The lake hasn't been full for very long at one time since the Richard B. Russel was filled. Three dams are too much for the Savannah River.
Thurmond Lake lured in plenty of visitors during the Memorial Day weekend, but water levels aren't what they were a year ago -- and forecasters say the situation will likely worsen.
"The predictions and briefings indicate it will continue to be a very dry summer and lakes are going to go down," said Billy Birdwell, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In 2007, declines continued into December, when the lowest level -- 316.18 feet above sea level -- was recorded Christmas Day.
This year could be worse: Levels are more than 5 feet lower than at this time in 2007. On Tuesday, Thurmond Lake's pool was at 321.02 feet above sea level, or 5.74 feet lower than the 326.76 levels recorded during 2007's Memorial Day Weekend, Mr. Birdwell said.
"Unless we get significant tropical activity, there is very little chance of the lakes coming up," he said.
Statistically, the lake rises fastest in February, March and April, when cool weather and seasonal rainfall are conducive to runoff needed to fill the lake, according to Georgia State Climatologist David Stooksbury. May through July are usually drier, with the hope tropical weather systems in late summer will bring rain.
Lower lakes render boat ramps and swimming beaches unusable, which increases the potential for accidents.
Two people drowned this year at Thurmond. On May 17, 20-year-old Serrmaster Dozier drowned while trying to swim to a sandbar at West Dam recreation area; and on Sunday 27-year-old Olvin Interiano drowned while swimming at the same park, according to Columbia County authorities.
"People should always pay attention to what they are doing out there, and they should wear life jackets while swimming in deep water," Mr. Birdwell said. "I'm speaking in general and not for any particular case, but in general, people sometimes overestimate their swimming ability and underestimate the distance they are trying to swim."
Melissa Cummings, of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, said Memorial Day weekend was one of the most active in recent memory in terms of statewide accidents and incidents.
Two drowned, and officers investigated 11 boating accidents that resulted in eight injuries, and made 39 boating under the influence arrests statewide. Four BUIs occurred at Thurmond Lake.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
LEVEL COMPARISON
Full pool..........330 feet*
Tuesday's level..........321.02 feet
One year ago..........326.76 feet
* Above sea level
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Comments
The lake hasn't been full for very long at one time since the Richard B. Russel was filled. Three dams are too much for the Savannah River.
Lake Russell is always full. With the reverse turbines they recycle the water that use to flow to Clarks Hill. The Corp is not capable of keeping their lakes full. If we have a drought this year, the lake will go to the lowest level we have ever seen.
The corp of engineers is here to make money by releasing our water through the dam to produce energy and nothing else. This is evident by looking at the lakes around us just 60 miles up the road Lake Murray is beyond full and as high as it has been in 20 years.
The corp has no interest in helping out the recreational use of our lake. Hence why so many from the CSRA have moved or go to Lake Greenwood or Lake Murray. Some of the other big problems may be the reverse turbines as well as Guides and Stores commercially fishing our herring out of the lake to use in other area lakes. Somebody with power in this town should really pull some strings (sorta speak)
If I was running for Congress, one of my pledge issues would be to "re-fill the lake." Just like I suggested 20 years ago that if I wanted to be President, all I had to do to get elected was to pledge to make Daylight Savings Time year 'round. Man, what a simple platform. Wish I could take credit for the extension.
Most of you have no Idea of what you are talking about. The lake is low because we are in a drought. The pump back units a RBR actually help save water. The other lakes 60 miles from here are not full and yes they may be somewhat fuller but that is only due to the fact that river does not have to maintain a min. flow down stream. If Thurmond does not release a minimum flow down stream, then Augusta, SRS, plant Volgul, and many other businesses can not function with out water. Also, with out flow, salt water backs back up into the savanna river and causes all kinds of environmental problems that you would wine about. The lake level has nothing to do with generation. These dams put about 100 million in power revenue back into the Federal Reserve each year. Not to mention provide you with clean cheap power. These Dams are win win for everyone. Suck it up and stop winning about crap only god can change. (Rain)
Good point (s) LiL Brown
Lake Murray is about 50 miles away and was low for several years but is now two feet above full pool. I don't think the Corps has any ulterior motives, they are just caught in the middle during a drought.
You can’t convince me that the Corps of engineers can’t regulate all the dams and get the levels at all the lakes and the river at any level they want. The last time I checked water flows down hill and there are some big ole hills/ mountains above us.
I live on "Clarks Hill" lake and it’s sickening to see the lake starting to fall again. Just in the past week the lake appears to have dropped almost a foot. That’s alot of water over a 70,000 acre lake. Seems to me that lake outflow could at least equal inflow. If Lake Russell releases water than pumps it back, how does that impact net inflow to our lake? Regarding outflow, check out- the river at Hwy 28. If the water level was much higher it would flood the homes. Also, River Island jumbo home river bay is slam full. Yes, we need rain but why not cut back on Russel pump back 20 percent and Clarks Hill outflow 10 percent to try to maintain rather than wait until we reach crisis levels. All it takes is a literal act of Congress.
You want the lake full? Here’s what you do. Get all (ALL) the people that live at the lake or by creeks or streams that feed into the lake to turn their water hoses on and throw them in for about thirty minutes or so a day for a couple few days and you’d have more water than you could shake a Largemouth bass at.
The lake was full in 2003, 2004, and 2005, but I didn't see anyone throwing a parade for the Corps then. It was even above full for 11 straight months from 2004 to 2005. We're in an extended drought; until that is over, the lake won't refill.
If hartwell releases 100 gallons into Russell and Russell then releases that same 100 gallons into Thurmond, If we assume russell was full at the beginning and then releases and additional 50 gallons into Thurmond. Now Russell pumps 50 back into lake from Thurmond. What does all this equal. 100 out of Hartwell (water from the mountains), O water out of Russell, 100 into Thurmond. which is used to generate and for river flow. See, same amount in, plus same amount out, and lake levels continues to drop equals DROUGHT
Quoted from patricathomas: "The lake hasn't been full for very long at one time since the Richard B. Russel (sic) was filled." As usual, patricathomas is piously convicted and marginally informed. I have sailed the waters of Clarks Hill Lake (I don't contaminate those waters by invoking the name of Strom the Shifty) since 1991, long after Russell was filled in 1984. There have been multiple succeeding years when the lake level was consistently "high" year-round giving me access to most anywhere I wanted to go with six feet of draft. No longer is that true. One can always count on ole patricathomas to carry on rhetorically about things of which he/she knows little or nothing. Not only is he/she ignorant of hydrological and hydrodynamic concepts, but he/she completely misrepresents the history of the Clarks Hill Lake water levels. Why, he/she doesn't even understand the concept of DROUGHT.
They are doing what the dam was built to do and that is to generate electricity to sell for a profit. They could really care less about the water levels.
...but I'm pretty sure that they could make more profit from recreational usage, then from electric power!....I guess? LOL
The Corps is operating under antiquated mandates for a "navigable channel" to Savannah, though no commercial vessel has arrived since 1979. Yes, shrimp need a winter flush of fresh water, but the Savannah has been raging full since the first Dec. rains. It only takes 3 inches to raise the lakes by 3 feet, if they closed the damn dams for a coupla days. I feel so sorry for everybody impacted by low lake levels. Sue the bastards.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
