SUMMARY OF DISCONNECT WITH THE CORPS

The corps keeps mentioning that they follow the water manual exactly.  And in the most recent BALANCING THE BASIN they mention that they are evaluating a number of plans for improving the drought plan.  To the casual observer our insistence on changes in the way they operate appear unjustified.

But, we have over 15 years of experience with numerous droughts and there is a lot of knowledge that was gained from those.  For example we know for a fact that the system can withstand release rates from Thurmond Dam of only 3600cfs because we have operated for many months at that release rate. What Save Our Lakes Now is saying is why not take the information we have already learned and apply it now. Why wait for the completion of further studies before incorporating what we have already learned.

So our recommendation is once the lakes cannot be held at full pool due to drought conditions we should go to 3600cfs release rate from Thurmond and adjust flows from Hartwell in a fashion that keeps both lakes in balance.  Based on the experience gained in many droughts this should keep the lakes within 8 to 10 ft of full pool even with the worst droughts we've experienced. SEPA who insists that Thurmond hydropower is primarily for peaking power would be protected against losing that ability.  Water quality and supply and fish and wildlife can survive this release rate. And the recreational infrastructure can basically handle drops of 8 to 10 ft in lake level. The time at 3600 should be better this way in a severe drought since the time to recover to full pool is decreased to a minimum.

Those of you who read Balancing the Basin may want to ask in a comment why the corps refuses to use what they have already learned and protect the recreational infrastructure.  Don't be surprised if they answer with double talk because the Corps simply does not feel they are responsible for protecting the recreational infrastructure. They seem to think it is simply whether fishermen can fish and whether boaters can put their boats in the water.  They ignore the many people who have made huge investments in building homes along the lake for the purposes of recreation and they ignore the marinas, dock builders, etc. who are an integral part of the recreational infrastructure.