SAVE OUR LAKES NOW BREAKING NEWS

CORPS NEEDS MATH LESSON

2011-08-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

Looking at the release rates from Lake Thurmond over the past year (july 2010 to august 2011) the Corps has been releasing an average of 5038cfs. In the process Lake Thurmond has dropped 4 ft and we are now in danger of another major impact on recreation and economics around the lakes. Most people do not realize how sensitive we are to release rates. The difference between a release rate of 5,000cfs and 3600 cfs over a years time is 14'. In other words had the Corps followed our pleas they would have only had to use a release rate of 3600 cfs intermittently over the past year to keep the lakes full.

CORPS CLAIMS "JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS"

2011-08-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

The whole Savannah River Basin is in jeopardy and we have answers on how to correct this situation but the Corps is hiding behind the excuse that they do not make policy. As we all know "just following orders" is not an acceptable excuse for acts that bring about destruction. We need congressional help or public exposure to get the corps to listen to reason.

We hve presented plans numerous times that prevent the destruction of recreation and economics when the lakes drop too low while at the same time protecting downstream interests by providing river flows that have been demonstrated to be acceptable. Rather than explore this approach the Corps spent huge amounts of time and money to develop a way to literally drain the lakes which would totally devastate the areas upstream of the dams.

Several things show the current approach in use by the Corps is not logical:
1. rather than balance water releases with what is supplied by rain the Coprps follows a release plan that bankrupts the system during droughts and runs the risk of destroying the whole Savannah River System
2. they lierally throw fresh water to the ocean during severe droughts when fresh water is precious.
3. they call hydropower a renewable power source but it is renewable only if you limit the water used to that which is supplied by rain.
4. they ignore demonstrated destruction of recreation and economics upstream of the dam in favor of possible imagined problems downstream.

Right now today the Corps is allowing the lakes to drop drastically and the levels will soon be destructive to recreation and economics. We have pleaded with them to drop release rates to
3600cfs which is acceptable downstream but thy are holding them at 4200cfs. In a years time 4200 cfs puts Thurmond 6' lowere that it would be at 3600cfs. The area went trhough a massive drought in 2008 which destroyed the economics of the region. This drought could be even more destructive because of its proximity to the one of 2008.

CORPS SHOWS INSANE PLAN TO LITERALLY DESTROY OUR WATER SUPPLY

2011-07-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

The Corps of Engineers has come out with a plan for managing the lakes of the Savannah River that wouuld drain all three lakes rather than practice simple conservation measures in a severe drought. As with money if you continue to spend more than you make you will eventually go bankrupt. Managing the water in the lakes is a similar proposition. If you send more water downstream to the ocean than comes in from rain you will eventually run the system dry. Water is one of if not the most valuable resources we have. Without it our industries shut down, cities have to be abandoned because of lack of adequate drinking waer, crops will fail, etc. etc. It is therefore insane to put a plan in motion that would drain our lakes during a time of extreme water shortage leaving us with no water.

The Corps and Save Our Lakes Now agree on the essential variables concerning the flow rates needed in the Savannah River to meet downstream needs. We disagree on how to manage lake levels to maintain these flows. Save Our Lakes Now sees the primary controling factor to be having enough water in the lakes to mainatin the needed river flows. The Corps on the other hand makes no attempt to maintain lake levels util it is too late to prevent destroying recreation and economics of the lake and river flows are in jeopardy. Following the guidelines proposed by Save Our Lakes Now a drought like the one in 2008 would be of little consequence. Thurmond Lake would cycle from full to 8' down and back to full. Following the guidelines by the Corps Thurmond Lake drops 16' in a drought like the one in 2008 which destroys the lake from the stand point of recreation and economics and puts control of fiver flows in jeopardy. Minimum adequate river flows are maintained by both plans provided the drought is not more severe than the one of 2008.

Looking further to the possibility of a drought more severe than 2008 the Corps has acknowledged that their drought plan which stops releasing water from the dams when the lakes hit the bottom of their conservation pool could lead to no longer being able to provide minimum adequate river flows. Recognizing this the Corps has now come up with an insane proposal whereby they would literally drain the lakes. Carried to its extreme this would destroy any possibility of having adequate water for downstream needs.

Save Our Lakes Now proposes simple conservation measures to make sure we never run out of water in the lakes. If we encounter a drought more severe than the one in 2008 we recommend the Corps adjust release rates at the end of each year to match whatever the annual average rainfall is for that year. The dams give the benefit of averaging the drought flows over a full year which avoids the disastrous effects of not being able to control river flows. The Corps proposal risks losing the benefit gained from the dams which would mean total loss of control of both the lakes and the river.

COMMENTS NEEDED ON NEW CORPS EA CONCERNING RELEASE RATES DURING A DROUGHT

2011-06-18T07:36:00.000-07:00

The long promised EA to test 3100cfs releases from Lake Thurmond is up for public comment. You can view the EA at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/planning.html . We applaud the Corps for getting this test set up but we disagree with the premiss that you need to wait until the lake level has dropped drastically before decreasing release rates to 3600cfs (3100cfs in winter). Release rates should match input from rain until they drop below this and then held at these rates until rainfall permits return to higher rates. We do not believe the lake levels should be permitted to drop uneccesarily as they have in the past.

From an evironmentalist standpoint you want to eliminate man's influence on mother nature as much as possible. Most died in the wool environmentalists wish we didn't even have dams. They want naturally flowing rivers where flow rates are dictated by nature rather than man. Holding the lakes full would mean the river gets exactly the same amount of water as prior to building the dams with the exception of times of severe drought or flooding.

From man's concerns both upstream and downstream of the dam you do not ever want to lose the lake. Upstream you want it to remain full as long as possible for economic and recreation reasons and downstream you never want lake levels to drop so low that you cannot maintain the river flows needed for industry, water supply, and water quality. Both can be satisfied if we simply hold the lakes full until release rates lower than 3600 cfs (or 3100cfs in the winter) are required to do so. And holding release rates at 3600cfs (or 3100cfs in the winter) after the lakes can no longer be held full matches the annual rainfall during the drought of record which should prevent losing the lakes even if the drought continues longer than in the past.

SEE LAKE THURMOND LEVEL BLOG FOR LATEST UPDATE

2010-05-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

The posting on www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot.com today gives an excellent summary of what we've learned from the recent droughts and what needs to happen from here. If you have a politician, friend, new lake resident, etc. wanting to be brought up to date on the lake level situation send them to this blog.

CORPS ANSWER TO OUR EMAILS ANALYSED

2009-12-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Col. answered some of our email senders. A full copy of his answer and our analysis of it are presented on www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot.com. It is very illuminating and shows we've still got a lot of work to do.

Also, beginning this evening the lake level alert page will show the current levels of all lakes in this region. In a glance you can see how Thurmond stacks up with Murray, Greenwood, Oconee, etc.

CORPS IS MISMANAGING THE SAVANNAH RIVER BASIN

2009-11-27T16:45:00.000-08:00

In spite of pleas from Save Our Lakes Now and many stakeholders around Lake Thurmond the Corps has dumped 6' of level out of Lake Thurmond in less than 2 weeks time. The releases averaged 25,600cfs and are causing flooding downstream. The only purpose we can glean from the Corps is to get to the old rule curve which calls for lake levels of 4' below full pool during the winter months. Why they have been in such a hurry to drop the lake level and why they have been willing to actually cause damage from flooding downstream is a mystery. For details of what we have requested from the Corps, what their responses have been and a chronology of events go to www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot.com.

The Corps is Refusing to Listen

2009-11-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

Try as we may nothing seems to deter the Corps from their appointed task of screwing up Lake Thurmond again. The lake is already well below 328' and continuing to drop rapidly. Apparently they plan to continue to 326' which is the old rule curve used since the dam was installed. That level over winter leads to disaster if we come out of the winter in a drought. The Corps knows that but for some reason refuses to do anything about it.

The Corps says that we need to drop Lake Thurmond 4' every winter to prepare for heavy rains in the winter and spring. But have you ever asked yourself why all the other lakes in the region do just fine over the winter without dropping the level 4'? And hasn't the addition of Lakes Hartwell and Russell to the system changed the magnitude of drop needed to catch run off from the mountains?

The other reason given by the Corps for this drop is repairs to the dam. However reason says they could redesign the equipment being used for the repairs to allow for 2' less drop in lake level. The question of expense to do so is a non event since the drop of 4' costs way more in economic losses to the lake communities than the cost of simple redesign of repair equipment.

Be that as it may, we still have a disconnect in our communication with the Corps. The best way to establish a connection that will last is for enough numbers to come together to get the attention of the Corps and our politicians the same way the tea parties are drawing attention to the disatisfaction of the nations' voters. If you haven't already done so, please send emails to the Corps and your congressman to express our desire for reason in managing Lake Thurmond.

LAKE MEETING IN LINCOLNTON MON 11/16

2009-11-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

Plans are still up in the air on Lake Thurmond for this winter and next summer. We will discuss the status next Monday, 11/16 at 7:00pm at the Lincolnton Court House. Please plan to attend if you have an interest in our lakes. One thing for sure is numbers matter when you are talking to the Corps or your congressman. And we are talking to both right now.

STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

2009-11-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

The Corps has increased release rates to over 9,000cfs and they plan to drop Thurmond 4' for 2 years for "repairs to the dam using stimulus money". General Semonite last Thursday in Anderson declared that our economy is not part of his concerns. We have made a plea for him to be reasonable and find a way to not drop the lake more than 2' for the planned repairs. If he does not respond favorably we will be asking for your help. We do not intend to sit idly by while the General and his team destroy what is left of our lake economic interests. Bad things happen when good men do nothing.

CORPS HAS INCREASED RELEASE RATES

2009-10-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

As everyone following Save Our Lakes Now realizes we have been pleading with the Corps to change the drought plan by limiting releases from Lake Thurmond to 3600 cfs (3100 between October to February) any time the lakes are 2' below full pool and continue at this rate until the lakes return to full pool. The Corps just gave us a slap in the face by increasing releases from Thurmond to 4200 cfs with the lakes 2' away from finally reaching full pool. This release rate is certainly not needed for downstream interests because the river is swollen from all the recent rains.

For further comments on this turn of events visit www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot.com.

COMMENT LETTER SENT TO CORPS FROM SAVE OUR LAKES NOW

2009-10-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Following is a copy of our letter sent to the Corps to comment on their EA for 3100cfs when Lake Thurmond is at trigger point 3. Hundreds have responded to our request to send comment letters to the Corps. If you have not done so yet please send in one of your own. We need the Corps to understand that we are not happy with this EA.

October 14, 2009

US Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, Savannah Planning UnitATTN: Mr. William BaileyP.O. Box 889
Savannah, GA 31402-0889

Dear Mr. Bailey,

This letter is in response to your request for comment on the EA permitting releases from Lake Thurmond of 3600cfs(3100 during colder months) when Lake Thurmond is below 316’. We acknowledge and wholeheartedly agree with your conclusion that these release rates should have no significant detrimental effect on downstream stakeholders. And from the perspective of both downstream and upstream stakeholders the closer Lake Thurmond is to full pool the better. Downstream stakeholders are protected from the devastation that would occur if we reached the bottom of the conservation pool and could no longer maintain predictable river flows. And upstream stakeholders are protected against the devastating effects of low lake levels on economies and recreation.

However we recommend you not wait until Lake Thurmond drops below 316’. At this point upstream stakeholders will already be suffering destruction of economic and recreation interests and downstream stakeholders will only have a 4’ buffer in lake level before adequate river flows can no longer be maintained. Instead we recommend you drop release rates to 3600cfs (3100 during October to February) any time Lake Thurmond drops below 328’ and remain at this release rate until the lake returns to 330’.

Please note that the minimum river flows are the same in both our proposal and the Corps proposal. The only difference is the trigger point. This difference avoids the destruction to upstream interests that occurred during the drought of 2008 and minimizes the likelihood of reaching the bottom of the conservation pool where downstream interests would incur unacceptably low river flows.

We note with concern your failure to protect the economies and recreational interests of upstream stakeholders in your proposal. You mention both but fail totally to address either in your proposal. We recognize that only recreation is written into your formal description of responsibilities. But intentionally ignoring what you are doing to the economic concerns of communities around the lakes is inexcusable.

Yours Truly,

Jerry Clontz, spokesman for Save Our Lakes Now

Cc: Col. Kertis

PUBLIC COMMENT SOLICITED BY CORPS

2009-10-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

Save Our Lakes Now (SOLN) commends the Corps of engineers for adopting 3100cfs as an acceptable release from Lake Thurmond during the months of October to February. We have been requesting this for months and are delighted that the Corps is responding to this request.

At the same time we are regretful that the Corps has not adopted the other part of our recommendation which is to do this any time Lake Thurmond is 2' below full pool. The proposal from the Corps as it stands now would be to wait until Lake Thurmond is at or below 316', which is a disastrous 14' below full pool, before reducing flows to 3100cfs. Waiting to this point would destroy economic and recreational interests connected with the lakes before taking corrective measures.

The Corps is requesting public comment before October 31. Please write or email the Corps with your comments before this deadline. They need to hear from us. The web site asking for Public Comment is www.sas.usace.army.mil. The email address to send comments to is william.g.bailey@usace.army.mil. The fax number is 912- 652-5787. And the mailing address is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, Savannah Planning Unit, Attn: William Bailey, PO Box 889, Savannah, GA 31402-0889.

The Blog site www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot.com will have further comment for those wishing to look further into the details.

CALL OR WRITE HANNITY AT FOX NEWS

2009-09-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hannity at Fox News recently did a special on how the environmental concerns over the extinction of a small fish (Smelt) was literally destroying all the farms in one valley in California. This is happening in spite of the fact that it affects about 12% of the farm output of this country. Our plight is similar in that the Department of the Interior is using similar tactics to destroy our lakes. For more details see www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot.com.

Please call, write, or email Hannity of Fox News to see if we can get him to help with our plight. Also you may want to contact Brad Means of Channel Six News about doing a local special on our situation. He is fully aware of our situation and is considering doing a special show on the subject.

YOU CAN HELP US SAVE THE LAKES

2009-09-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a must do list for everyone around the lakes who wants to help SAVE OUR LAKES NOW with our mission of ending the mismanagement of the Savannah River Basin.
1) Join Save Our Lakes Now which is a 501(C)3 non profit organization dedicated to getting good management for the lakes of the Savannah River Basin
2) Sign our petition which specifies that Lake Thurmond releases be reduced to 3600cfs (3100 cfs during the months of October to February) anytime the level of Lake Thurmond drops below 328' until the lake refills.
3) Call or email Col. Kertis and insist on 3100cfs right now to make up for the 4,000cfs during the summer
4) Plan on attending the October 29th meeting of the Lake Hartwell Association in Anderson (see details below under "PUT OCTOBER 29TH ON YOUR CALENDAR")

COLONEL KERTIS IS REAPING WHAT HE HAS SOWN

2009-09-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Colonel Edward Kertis is not helping with our pleas to restore confidence in lake levels for Thurmond and Hartwell. He increased flows from 3600 to 4,000 cfs knowing that we had no rain, knowing that the lake was falling, knowing that he had the authority to stay at 3600 and knowing that no downstream users had requested higher flows. He has even been quoted as saying that Lake Thurmond and Hartwell were never intended to be used for economic development and recreational purposes.

So far as the claim that our lakes were never intended for economic development it stands to reason that it is just wrong to destroy the economic health of the lake communities. Besides this runs counter to the efforts of the US Government to improve economics everywhere throughout the country. While the US Government is trying to maximize economic recovery the Corps which is a branch of the government is refusing changes that would improve the economic health of our communities.

So far as the claim that the lakes were not intended for recreational uses the Colonel is wrong. That is one of the major objectives assigned to the Corps of Engineers regarding these lakes and it is fully documented in their guidelines for managing these lakes.

I've heard him claim he never hears complaints from residents around the lakes about his management of our lakes. We need for everyone to call his office and complain about the Corps’ failure to improve their drought management plan and demand he drop to 3100cfs to make up for the summer months at 4,000cfs.

FINALLY WE ARE BACK TO 3600CFS

2009-08-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

Begining Saturday and continuing on from here on release projections the Corps went back to a release rate of 3600cfs. We are a foot lower right now than we would have been had the Corps stayed at 3600 the way we requested but at least now this foolish waste of lake level has ended. We have no idea why they finally decreased the release rate but we are certainly thankful that they did. Hopefully we have friends in high places who are making things happen.

PUT OCTOBER 29TH ON YOUR CALENDAR

2009-08-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Lake Hartwell Association (LHA) will be holding their annual Fall Information Forum at the Anderson Civic Center on October 29th. The theme is “Watershed Planning – Avoiding a Crisis”. Brigadier General Todd Semonite, Commander and Division Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division and Dr. Carol Couch, Director, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, will be the keynote speakers. All legislators along the Savannah River Basin will be invited to attend and hear about the need for improved water planning in the basin and why the State of South Carolina needs to improve the state water plan. The Save Our Lakes Now organization will also be attending since SOLN is a business member of LHA and to show support for water planning revisions in the complete basin. We plan to have ID badges, hats, etc available for supporters of lake planning changes and SOLN, a table for people to sign a petition to lower releases from Thurmond Dam to 3600cfs (3100cfs during the months of October to February) whenever the lakes are down 2' or more. We hope to have a good SOLN representation so the Corps and visiting dignitaries get the message that the lake organizations are all working together and are serious about revising the water level management of the lakes and basin. Watch this site and the blog site www.lakethurmondlevel.blogspot for further details.

WHY NOT 3600CFS NOW

2009-08-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

The Corps indicated they went up to 4000cfs because of demands of downstream interests. We requested all letters making such demands using the freedom of information act. None of the businesses or localities along the Savannah River had any problem with 3600cfs. The only requests for 4000cfs were government "sky is falling" entities who were worrying about possible and imagined consequences. Their imagination is costing the communities around the lakes a fortune with out improving the situation downstream.

Continue to ask your congressman and the Corps WHY NOT 3600 CFS NOW?

ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE OUR LAKES

2009-07-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Call or email your congressman and Col. Edward Kertis of the Corps and ask one simple question (addresses and phone numbers are listed on saveourlakesnow.org).

WHY NOT GO TO 3600 CFS AT LAKE THURMOND NOW?

A formal request was made to the Corps to decrease releases from Lake Thurmond to 3600cfs anytime the lake is 2ft below full pool. To date the Corps is refusing to make this change and they have given no reason for this refusal. Furthermore our congressmen are being misled with imaginary complicated problems related to river flows.

The issue is simple and straight forward. Lake residents and businesses can not afford for the lakes to drop 10ft below full pool because it is economically devastating to stakeholders around the lakes. Decreasing release rates from Thurmond to 3600cfs prevents this happening. At the same time all stakeholders along the Savannah River have indicated in letters to the Corps that 3600cfs is adequate to meet their needs. And keeping the lakes from dropping too low actually protects stakeholders along the Savannah River from the possibility of losing adequate river flows. So repeating, we need to ask our congressmen and the Corps why not go to 3600cfs now?