Keowee-Toxaway Basin Enters Stage 2 Drought Amid Prolonged Dry Weather

The Keowee-Toxaway Drought Management Advisory Group (KT-DMAG) declared Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) for the Keowee-Toxaway River Basin on February 2, 2026, due to months of below-normal rainfall and insufficient recovery from a recent winter storm. This follows Stage 0 (August 1, 2025) and Stage 1 (December 16, 2025), aligning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Level 2 Drought Plan for downstream lakes Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond. All basin residents are urged to conserve water, while those withdrawing irrigation water from Lakes Keowee or Jocassee must limit pumping to Tuesdays and Saturdays only. Larger water users will reduce withdrawals by 5–10% or more. The LIP coordinates conservation among major users based on triggers like reservoir levels, stream flow, and drought monitor data, with biweekly reviews in Stage 2 and higher.