Lost Confidence in Lake Management Continues to Cause Huge Monetary Losses to Lake Interests

We have a major victory in understanding how to manage Lakes Thurmond and Hartwell to avoid the crises suffered in several recent droughts. Anyone following the situation now knows that simpy changing the drought plan so that discharges from Thurmond are reduced to 3600cfs anytime the lake drops 2ft until the lake is again full should eliminate any future crises during drought conditions. And further if we explore even lower flows such as 3100cfs to make recovery happen quicker we should be able to maintain the lakes at full or near full condition all the time. And simple logic points out that these measures benefit interests below the dam as much or more as they do lake interests.

However until we make this into a formal change in operation of the lakes the huge loss in confidence in Corps management of Lake Thurmond and Hartwell is destroying the economic recovery of the area around these lakes. Real Estate will not move in this area until people have confidence that their investments won't be trashed by the next drought. The many fishing tournaments and other recreational endeavors around the lake also suffer from people going elsewhere to make sure their needs are being met. And the businesses that feed off the fact that the area is attractive as a place to have a recreational home or for retirement aren't going to come back until they too have confidence that the past problems with lake levels aren't going to return.

In view of the fact that the losses in lake interests was in the billions of dollars and further considering the fact that we came close to not being able to sustain river flows adequate to meet downstream needs which would have devastated industry, water quality, and environmental concerns, we can not afford to ignore the need to change the drought plan. I initially thought the Corps recognized and agreed to these concerns and assumed they were going to make the needed changes. Now however the Corps has become totally silent on these issues. This leaves us with a major question as to their intentions and the area continues to suffer from lost confidence in these lakes due to recent drought experience. Further there have been clandestined suggestions that the Corps plans to return to 4200cfs the first of June.

Please. We can't afford to put off the needed change in drought plan. This area has suffered tremendously and the only way it can begin a comeback is for the Corps to formally correct the drought plan and publicize everywhere possible that these problems are history. If the Corps won't do this voluntarily we desperately need the assistance of our Congressmen.