News Release
Release No: 06-36 Nov. 29, 2006
Corps officials to hold public meetings on drought management, lake levels

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The commander of the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers will hold two public meetings in the upper Savannah River basin to
discuss the water management at Lakes Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond during
the current drought. The Savannah District manages the three reservoirs and
the dams that form them.

The meetings will be held at the Anderson Area YMCA, 201 E. Reed Rd.,
Anderson, S.C., on Dec. 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the Belair
Conference Center, 4083 Belair Rd., Augusta, Ga., on Dec. 14, from 4 p.m. to
8 p.m. The information will be presented throughout the event so the public
may come-and-go at their convenience.

Topics will include lake level predictions, water conservation management,
hydropower production, and the new drought contingency plan for the upper
Savannah River. Col. Mark S. Held, Savannah District commander, will host
the meetings and will be on-hand to discuss public concerns. He will give
brief presentations throughout the events.

The three lakes entered Drought Contingency Level 2 on Aug. 28. Recent rains
and increased use of Russell Dam's pump-back capabilities have slowed the
decline in lake levels. During Drought Contingency Level 2, managers may
discharge no more than a weekly average of 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs)
through the Thurmond Dam. In recent weeks, managers have voluntarily reduced
that amount to 3,800 cfs to conserve more water in the lakes.

On Nov. 27 Lake Hartwell was at 652.5 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl),
Lake Russell was at 474.4 ft-msl, and Lake Thurmond was at 322 ft-msl.
In spite of recent rains, the lake levels remain in Drought Contingency Level
2 and will remain there well into 2007. In 2006 the upper Savannah River
basin has received approximately 27.5 inches of rain. The average annual
rainfall for the area is 46.8 inches.

Contact:
Billy Birdwell 912-652-5014 (24 hours: 912-677-6039)
billy.birdwell@us.army.mil
District Website www.sas.usace.army.mil