Thurmond. Inflows have averaged between 72% and 85% of average for the last four months. The reservoirs experienced similar inflows last year resulting in even lower pools last fall. The National Weather Service is predicting above normal rainfall and temperatures for the next three months.

Currently, boat launching lanes are open, swim beaches have approximately two feet of water, and camping, boating, skiing, fishing and other forms of recreation continue unabated. As always, safety officials urge the public to use caution when boating, swimming or fishing. As the reservoir levels decline, underwater obstructions will be closer to the surface.

All visitors should wear a life jacket when swimming, boating, skiing or fishing. For information about boat ramp closures, visit Thurmond Boat Ramp Status and Hartwell Boat Ramp Status.

“This year’s inflows have intermittently transitioned between above normal to well below normal, triggering drought operations almost a month earlier than last year.” said Stan Simpson, senior water manager for the Savannah District. “The sudden extreme dry conditions are referred to as a flash drought.”

The congressionally authorized purposes of the reservoirs include water supply, water quality, recreation, flood risk management, navigation, hydropower production, and fish and wildlife management.

More than 10 public water systems and industrial users draw water directly from the reservoirs and even more draw from the Savannah River downstream of Thurmond Dam.

Collectively, water from the three reservoirs is used or withdrawn by municipalities intakes (not released through the dam) at an average of 51.1 million gallons per day (MGD).

Downstream users include the cities of Augusta and Savannah, in Georgia, and North Augusta and Jasper County, in South Carolina. Additionally, threatened and endangered species, as well as the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, depend on the river.

During the summer, an estimated 650 MGD is lost each day to evaporation from the three reservoirs.

For more information on current lake levels and projections, visit the District’s lake-level website at Savannah District Water Management.

To submit questions about the Drought Plan and Trigger Levels, go to our Balancing the Basin Blog by clicking HERE or scanning the QR code below, and create an account.