There are two very disturbing developments with the Corps and Control of Lake Level. First the Corps appears to have signed off on a badly flawed economic study that concluded there was only very minor impact on the economy around Lake Hartwell from the last drought. And second, with the lake dropping like a rock just like it did leading up to the last major drought the Corps is refusing to reduce release rates and close off flows from the dam when the river is swollen from rain. Such measures would help greatly with our lake levels and avoid another approach to armageddon the way we did in 2008. This is after the Corps admitted publicly that they could go to lower release rates and stop unnecesary releases at their discression.
Many leaders from the local business community have become quite concerned as well as the leadership of Save Our Lakes Now and we are reaching out to Corps leadership and our congressman for help. A letter sent today to our congressman in email form is copied below.
COPY OF LETTER SENT VIA EMAIL TO STAFF OF BROUN AND DEMINT:
Please, we need your help. The Corps of Engineers apparently is accepting an accounting report from Clemson University that is badly flawed. The study was done to determine the magnitude of economic harm caused by drastic losses in lake level during the drought of 2008. Instead of looking at economic effects of the drought such as decreased real estate values around the lake, this study looked primarily at total retail occurring in the 6 county area surrounding Lake Hartwell. This proved only that the occupants around the lake did not pack up and leave during the drought. And of course the drought, by destroying property values, made it impossible for property owners around the lake to leave. Instead they stayed and their grocery, car, movies, gas, etc. purchases remained unchanged making it look like there was no effect on the economy.
One major economic impact of lake levels is its effect on both current real estate values for lake properties and future growth from people moving into the area to enjoy the lakes. Another major loss is future developments side tracked because of fear about problems with lake levels. Marina incomes, etc. will be small in comparison. And grocery, car, movies, gas, etc. purchases for the 6 counties around Lake Hartwell is not a valid measure of economic impact of droughts.
We understand that a similar study is in progress for Lake Thurmond. A study of sales in the counties around Lake Thurmond will in no way represent the impact of droughts on this area. Real estate values for homes on the lake (there are over 4,000 properties on the lake shoreline) dropped at least $500million dollars from the drought. This is in addition to the effects of the poor economy nationwide. And there are numerous developments valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars that cannot proceed until confidence is restored in lake level control. Matter of fact huge developments that could have had a large impact on the area were cancelled in the past with fear over lake level problems given as the reason.
It is too early to know for sure but all signs point to the Corps becoming non responsive to the needs of stakeholders around the lakes. With the lake dropping rapidly the Corps is refusing to reduce release rates below those called for in the drought plan that destroyed us in 2008. This is after they have admitted they have the lattitude to decrease flows based on the experience gained in the last major drought. We were hopeful initially because they were talking about dropping releases to 3600 and 3100cfs as the weather grew cooler and they were even toying with the idea of closing off flows at the dam when the river below the dam is swollen from rains. But all that seems to have come to a halt and now the Corps is giving its blessings to the flawed economic study mentioned above.
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