Drought level on SC-GA lakes raised; Lanier down 4.5 feet since June 1

SAVANNAH - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has raised the drought level on three lakes on the Georgia-South Carolina state line.

Corps officials have reduced water discharges from the three reservoirs on the Savannah River.

Corps manager Stan Simpson says water levels on lakes Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond are expected to decline over the next several weeks unless there is a tropical system.

The reduction in water flow through the Thurmond Lake dam will reduce the amount of electricity generated by the dam but will conserve more water in the reservoirs.

The corps says water levels will be ample for fishing, boating and skiing on the lakes during the Labor Day weekend. But officials warn that underwater obstacles will be closer to the surface.

Meanwhile, the level of Lake Lanier continues to decline, as well. The level early Wednesday was 1064.75, down another 1.84 feet since August 1. The level has declined 4.51 feet since June 1.

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story.)

Lake Hartwell (photo courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Lake Lanier at Holly Park in Gainesville Wednesday morning.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/8/241508