Heavy rains ahead of the winter weather in Northeast Georgia have resulted in a historic event at Lake Hartwell.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened all 12 spillway gates on Hartwell Dam one foot, allowking up to 13,400 cubic feet per second to pass through the gates into the upper Savannah River.
The water will be recaptured downstream at Russell Dam at Lake Richard B. Russell.
According to a press release from the USACE, officials ordered the gates opened before the reservoir levels reached a critical level. Opening gates during daylight hours allows workers to operate and monitor the gates before predicted freezing temperatures, thus avoiding gate operation during dangerous conditions such as slippery surfaces and limited visibility.
Friday's level of Lake Hartwell was 662.18 feet and rising, roughly six feet above the desired level for this date. Full summer pool for the lake is 660 feet.
More than 2 inches of rain fell on the Hartwell watershed by midday Friday, with an inch or more additional rain predicted over the next few days.
Corps officials report that under the current conditions of saturated soils and cold temperatures, each inch of rainfall equals approximately a one-foot rise in reservoir levels. In addition, they say privately-owned reservoirs upstream of Lake Hartwell have released water that accounts for additional inflow into Hartwell.
Due to icy weather conditions and full river flows near the dam, Corps officials are urging the public to avoid the area. Those who do visit are warned to use extreme caution when driving or walking in the area, and boaters are urged to avoid all areas immediately downstream of Hartwell Dam.
In addition to the 13,400 cfs of water passing through the gates, 23,000 cfs of water continues to pass through the dam’s turbines generating electricity.
Opening all gates on the dam has happened only twice previously, in 2013 and in 1964.
The gates will remain open through the weekend.
