April rains push past usual total

I can assure you that Mr. Birdwell has not talked to those downstream, nor are we in agreement. Savannah Riverkeepers and others believe the river flow should not be kept at 3,600 cfs when the lake is at 326 ft. Keep in mind if heavy rains come and the lake fills too much, that will mean higher releases will be necessary. However 3,600 cfs, as measured at Stevens Creek Dam, looks to be working well downstream at least in the Columbia County segment of the river. We need to monitor carefully as warm weather comes to ensure the river is not compromised. As vegetation starts to green, water demands increase. One point, if flow at Stevens Creek Dam drops below 3,600 due to warm weather, flow should be immediately increased as it is decreased when the flow is measured high there due to rain.

Alright then.

This may be the first year my 10 year old will see Thurmond Lake at pool. I live 30 miles from the lake and it's just not worth the drive to get there and find there's a 30 to 50 foot hike from the shore to the water. If it fills, I may take her out there to play and get some pictures of this rarity.

Upstream lakes, Russell and Hartwell, are now close to full average pool. In addition, full average elevation for Thurmond is 328.01 ft, not 330.

Hartwell is still four feet from "average" pool and six feet from full. At six feet down, 30% or more docks on Lake Hartwell are on dry land. Let the lakes recover and have a shot at a decent summer. The river is getting what it needs from natural inflows added to the 3600 discharge. The economy of the small towns that border the Hartwell and Thurmond have been ground zero for this drought, let us at least havea shot at full pool for 2009! The drought should have taught everyone that we need to keep as much capacity in the reservoirs as possible, while still meeting downstream needs, because we now know that our droughts can be fierce and lengthy. Having more water available at the reservoirs to outlast the next drought should be part of the revised Drought Contingency Plan that the Corps puts out.

Actually, as current as today, according to the Corps of Engineers site, Hartwell is at 654 ft with average elevation being 658 ft. Russell is 473 ft with average elevation being 474 ft. Thurmond is 326.25 with average elevation being 328 ft.

Hey, Billy. The streams downstream of the dam are swollen. You can shut off the flow from Thurmond for a few days and fill it up. Riverman's place won't be hurt at all.

My Corps 10-week Projection shows Thurmond releases going to 4200cfs in late May, with the lakes still 2 feet down, and starting to drop shortly thereafter. 3600cfs should be good until the lakes refill. That is 2.3 billion gallons per day down the river. Is the average of 2 feet below full pool a testament to poor pool management, but excellent cheap hydropower production? Is the SEPA running the lakes again?

Little Lamb...ha. You guys have to keep in mind that the river is a dynamic resource that depends on oxygenated water. Natural flows would provide high flows at times in a flushing manner. The Corp was doing that before. The good news for all of us is that the rain has returned. That's why the lake is filling. No complaints from me....yet. Just keep measuring at Stevens Creek Dam throughout the dry summer months and adjust flow from Thurmond to reflect the true flow at Stevens Creek as we have been doing during the rain.