Category Archives: Hydropower

Content in this cateogry is meant to address questions about how we generate hydropower, what it is used for and how often we generate power.

J. Strom Thurmond Dam, then and now

Eight years in the making, the J. Strom Thurmond Dam was a monumental task for engineers and construction workers in the 1940s and ‘50s. Archival footage in this video shows the steps they took to layer power plant fixtures as … Continue reading

Posted in Flood Risk Management, Hydropower, Navigation, Recreation, Videos, Water Quality/Water Supply | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

Richard B. Russell – not your average hydropower plant

(A version of this article originally appeared on this blog May 29, 2013.) The youngest of Savannah District’s three multipurpose dam and lake projects, Richard B. Russell Dam differs from Hartwell and Thurmond, not just size and appearance, but also … Continue reading

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Dams demand best of operator trainees

(Above: Les Rice guides visitors through a quick tour of the J. Strom Thurmond Dam.) AUGUSTA, Ga. – J. Strom Thurmond Dam currently operates at 98 percent proficiency but its operators are expected to perform above this percentage. Operator Trainee … Continue reading

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Savannah River Comprehensive Study moves forward

Researchers working on the Savannah River Comprehensive Study reached another milestone recently when they completed modeling for the first four drought operation plan alternatives. The multiagency study seeks to provide a better understanding for the impacts and risks associated with … Continue reading

Posted in Declaration/Projection, Drought Response, Flood Risk Management, Hydropower, Savannah Harbor, Studies |

Changes affect shoreline uses at Hartwell, Thurmond

Often laws and regulations go into effect at the beginning of a new year. The Savannah District started three more this Jan. 1. All deal with shoreline management at Corps of Engineers’ reservoirs on the Savannah River. Two stirred little … Continue reading

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2015 – it’s a rap

It’s the end of the year, halls decked with cheer So it’s time to look back for the Corps of Engineers Projects so vast too much to count but here’s a quick bit for what we’re all about

Posted in CSS Georgia, Fish and Wildlife, Hydropower, Recreation, Savannah Harbor, Videos, Water Safety | 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 , , , , , , , , , |

Corps tests gates at Hartwell, Thurmond dams

The Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted limited engineering and operations tests on spillway gates at Hartwell and J. Strom Thurmond dams, Aug. 25 and 26, respectively. Watch Thurmond’s gate test here. Beth Williams, project engineer for the … Continue reading

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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 , , , , , , , , , , |

As Thurmond gate repairs end, water managers can target full summer pool

Drivers crossing the Thurmond Dam may have noticed two-way traffic resumed this week. That means workers finished the gate repairs on the dam. The one-way traffic ensured safety for workers. One-way began in February 2010, ended in the summer of … Continue reading

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