An opportunity to use federal stimulus funds to perform renovations to spillway gates at Thurmond Lake will require lowering the reservoir's pool level for up to two years beginning next week, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
"In order to do the repairs, we're going to have to keep the reservoir levels lower than we would want to at this time," said corps spokesman Billy Birdwell.
The lake's traditional full pool is 330 feet above sea level, with a winter level of 326 feet above sea level. During the past year, efforts to keep the lake fuller have included cutbacks in the volume of water released from the dam into the Savannah River.
The reservoir fell to a near record low of 313.68 during the 2008 drought and has risen steadily since the beginning of the year. The level Friday was 328.6.
Mr. Birdwell said the $3.9 million project to repair welds on spillway gates involves work at both Thurmond and Lake Russell. Contractors expect the work at Thurmond to take up to two years, with the Russell renovations taking as long as four years.
Consequently, Thurmond will be kept no higher than 326 throughout the work period, he said. "We're going to work with the contractors to see if we can go higher, but right now the target will be 326," he said.
Lowering to that level will begin next week.
Although the pool level will be kept lower during the summer recreation season, the corps plans to store additional water in Lake Hartwell (upstream from Russell) to provide safeguards against the impacts of any dry spells that could push Thurmond Lake lower than desired.
"Should we have another dry spell and Thurmond drops below 326, we will be able to move water from Hartwell to cover it," Mr. Birdwell said.
No changes are expected in lake levels at the Russell reservoir, he said.
Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
after a severe drought and lake levels have been low for seemingly years now they decide it needs work? if it needed work there have been opportunities to fix it. If they are do some work just to use available money, no wonder we as a goverment are in such debt.
Way to go Corps, just when we get the lake full you have to lower it. This work could have been done when the levels were low. The corps has no concern for the economy of the lake. Just another unneeded Govt entity not doing whats best for the people who rely on the money the lake generates.
This really made my day ! Stupid Corps.
Since Charlie Norwood died the lake has been in jeopardy.
The corps raised all the new fees last year and still has to hold its hand out for free govt money. Boy this country is in bad trouble.
Drain the lake and be over with it.
Billy Birdwell would have problems managing a bird bath. He has done nothing for Lake Thurmond. I think all the property owners, businesses and recorational people should protest and write their respective govt leader. We waited over two years to enjoy the lake and now this lowering. What if we don't get the needed rain? The water still has to be released to keep the Savannah river flow correct.
"We're going to work with the contractors to see if we can go higher, but right now the target will be 326," he said. 326' ain't bad... beats where we were for most of 2008! That's IF they keep the level no lower than 326'. It's only a little over 2' lower than where it is now - 328.7 I fish the lake almost every week and most courtesy docks and ramps are serviceable at that level. Some of the newer courtesy docks (especially Parksville) are very nice. Perhaps while they are squeezing a few nickels from 'Uncle stimulus', maybe they could repair some of the ramps and extend courtesy docks while they are at it.
With all of the money made off the timber cut all around the Big Hart Creek area and Georgia Little River area, there should have been enough money to repair all of the areas docks and ramps. The Big Hart Ramp and parking area needs to be enlarged. With all of the larger trucks with large boats the area is not large enough to park these vehicles. What happened to the timber money???
LOL: This is government at it's best and some clowns think the government can run health care BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
326 isn't that bad, but the timing is a bunch of BS. Typical government management. Where do they get some of these people????
Isn't it strange that the work on Clarks Hill requires lowering the lake levels but they can do the same repairs at Russell without lowering levels. Clarks Hill always get the shaft from the Corps.
Sounds more like a "make work to spend money project". Money that we will probably have to borrow or prine
Does it strike anyone as strange that the Russell dam, built in the 80s needs the same spillway repair work as Clarks Hill dam, which is over 30 years older? Yes, sounds like a way to spend money that is available, not spend money that needs to be spent. Great stimulus, I am sure the Chinese are happy to loan to us!
While I have always loved clarks hill lake and hated to move from the area It has been quite refreshing to not have these worries living in Columbia and enjoying Lake Murray. Think I will head out for a ride now.
It amazes me that anyone would complain about work on the dam. That's the water supply for a lot of the CSRA, not to mention electricity. Anybody that thinks fishing and boating are more important than water and electricity, cut off your power and water and go fishing.
This announcement has, once again, brought out the whiners who have financial interests in property around the lake. The money is available now because it is a part of the program to stabilize an economic system that has been sorely abused by the politicians (of all stripes) for many decades. The piper now has to be paid for those abuses, and so money is being spent in huge amounts for the stabilization efforts. A sensible and rational person would cheer the fact that some of it is going to be used to protect and enhance a hugely important feature of the CSRA landscape -- Clarks Hill Dam (I can't bring myself to call it by the name of that miserable old racist crook who was such an embarrassment to all those South Carolinians who actually think.). The message from Clarks Hill Lake property owners to everyone else, especially those downstream, is the usual one: "Screw you!" And, it's not the Corps of Engineers, whom the whiners love to castigate, that makes decisions about when and where government (aka, taxpayer) money is to be spent. It's your beloved politicians in Washington, including the dearly departed Charlie Novocain Norwood, who do the appropriating.
Let's see.
We could have done the work last year when the lake was down but there was no money.
We can do it now while there is money but we may not need it until a few years out and we don't like lowering the lake 4' (in summer) since we just had low lake levels. I Think I'll complain!!!
We can wait and do it when we need it but there may be no money and more taxes will be required - and there may be problems with the dams forcing us to do more than this for a longer time.
Lake Murray also had problems like this too contrary to "G's" comment (Where was he?). They were down over two years during a bad time so they could fix their dam. There were complaints but most people took it in stride and were happy to get it fixed before there were problems.
The Corps chose to fix the dam while there was available money. Seems smart.
The politicians voted for the stimulus with NO IDEA how it would be spent. Seems not so smart.
More stimulus money is available. How will it be spent? Probably in 2011 - just in time for an election. How - I can guess. Is there more dam or lake work in the cards? Who knows?
Something to think about!
Lowering the lake to 326 does not seem overly ambitious. However, is the work really necessary or is it just being done because taxpayer provided stimulus money is available. I thought this money was supposed to generate jobs. How will this generate any kind of lasting job positions?
We've just gone through years of the lowest water levels. We've watched the shores erode, the hydrilla take over large parts of the lake, the lake is almost at full pool (due to better management) and now their going to drop the water level again. The shoreline is horrible, people with docks are having a time moving them because the water keeps going up and down and people think this draw down is a good idea. I've always thought that when I need something done, I do it. Why are they using more of our taxpayer money to do something not necessary? Like said before: Where did all the money go when they butchered the corp line by cutting and harvesting the trees and leaving a mess? Why did they have to pay the first crew and then have to pay another crew to come in and clear more trees? Why wasn't the first crew made to correct the mistakes? This is our government at work.
Is this repair really necessary or is it just government spending money because somebody is handing it out? Here is an idea, bank the money, and the next time the lake drops to 320' go to work. that gives you six feet of rise before you have to quit working. Putting a few welders to work does not seem all that stimulating. Allowing all the businesses dependent on the lake to thrive seems like a good idea.
why is anyone surprised that something the government had a hand in is screwed up and needs repaired? why ask why? it would be easier to take a gun to your head and pull the trigger than to ponder the mysterious ways in which the big G moves. thus it has been and thus it will always be. you want a full lake, go to Oconee or Lanier. No one messes with the rich people's stuff.
Why didn't they work on this during the drought when the lake levels were already low? Talk about dumb!
I'm wondering how there can be so many adults that have no idea of how the Congressional Budget works. Do they think the Corps of Engineers has a giant Mastercard and can charge stuff without the money appropriated to pay for it?
Where did all the money go that the corp made off the timber cuts? Where did money go that they received due to increased fees? Where did all the money go that they receive due to increases in path and dock charges?
Some questions being asked by the group keeping people informed about issues of the lake: How critical are these repairs? Why do we need to use stimulus money now given the severe impacts to the Lakes during the last several years? When is the work actually scheduled to start? Why aren’t these repairs, if they are preventive maintenance, covered by District normal operations and maintenance money? Can they be done in phases? Will Hartwell spillways eventually be repaired also? What will that entail concerning ops and levels? Why do Russell when that was the last dam built (latent defect)? How long will this imbalance in the year round pools continue? What was the process to obtain a deviation for Hartwell to remain near 660 year round? Do the states need to be coordinated with the action and did they approve it? Since the repairs require maintaining the lake 4’ in the summer, which is level one to the drought plan, does that mean you will restrict outputs from Thurmond Dam to ensure the level of the lakes stays no lower than the 4 foot point while the work is being done? INTERESTING questions...
ditto to may of the comments above. and, if you want another example of their cash wasting, capital destroying, growth inhibiting behavior; did you ever wonder why we don't have a tax revenue producing, job creation business like a restaurant or hotel on our lake? many TVA and private lakes like Oconee, Chatuge and Norman have them. i just don't get it. if a Shooters type bar and grill can survive in seasonal climates like Cleveland and Lake of the Ozarks, why does the corp block these type investments in our area? ok. i am getting of the stump. sorry for the rant.
What kind of idiot is running this operation...We have waited for years to see full pool again only to have this bombshell dropped. Yes...4 foot low for two years is a big deal. For goodness sake, is there anyone in a high ranking position willing to take leadership and stop this madness.
OK, let's cut through to the heart of the matter- what will the impact of this project be on Stevens Creek? Won't that answer tell us if this is good or bad for the whole SRB?
OR, Why not put the repair money in a CD and wait for the next drought. If recent history is an indicator, it shouldn't take long.
If I remember correctly, that dam is over half a century old and likely needs repairs that have gone unfunded for years. My guess is the work is getting done now because the high ranking leaders southern2 complained about decided to fund this work now through the stimulus money. The Corps isn't the problem.... They just do what Congress tells them to do. Plus, what kind of problem are they averting by fixing the rusty old gates. If one of them actually breaks apart due to age, how low will the lake go then and what kind of bad stuff will happen to the communities getting flooded down stream? The lake was built to save lives downstream, not inflate the pockets of lake realtors or give dock owners a nice spot to store their boat.
Why would any project, especially one that affects the safety of this area, be allowed to go unfunded for years as stated by bloviator...I do not believe it. Considering the revenue generated by the lake from electricity production, campground fees, boat dock fees, increased property tax "recreational use", the above mentioned money from the Big Hart timber harvest, to name just a few. I'm thinking $3.9 million for 2 dams to be renovated over a four year period is not that financially large. What is being done with the money from the lake? Why do we have to wait for a handout from Obama to make these repairs? If the US Govt is not capable of managing the lake, let's remove the dams and return the Savannah back to it's natural state.
Why when Colonel Kertis worked with lake groups, on the changes in the lakes discharge, did our water increase in the lake? Why, when it rained, did they change the discharge of water and our lake level imporoved? Sounds like better management of the lake. Soon we will be getting a new Col to be in charge of the Corp and we hope he will also work to improve the lakes discharge.
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