Persistent Rainfall forcing releases from Dams

Excessive rainfall continues to fall throughout the Savannah River Basin, which will result in a scheduled increase of water releases at the J Strom Thurmond Dam around noon today. The Richard B. Russell and Thurmond sub basins along with the area immediately beneath Thurmond Dam received approximately 1.5 inches of rainfall in the last 12 hours, prompting an increase in outflows from 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 37,000 cfs by noon today. Combined with localized inflows below Thurmond dam, the river flow near Augusta could reach flows as high as 45,000 cfs today. The upper pool above the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam could reach as high as 117 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl) and sustain high velocities. Last night’s rain event contributes to the extraordinary volume of rainfall observed in the last 10 days, approaching nearly 600 percent of average for this time of year. The resulting conditions include extremely saturate soils, higher than normal inflows and water levels occupying the flood storage capacity of all three Savannah River Basin reservoirs: Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond. As of 9 a.m. today elevation at Hartwell Lake was 664.5 (ft-msl), at Richard B. Russell, 479.1 ft.-msl, and at J. Strom Thurmond 332.2 ft.-msl.  Potentially hazardous conditions resulting from high water and increased flows include floating debris, submerged retaining walls and higher river velocity downstream of Thurmond Dam. Additional flooding is also expected in the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Park and at Fury’s Ferry.  There are also a number of Corps recreational facility closures in the Hartwell and Russell areas. At Hartwell these include: all courtesy docks and most ramps, Long Point Recreation Area, Asbury Recreation Area, Georgia River Campground and Recreation Area, Singing Pines Recreation Area – Loop to Shelter and Ramp Closed, South Carolina River Recreation Area, Broyles Recreation Area – Shelter Loop Closed, 12 Mile Recreation Area – Beach Loop Closed, Springfield Campground – Sites 12-18, 27-48 Closed, Oconee Point Campground – Sites 27, 41-42, 61-67 Closed, Watsadler Campground – Sites 2 – 5, 8, 27, 28 Closed.  At Russell, these include all beaches, Power removed from gas dock and 80 slip docks in Beaver Dam, Lowest walkway at fishing pier below dam.  Releases from Thurmond Dam will be conducted through the turbines and not the spillway gates to make efficient use of the water; however, the gate tests scheduled for Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond remain on schedule.  Water will be evacuated from flood storage levels over the next several weeks, targeting the guide curve at all three reservoirs, in accordance with the Corps water control manual. Guide curve levels for this time of year are 660 ft.-msl at Hartwell, 475 ft-msl at Russell and 330 ft.-msl at Thurmond. If higher-than-average rainfall continues, it could take up to 45 days or more to reach guide curve at all reservoirs.