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.