WHAT DOES THE OFFICIAL DROUGHT PLAN SAY ABOUT DROUGHT CONTROL FOR OUR LAKES

Corps representatives repeatedly try to claim that Save Our Lakes Now statements are untrue.  This is especially true when one of our group makes comments to their Balancing the Basin Publications.  I thought it might be beneficial to highlight a few of these issues and show what the official Corps Drought Plan has to say.  Following are a few illuminating excerpts from the official Drought Contingency Plan published by the Corps in 1989. I will give a few more on the next blog posting.

Have you heard the Corps say they can't make any changes to the plan? 

• QUOTING FROM PAGE 2 OF THE PLAN:"THIS IS A DYNAMIC PLAN, SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS WARRANTED BY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.  AMONG THE ITEMS THAT MAY BE CAUSE FOR RECONSIDRATION ARE: ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE CURRENT DROUGHT, FURTHER STUDIES OF SALINITY INTRUSION IN SAVANNAH HARBOR, CHANGING WATER SUPPY NEEDS, IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER INTAKES AND THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OPERATIONAL PLAN A THE SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT"

First this implies that change based on what you learn from previous droughts is to be expected.  But with 4 plus major droughts since that time the Corps has refused to make any changes based on what they learned. Admittedly they have suggested studies but such studies can never provide the kind of quality information actual droughts of the whole basin can.

Have you heard the Corps say they can't reduce flows because of power quotas?

• QUOTING FROM PAGE 9 OF THE PLAN:"HYDROPOWER OPERATIONS:"ALL POWER PRODUCED AT FEDERAL PROJECTS (EXCEPT TVA AND ST. STEPHENS) IN THE STATES OF GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, FLORIDA, KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, WEST VIRGINIA, AND ALABAMA IS MARKETED BY THE SOUTHEASTERN POWER ADMINISTRATION (SEPA). SEPA COMBINES THE THREE SAVANNAH DISTRICT PROJECTS WITH THE SEVEN PROJECTS IN THE MOBILE DISTRICT TO FORM THE GEORGIA-ALABAMA SYSTEM. HYDROPOWER MAY BE SUPPLIED BY ANY COMBINATION OF PROJECTS WITHIN THE TEN-PLANT SYSTEM.  THE THREE SAVANNAH DISTRICT PROJECTS PRODUCED.------"

Save Our Lakes Now has repeatedly pleaded with the corps to back off power generation quotas when the lakes start into drought only to have the corps claim that would mess up SEPA.  In fact SEPA can draw from the other seven projects anytime we are in a drought and quotas can be ignored without damage to the system.

CORPS CLAIMS TO DISCUSS CHANGES FROM DROUGHT PLAN WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS???

I recently heard a rumor that Lake Hartwell was being dropped sacrificially so Thurmond would have more water for the upcoming national fishing tournament.  So I took a look at the Corps declarations on what the lake levels should be and then current data on where they actually are. The declarations page says Hartwell should be at 652.7 and Thurmond at 322.7 which would be a perfect balance. However the actual level at Anderson is 652.1 and at Plum Branch is 322.7.  Surely the Corps consulted with Lake Hartwell stakeholders before allowing this deviation from true balance??

CORPS REQUEST FOR COMMENTS IMPORTANT TO FUTURE LAKE LEVEL CONTROL

As part of the harbor expansion in Savannah the Corps proposed that a fish ladder be put in around the Augusta Lock and Dam so short nosed sturgeon can get to the rapids north of Augusta for spawning.  If built, this would be the first time the sturgeon have been able to get north of the lock and dam since 1937.  One glaring problem with this is that releases from Thurmond Dam determine water levels and flows through the rapids which will have an impact on spawning.  Given the fact that Fish and Wildlife have a direct line to the Corps on operation of the Savannah River Basin this will most likely be very problematic on setting release rates from Thurmond Dam.  To the point, lake levels will become a secondary consideration to flows through the rapids and be negatively impacted by the installation of the fish ladder.  Jerry Clontz who represents Save Our Lakes Now on the Savannah River Basin Advisory Council sent in the comment copied below. The easiest way to submit comments is via email.  The address is cesas-pd@usace.army.mil.

 Jerry Clontz ·

University of Virginia

All lake stakeholders should be up in arms about the fish passage. What the Corps is trying to do is allow short nosed sturgeon up and past the lock and dam so they can spawn in the river near Thurmond Dam. This will suddenly become the controlling factor for releases from the dam in order to optimize spawning conditions. It makes no sense to destroy recreation with further restrictions on level control at the lakes when you consider that these fish have not been able to get past the lock and dam since the lock and dam were built.

CORPS SHOWING TOTAL DISREGARD FOR RECREATION

On the one hand the Corps talks about the reason they can only drop to 3800cfs releases from Thurmond, rather than lower, is to maintain certain minimum conditions for the river below Thurmond.  But when rains swell the rivers they increase releases from 3800 to 4,000 cfs explaining that the Broad River is at higher flows to the lakes. This when our lakes are down 10ft and in peril of dropping even further.  WHICH IS IT?  FLOWS IN THE BROAD RIVER OR RIVER FLOWS BELOW THURMOND. WHEN THEY SHOULD BE DECREASING RELEASES OR EVEN SHUTTING THEM DOWN, THEY ARE INCREASING THEM.  ONE THING FOR SURE IS RECREATION IS NOT A CONSIDERATION. Hopefully one of our congressmen or governors will wake up to the fact that the Corps is not protecting recreation the way they should and force more rational behavior by the Corps.

CORPS ARROGANCE AND INCOMPETANCE IS ON DISPLAY RE: RECREATION

I can see no rationale for the current corps actions regarding releases from Lake Thurmond. With the lakes down over 8ft and poor prospects for recovery going into the summer season the Corps is using release rates in excess of 3800cfs from Thurmond. Further, although flows at Clyo increased to twice normal from recent rains, the Corps made no effort to reduce releases from Thurmond accordingly.  This behavior demonstrates a total lack of concern for Recreation which is a primary responsibility of the Corps.

All other interests such as fish and wildlife, water quality and supply, flood control, and power production have a way to communicate with the Corps. Recreation interests are totally ignored. If these other interests were ignored in the same fashion as recreation the Colonel would be removed for incompetence.  It is amazing to me that has not happened from the many years of failed protection of Recreation.

WHY DOES THE CORPS CONTINUE RELEASES FROM THURMOND WITH THE RIVER FLOODING DOWNSTREAM

A quick calculation looking at the area of our lake in acres and the rate at which the Corps is releasing water from Lake Thurmond shows that stopping current releases (averaging 3800cfs) adds a little over 1" in lake level every day.  This may not sound like much but if done for a week it adds roughly a foot increase in level. 

I'm sure the Corps is aware of these numbers.  Why then do they continue ridiculous releases of our precious fresh water adding to the flooding downstream.  This is totally shameful on at least three measures:

• these releases add to the damages caused by flooding downstream
• they add to the damages from low lake levels caused by the drought
• and last but not least this fresh water is headed for the ocean where it becomes salt water.

I used to think the Corps had no way to know what is happening downstream of the dam but a tour of the Lake Thurmond Dam shows this is not true.  They have full instrumentation of river flows and creek inflows.  More than enough data for any good engineer to safely control releases.

If you get a chance, ask the Corps why they are adding to the flooding and the drought at the same time and throwing away billions of gallons of fresh water. If you talk to your congressman or governor ask them why they continue to let the Corps do this.