Tag Archives: declaration

Upper Savannah reservoirs enter Drought Level 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The three reservoirs on the Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered the first drought level today when pool elevation at Thurmond Lake dipped below 326 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl). Entering … Continue reading

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Living on borrowed rain

Now that it’s officially summer, the heat is on in more ways than one. Namely, if the trend of sub-par precipitation doesn’t improve, the basin could enter drought level 1 before August. That same trajectory would bring us to drought … Continue reading

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Evidence continues to point to wet winter for the basin

Last week, climatologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued their winter outlook for 2015-2016. Based on their predictions, the southern U.S. can expect a cooler, wetter winter, whereas the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions should experience … Continue reading

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Wettest month on average proves a disappointment for 2015

The graphic says it all: rain deficit in March this year is significant. Hartwell received just under three inches of rain in a month where it normally gets six. And while this wasn’t the lowest amount the sub-basin has received, … Continue reading

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Fish spawning season is here—and it’s looking good, Corps biologist says

The annual water management period for fish spawning officially began April 5 in the Savannah River Basin—and so far, conditions are favorable for a very productive spawn, said Jamie Sykes, fisheries biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah … Continue reading

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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

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How do I find the weekly declaration and projection?

For the last three months, we have posted on this blog the weekly declaration and 10-week projection for the Savannah River reservoirs. We posted this information so stakeholders and the public would retain access while our water management website was … Continue reading

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Weekly Declaration – Outflows holding steady at Hartwell, Russell & Thurmond

Today water managers released the weekly declaration and 10-week projection for the Savannah River reservoirs, calling for next week’s outflows to remain at similar levels compared to last week. Starting Saturday Oct. 12, the daily average outflow rate at the … Continue reading

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September rainfall & declaration: Corps to lower Thurmond outflows next week

After a very wet summer, the Savannah River Basin recorded below average rainfall for the month of September; however, soils are moderately saturated and overall basin conditions remain wet. The Hartwell sub-basin received 2.7 inches of rain this September, which … Continue reading

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Weekly Declaration: Corps to lower outflows next week at Hartwell & Thurmond dams

Today our water managers released the weekly declaration and 10-week projection for the Savannah River reservoirs, calling for reduced outflows next week at the Hartwell and Thurmond Dams. Starting Monday Sept. 30, the daily average outflow rate at the Hartwell … Continue reading

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