Hartwell Enters Drought Trigger Level One

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The three reservoirs on the Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including Hartwell Lake, have entered the first drought trigger level.

The Corps’ Savannah District office made the announcement Monday.

Drought Trigger Level 1 is defined as below 656 feet above mean sea level for Hartwell Lake and 326 feet above mean sea level for Thurmond Lake.

Corps Spokesman Billy Birdwell said the lake level at Thurmond Lake dipped below 326 feet above mean sea level in the last several days.

“That automatically sets off the trigger for the entire basin. When either Hartwell or Thurmond drop below their trigger level 1 level then it throws the entire basin into drought condition one, and they stay that way until both Hartwell and Thurmond come two feet above the trigger level.” Birdwell said.

With extremely low rainfall amounts and most of North Georgia now in an extreme drought status, the Corps has gone to the Drought Trigger Level 1 Status much earlier than normal.

Under the existing drought plan, the Corps limits outflow from Thurmond Dam to 4,200 cubic feet per second, averaged over the week.

Birdwell said reducing outflow conserves more water in the reservoirs but decreases the amount of hydropower generated through the dams.

“We have been using the pump back capabilities at Russell Dam for several weeks almost to the maximum and that way we generate power during the heat of the day when the demand is highest. and then at night when demand is low we purchase electricity off the commercial grid to pump the water back out of Thurmond lake back into Russell to be used again the next day.” said Birdwell.

Birdwell also said that the outflow from Thurmond Dam could be lowered even a little more if the flow in the Broad River, which feeds Thurmond Lake, falls below 10 percent as expected in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Birdwell cautioned that the low lake levels now mean increased hazards for people boating or swimming in any of the three reservoir lakes.

“We urge people, boaters and skiers particularly to be careful when the reservoir is going to drought conditions because the rocks and stumps that were left over from when the reservoirs were created are much closer to the surface now then they were before. So we want people to be extremely careful and always, always, always wear that life jacket when they’re in, on or near the water.” said Birdwell.

Also, Birdwell said swimmers should not venture outside designated swimming areas and dock owners may need to move their docks to remain in adequately deep water.