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 Spring 2008 - Page 4 of 36 -
Lake Hartwell Water Level Discussion: Usage, Drought, Economic Aspect
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News on the Lake
Magic Numbers (continued from page 1)
nearly 14 feet below full pool in November 2007, to 10 feet below full pool on the date of our meeting. Colonel Kertis indicated current weather forecasts project normal rainfall through March and into April, with below-normal rainfall in the following months. If this forecast is correct, then in three months time we will be back to decreasing lake levels. Colonel Kertis reported that water releases from Hartwell Dam had been reduced to 3600 CFS in November 2007 and remained at that level at the time of our meeting. He also pointed out that the current drought plan called for a minimum release of 3800 CFS; however, due to the seriousness of this drought, the Corps made a decision to go back to the original drought plan which called for the minimum release of 3600 CFS. The minimum release figure became the focus of the meeting — as was appropriate.This release number is extremely critical to influencing the levels of our lakes because it dictates the amount of water to be released each day regard-less of what inflows or rainfall may be. In addition to those of us dependant on the water levels in our lakes, the minimum release figure is extremely important to water stakeholders down-stream as well, who have come to depend on water released from the dams for a multitude of purposes. During the meeting, it became very obvious that since this release figure is critical to everyone — upstream or downstream — it should be computed based on facts and water usage studies, as opposed to being derived from precedent or presumptions.
An attendee of the meeting posed the question, “Is there any scientific research that establishes the 3600 CFS minimum release figure, currently being used, as the best figure for the Savannah River Basin as a whole?” After a great deal of discussion from the experts around the table, they agreed that there was no information that could substantiate |
a release number of 3600 CFS. They further agreed that no specific stake-holder downstream could be identified as needing a minimum of 3600 CFS of water to be released. In my opinion, these conclusions form the basis for change in Corps policy toward releasing water through Hartwell Dam.After determining that the minimum release of 3600 CFS of water per day can be reduced without harming anyone downstream and benefiting everyone upstream, one might think: “Let’s do it.” Well, such decision making may work in your home or business, but it certainly doesn’t work that way in a bureaucracy. Now please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I’m not pointing fingers at anyone. I believe everyone involved is willing to experiment with releases below 3600 CFS, but no one knows exactly how to do that. The minimum figure 3600 CFS has been in place for over 10 years, and many have come to believe that is the correct number — because it has been for so long. There are some federal agencies that could get in-volved to help change this policy, and Congressman Barrett promised to use his influence to expedite any delays in the policy change that would occur as a result of federal regulations. Colonel Kertis stated that although he is the commander of the Savannah District, he does not know if he has the authority to reduce the releases from 3600 CFS but promised to continue to evaluate the situation.It is my belief that with Congressman Barrett and Colonel Kertis working together on this issue, we will in a few months find some progress toward establishing a new and more equitable minimum release figure — a minimum release figure that will ensure stakeholders downstream have enough water to meet their needs and assure upstream stakeholders that no more water is released downstream than is absolutely necessary. |
Transferring water between basins was another topic of note at the meeting. Colonel Kertis expressed his concerns regarding Georgia’s thirst for water, especially in the Atlanta area. Although he was quick to say he had never attended any meetings where interbasin transfers to Atlanta were discussed, he still believes this to be an issue for us to be concerned about. Mike Massey stated that the threat of transferring water is why a compact agreement between Georgia and South Carolina is needed. He along with several others have been instrumental in introducing legislation in South Carolina which will move us in that direction. Also as I am writing this article, state-recognized water committees from Georgia and South Carolina are meeting in Augusta, Georgia, to discuss various issues including interbasin water transfers. Hopefully in the near future we will have some positive information to report from these groups. Another issue discussed was the closing of some boat ramps and recreation areas around Hartwell Lake. This was brought up by Mark Rhodes who stated he has seen many droughts on the lake, some causing levels to drop more than the current drought, but he has never seen recreation areas closed to the extent they are currently. Colonel Kertis stated that the closings are not as much a result of drought but are related to a decrease in funding to the Corps’ budget. Colonel Kertis stated that the Corps does not get to keep fees collected from users, instead the money is sent to Washington, D.C. Colonel Kertis stated if the Corps could retain these fees locally, it could eliminate closings. He further stated a Bill has been introduced to allow the Corps to keep the monies raised from fees. Congressman Barrett pledged his support and promised to join with other legislators to help get this legislation passed. Clearly the Corps has become more proactive in protecting water levels in our lakes during drought |
situations. Evidence of their willing-ness to act includes: reducing minimum discharge to a figure below specifications in the current drought plan and, in conjunction with SEPA, buying power to meet contracts rather than lowering lake levels to generate power. We certainly appreciate all these efforts of the Corps. However, I wish we had had time during the meeting to discuss the fact that such efforts go into effect after we have lost 3 to 4 feet of water at Trigger Point One. In a drought situation, we can lose 3 to 4 feet of water in only a few months, and if the drought con-tinues, it could take 2 to 3 years to get that water back. In future meetings, I hope we can address measures to preserve water levels before we enter a drought and have lost a significant amount of water. All in all I thought it was a great meeting addressing one of the most complicated issues I have ever been faced with. I appreciate Congress-man Barrett putting this meeting together, and I assure all of you that he fights hard to protect our inter-ests here in the Upstate while ensur-ing that all water users are treated fairly both upstream and down-stream. I have found Colonel Kertis to be very fair in his approach to a very complicated issue. His com-mon sense approach is rare in government, and I find it refreshing. I truly believe that his goal is to ensure that every stakeholder on the Savannah River Basin is treated fairly. Although being treated fairly may mean the upstream lakes may not be treated exactly the way I would want and the downstream flow may not be exactly what others would want, I do believe we can all work together to improve the man-agement of our water, not only for us but for our children and grand-children. Please join with me in en-couraging Congressman Barrett and Colonel Kertis to continue working together on this critical issue. |
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