Tag Archives: flood storage

Dry conditions begin to emerge as inflows decrease

The last three months of 2015 brought with it a surge of precipitation that exceeded normal rainfall by more than 200 percent across the upper Savannah River Basin. At Thurmond in particular December rainfall approached 300 percent of normal, soaking … Continue reading

Posted in Declaration/Projection, Rainfall Update, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

Corps responds to shoreline management concerns

As we expected, the original post last week generated significant attention here on the blog and through email directed to our office. Five issues seemed to stand out which I will address.

Posted in Recreation, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Progress Report: Flood Storage Study results are near

Since our last progress report on the flood storage study published November 2014, we received a few inquiries on when the results would be released. In the above linked post we estimated the study would take approximately six more months … Continue reading

Posted in Declaration/Projection, Drought in the News, Flood Risk Management, Hydropower, Recreation, Studies, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

What to expect with this year’s winter drawdown and refill

If we were to use the current conditions of the Savannah River Basin as indicators, it would seem reasonable to conclude we are facing imminent drought.

Posted in Declaration/Projection, Drought in the News, Drought Response, Studies, Water Management, Water Quality/Water Supply | Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

Reservoirs maxed out: Flood storage captures excess rainfall

The rain event that occurred Sunday, April 19, caused both Hartwell and Thurmond to exceed the limits of conservation storage (almost simultaneously) as water levels rose into flood storage territory. As of this writing, Hartwell’s elevation has climbed more than … Continue reading

Posted in Flood Risk Management, Hydropower, Rainfall Update, Water Management, Water Quality/Water Supply | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Updates on the Savannah River Basin Comprehensive and Flood Storage studies

Update on the Flood Storage Assessment In October 2013 we announced an initiative to assess our flood storage capacity to test the possibility of reducing our current flood storage allotment. More specifically, the study will provide information that will better … Continue reading

Posted in Drought in the News, Drought Response, Flood Risk Management, Hydropower, Navigation, Studies, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Nature Conservancy examines ecosystem flow needs for Comp. Study

Editor’s Note: This article is authored by Eric Krueger, director of science and stewardship with the Nature Conservancy South Carolina field office. Eric and his team are working on an ecosystem flow study that will be incorporated into the ongoing … Continue reading

Posted in Fish and Wildlife, Guest Author, Studies, Water Management, Water Quality/Water Supply | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

December rainfall puts basin into flood storage; sets record for Thurmond

This December, the Savannah River Basin received above-average rainfall at all three Corps of Engineers reservoirs. Excess rainfall filled the reservoirs past their “summer full pool” levels and into a portion of their flood storage space. A new record was … Continue reading

Posted in Flood Risk Management, Rainfall Update, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Why do we need a study on the winter drawdown?

We often hear people suggest the Corps should limit the amount of winter-draw down to 2 feet instead of four. They point out that when Thurmond Dam and Lake were built, a 4-foot winter drawdown was established to make room … Continue reading

Posted in Flood Risk Management, Studies, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

July 2013 sets new rainfall records, sees reservoirs jump

By Billy Birdwell, Public Affairs Specialist Wow! What an exciting month we just had in the Savannah River basin! Last month set the July record for rainfall at all three reservoirs. Hartwell Lake received 13.37 inches, Russell Lake received 9.97 … Continue reading

Posted in Flood Risk Management, Hydropower, Rainfall Update, Uncategorized, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |