Low lake levels taking toll on boat bottoms

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - The four-year drought that has the Southeast in its grip means dents, scrapes and busted propellers for hundreds of boats plying the waters on the lakes on the South Carolina-Georgia border. <br> <br> ``When the lake is down this far, there are going to be wrecks,&#39;&#39; says James Parker, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ``Based on what they are saying, we don&#39;t expect any major improvements this summer.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Lake Thurmond is nearly 9 feet below full pool while Lake Hartwell is 8 feet below and Lake Russell 2 feet below. Hartwell and Thurmond are expected to lose another 2 feet by the end of the month. <br> <br> ``I&#39;ve only been here a few years, so I&#39;m not sure what it is supposed to look like at full,&#39;&#39; said James Burroughs, service manager at the Hartwell Marina on the Georgia side. <br> <br> Several boat ramps were closed this week at Lake Thurmond because of low water. <br> <br> While there are no specific figures on boats damaged because of the low water, Parker says there seem to be more problems now. <br> <br> ``The main channel is certainly deep enough to boat safely, but most folks don&#39;t spend their time in the middle of the lake. They spend their time in coves,&#39;&#39; he says. ``Those are shallower than normal and there are opportunities for stumps and sandbars to be closer to the surface.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> A big problem is damaged propellers and that has meant more business at the marina which has several areas stacked three high with boats, many needing repairs, Burroughs said. <br> <br> But the drought is a mixed blessing, said Lynette Goran, the marina office manager. The low water has allowed the marina to expand docks and ramps, work that normally could not have been done with the lake at full pool. <br> <br> Parker says people need to be careful boating in drought conditions. <br> <br> ``People have to claim some kind of responsibility and realize these are unusual conditions and will remain pretty unusual,&#39;&#39; he says. ``It&#39;s all the stuff we have been saying for four years. This drought is not new.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The lowest level recorded on the lake was in 1981, and the water level recovered in the next few years. ``It always comes back,&#39;&#39; Parker said. ``It rains.&#39;&#39;