LAKES FINALLY FULL - NOW WHAT

If the Corps would only listen we could keep the lakes full and satisfy the needs of everyone downstream as well.   But to do that they have got to drop release rates to minimum acceptable (3600 cfs has been demonstrated to be safe repeatedly) the minute the lakes drop 2’ from full pool. Doing that if we are NOT in a drought the lakes will return to full quickly and normal release rates can be resumed. But more importantly if we are in a drought the lakes will stay within about 8’ of full and the amount of time the system has to be operated at reduced release rates will be minimized.  Following the current Drought Plan, which is what the Corps insists on doing, virtually guarantees a repeat of the 3 destructive drought events we’ve experienced over the past decade.

 

All lake stakeholders and all politicians interested in helping save the lakes are going to have to work together if we are going to get this mess corrected before another drought destroys our lakes.  One problem in doing this is the Corps’ arguments sound very convincing to anyone uneducated about how the lakes should be managed.  Let me suggest one approach for anyone not yet convinced about how the system should be managed.  Read both sides of the argument and ask a few questions from both those saying the Corps is screwing up and those who say the Corps is doing it right.  Our web site is the only one I know  that gives a comprehensive argument about how the lakes are being mismanaged.  It is www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot.com.  The Corps has a publication called Balancing the Basin. Several other publications explain how the situation is too complicated for the average person to understand all the  things the Corps has to consider.   If you are on Lake Hartwell don’t be discouraged by the title for our blog (lake Thurmond level).  Keep in mind both Hartwell and Thurmond operate as one massive body of water and the release rates from Thurmond control what is happening to both lakes so this site is talking about both lakes, not just Thurmond.  

 

Repeating, unless we want to destroy our lakes again, the Corps has to change the current drought plan and reduce release rates to 3600cfs (matches average annual rainfall in previous droughts) any time lake levels drop 2’ below full summer pool.  The Corps is not going to make this change unless all lake stakeholders and all politicians that want to help us get behind the recommended changes.  If the Corps follows past behavior they will claim that state and federal agencies have their hands tied.  Based on our discussions with state and federal agencies this is a gross exaggeration.  The problem is the Corps is afraid of those who insist on sending more water downstream than nature provides but not afraid of us when we ask that releases match the amount of rain that comes in over the period of one year.