Hartwell, Thurmond reservoirs enter drought level 1

Despite heavy rainfall over the weekend, the reservoirs on the Upper Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, declared the first drought level Sunday, Sept. 10, in response to the pool elevation at J. Strom Thurmond Lake dipping below 326 feet above mean sea level. 

Entering Drought Trigger Level 1 activates the Corps’ 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. Reducing outflow decreases the amount of hydropower generated through the dams but conserves more water in the reservoirs.

The Corps expects the pools to stay in Level 1 and continue to gradually decline through December.

June-August 2023 inflows from rainfall were about 70% of the average inflows.

Stan Simpson, senior water manager for the Savannah District, stated, “This year, the reservoirs have remained at full pool thru July. As is typical, inflows have declined across the summer months leading to a declining pool. Last year, we were near the same pool levels and had already triggered drought operations.  The reservoirs experienced a typical late summer decline that has been intensified by a deficit in rainfall across the basin over the last three months.”

Currently, swim beaches and boat launching lanes are open, 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.

Boaters and skiers should use extra caution when out on the lakes. 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.

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