Everything looks great right now with all the rain and the
lakes full. But the way the Corps
controls lake levels through the fall and winter months can wipe out all our
gains in one season. Right now the Corps
management plan calls for a 4’ drop in lake levels in October, just like they
have done for years. The reason for this
draw down is to provide room for heavy rains in the winter and spring. When this was put into effect we only had one
lake (Lake Thurmond) to catch the run off.
Now there are 3 lakes and a 2’ drop in level now equates to a 4’
drop before Hartwell and Russell were
added. We have pleaded with the Corps
for years to back off to only a 2’ drop in the Fall but up to now they have not
agreed to such a change.
We need help from our congressman and all lake stakeholders
to get the Corps to make this change.
Please contact your congressman and the Corps now about making this
change in the way the lakes are operated before we get to October. Unless we act now the lakes will be down 4’
come next January which puts us behind the eight ball when it comes to
returning to full pool in 2014. Protecting recreation for next year begins this
October. What we do over the Fall and
Winter months can make the difference between reasonable drops in lake level
during a drought and the disastrous drops in lake levels we’ve experienced in
recent years.
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