The commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, approved a new drought management plan governing Lakes Thurmond, Russell and Hartwell on the Savannah River. This culminates a review that began at the end of the last drought in 2002.

"This plan improves the way we respond to droughts in the Upper Savannah River Basin and balances the impacts on hydropower generation, recreation, water quality and supply, while maintaining environmental stewardship," said Col. Mark S. Held, the Savannah District Commander. Colonel Held signed the Findings of No Significant Impact as part of an environmental assessment, to implement the updated plan. "This is the first major change we have made to the drought management plan since 1989."

Colonel Held said the updated plan represents a needed and active approach to improve water management on the Savannah River during drought periods. He said the frequency and severity of droughts in the southeast region appears to be on the increase since the early 1980s. "I felt it was prudent to update the 1989 Drought Contingency Plan to conserve more water in the lakes in the earlier stages of a drought while considering and balancing the needs of all the water users in the basin," he said. Colonel Held went on to say that all users suffer to one degree or another during a drought.

"We actively sought and received input from the states of Georgia and South Carolina, other state and federal agencies, major commercial, residential and environmental stakeholders from the upper basin downstream to Savannah," Colonel Held said. "It was a highly cooperative effort following years of hard work from all the stakeholders." The district developed this drought plan update as part of phase 1 of the Savannah River Basin Water Resources Comprehensive Study.

The major changes of the update include decreasing water releases through the dams earlier than in the previous plan. In addition, when recovering from a drought, restrictions will be lifted in steps as the pools rise rather than remaining in place until the lakes reach full pool under the old plan. This incremental increase will more closely mimic the river's natural recovery.

Under the new plan drought level 1 will limit discharges to a weekly average of 4,200 cubic feet per second (cfs). There were no level 1 flow restrictions under the old plan. The lakes are currently in drought level 2 which limits the average weekly discharge from Thurmond Dam to 4,500 cfs. Under the new plan the level 2 limit will be reduced further to 4,000cfs. Under the old plan level 3 restricted flow to 3,600 cfs, but under the new plan level 3 increases to 3,800 cfs. Holding the pools higher earlier in the drought provides greater recreational opportunities while increased flow at level 3 better maintains downstream habitats all the way to the estuary.

Savannah District will implement the new plan with its water flow restrictions as soon as practical.

When releases from Thurmond Dam are limited, the other lakes adjust flow to keep all the lakes in balance. On September 1, Thurmond lake stood at 324 feet above mean sea level (ft./msl) and Lake Hartwell was at 654.4 ft.msl. At these levels, underwater objects pose a greater hazard. Boaters should remain in marked channels or use extra caution when outside the channels. All lake users are urged to wear life jackets while swimming or boating.