Savannah River Water Resource Forum
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the S.C.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will co-host the Savannah River Basin
Regional Water Resource Forum on Jan. 21 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the North
Augusta Municipal Center.
"We are kicking off our statewide water plan update with this forum,"
said Ken Rentiers, director of DNR’s Land, Water and Conservation division.
"It will feature presentations from both agencies, along with a facilitated
discussion session that will include representatives from environmental organizations,
water suppliers, industry and local governments."
"This meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions
and provide input on water resource quality and quantity issues," said
David Wilson, chief of DHEC’s Bureau of Water. "It is an effort
on both agencies’ part to open up a formal channel to receive feedback
from the public, and share information on our plans and steps we have been
taking."
For more information, call Rebecca Spratlin at (803) 898-4355.
Lake Project Auctioned
by Jeff Sorrow
An auction for The Sanctuary at Lake Russell
began Monday, January 4, 2010, from the Abbeville County Court House Steps.
An official bid was placed for The Sancutuary by Key Bank, National Association.
Key Bank is the financial institution to which the debt is owed by Carolina
Land Funds, LLC. The bid placed by Key Bank is $2,504,721.95. Bidding will
remain open for 30 days. There is almost $9 million owed to Key Bank for the
400 acres.
Purchase USCOE Annual Pass
The 2010 annual passes for U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ day use recreation areas are now available for purchase at Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake Project Office. The annual pass costs $30. The new passes are valid 12 months from date of purchase and can also be obtained at J. Strom Thurmond Lake Visitor Center, 510 Clarks Hill Highway, Clarks Hill, S.C. and Hartwell Lake Visitor Center, 5625 Anderson Highway, Hartwell, Ga.
Alternative locations for purchasing passes in the J. Strom Thurmond Lake project area include Augusta Marine in Augusta, Sportsman’s Corner in North Augusta, Cliatt’s Crossing in Lincolnton, and West Marine in Martinez.
Annual passes sold in 2010 will have a “2011” expiration date sticker. Visitors should hang the pass from the vehicle’s rear view mirror so the expiration date on the decal will show. Open vehicles such as motorcycles or jeeps should display the decal directly on the rear view mirror, or some other easily visible location on the vehicle.
Corps day use areas typically include boat launch ramps, designated swimming beaches, and picnic areas. The annual day use pass does not affect campground use and fees.
For more information contact the Corps Visitor Center at either of these locations: J. Strom Thurmond Lake Project Office at (800) 533-3478; Hartwell Lake Project Office at (888) 893-0678; or Richard B. Russell Lake Project Office at (800) 944-7207.
2010 May be Last Chance for State Water Laws
by Mike Ellis
Anderson Independent-Mail
Environmentalists said Wednesday, December 9, 2009, that legislation
to protect South Carolina’s water resources needs to be approved in
2010 or such protections may not happen for at least a generation. Water
Laws
Atlanta May Get Water from Lake Hartwell
by MJ Kneiser
WLHR FM-92.1
The chairman of a Lake Hartwell group says a suggestion for taking water
from the lake for Atlanta could be workable if the region got something in
return. The suggestion calls for piping water from Hartwell Lake to Gwinnett
County. Lake
Hartwell
Drought Declaration Removed
From September 16-October 15, Calhoun Falls received 11.5 inches of rain,
according to SCDNR,
and another round of soaking rain the week of Oct. 12-Oct. 16 led the S. C.
Department of Natural Resources to downgrade the incipient declaration to
no drought status for 12 Piedmont and Central Savannah counties. The state
agency members of the Drought Response Committee voted on Oct. 16 to remove
Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Anderson, Abbeville,
Greenwood, McCormick, Edgefield and Saluda counties from any drought status.
CF Couples Place in Cookoff
Two Calhoun Falls couples placed in the 2009 SC Campground Cookoff in September.
Lois and Tim Rhodes placed first in the dessert category with "Campfire
Chocolate Éclairs". Frances and Ray Williams placed second in
the main dish category with "Carolina Sun Shine Egg Crackle".
Comment Period Opens on Temporary Changes to Drought Plan
The Savannah District of the Army Corps of Engineers proposes to make a temporary
revision to the 1989 Savannah River Basin Drought Contingency Plan and is
soliciting comments from the public on the change. The revision in the plan
would reduce the minimum daily average discharge of water from the J. Strom
Thurmond Dam and Lake from 3,600 to 3,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) in the
fall and winter months for the reminder of the present drought, if conditions
warrant the reduction.
The change would preserve water in the three Savannah River reservoirs and
delay the time at which those
reservoirs would reach the bottom of their conversation storage pools. The
Corps of Engineers would restore the
discharges from the Thurmond reservoir to the present 3,600 cfs per day daily
average if requested by either the
states of Georgia or South Carolina.
A more detailed description of the proposed action is contained in the draft
Environmental Assessment and
Appendices. The comment period, described in the Joint Public Notice, is open
until October 31.
Campground Cookoff Entertainment Times Announced
by Suzanne Modder
The Old 96 District Tourism Commission has announced that Charles Wood and
Caleb Fletcher will provide entertainment for the 2nd Annual SC Campground
Cookoff on September 18-19, 2009, at Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area on
Lake Russell.
Charles Wood, an award-winning banjo player, 1998 Merlefest Banjo Champion and winner of the 1999 Walnut Valley National Banjo Championship, will perform during the Iron Skillet Hoedown on Friday night, September 18, 7:70 – 9:30 P.M.
Caleb Fletcher, a talented young singer/songwriter who recently released his first full-length CD entitled "Songbirds," will perform on Saturday afternoon, September 19, 2:30 – 4:30 P.M.
These two concerts are free of charge to participating campers. A entertainment admission will be charged to non-campers. Exhibitors will be on hand to demonstrate outdoor cooking equipment, handmade jewelry and boutique handbags and jewelry, and for the youth a Sand Art and Color hair Spray Booth, 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Campers with a passion for cooking are encouraged to enter the competition. $2,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. Participants must be 16 years of age, submit a $40 entry fee and stay two nights at Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area.
The deadline for cook team applications is Friday, September 4, 2009.
Campground Cookoff
During the weekend of September 18-20, 2009, outdoor cooking enthusiasts will
gather at Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area to compete in the Second Annual
South Carolina Campground Cookoff.
Charles Wood, an award winning banjo player and 1998 Merlefest Banjo Champion and winner of the 1999 Walnut Valley National Banjo Championship, will perform during the Iron Skillet Hoedown on Friday night. $5/car.
Caleb Fletcher is a talented young singer-songwriter who has recently released his first full-length official CD entitled "Songbirds." Caleb will perform on Saturday afternoon. $5/car.
Drought Management Questioned
A new upstate organization, Lake Hartwell 660, is leading an effort to raise money and awareness for studying water levels and drought management for the lakes comprising the Savannah River.
Juan Brown, past chair of the Anderson Chamber of Commerce's Water Resource committee, recently questioned in an editorial the plan that keeps Lake Russell at full pool while Lake Hartwell is lowered during a drought.
"The Lake Management Plan requires slow, incremental release of water based on a study from the 1960s. During a drought it does not decrease to the minimum flow (3600 cubic feet per second) until Lake Hartwell is 14 feet down, but downstream always has a continuous full pool flow of water. Coalition 660 proposes that a new method of release must be developed that gives a concise real-time result," he said.
He said plans with stakeholders in the Savannah River are being planned, and he encouraged anyone who has an interest in the lakes to join the coalition's efforts.
"Lake levels and downstream flow is a multi-level complicated problem and must involve all of the Savannah River Basin, including lakes Russell and Thurmond," he said. "We will work with other organizations around the lakes and they can join us to combine our research and talents. We all need to work together for the benefit of our communities."
Come Outside: Boat Ramps
by Jeff Sorrow
I have lauched various boats at all of the boat ramps from Lowndesville down to the dam on the SC side and tried fishing in each location. The only one I haven't launched from (yet) is Gregg Shoals. It's the furthest from my house, so I haven't been up there.
I like all of the ramps and over the years have learned a little about each. We are blessed to be in an area with so many places to access one of the finest lakes in the south. If you don't fish, boat or are involved in water sports, then you probably don't realize it. Within just a few short miles of Calhoun Falls you can launch into various bodies of water that as a whole make up the 26,500 acres of Lake Russell. A map of Lake Russell is pretty helpful in deciding what type of fishing or in what area that you want to fish.
We will begin at Wilson Creek. Years ago, it was fairly easy to launch at Wilson Creek. This ramp gives you direct access to the waters behind Secession Dam. This, for us, is the beginning of the Rocky River part of Lake Russell. Now, unless you are using a small boat, it is very hard to launch here. The last time I was up that way, you were out of luck unless you were willing to hand launch a car topper, canoe or kayak. I think that repairing and sprucing up this particular ramp would be good for Abbeville County. This area would service the folks in the Nation, Antreville, Lake Secession and Iva areas of our county and obviously would be a sound investment.
Moving down Rocky River, we get to Jim Rampy in Lowndesville. This launching and recreation area is superb and allows access to the upper portions of Rocky River and as I've already mentioned, the waters behind Secession Dam.
Of course, Lowndesville offers a variety of launching possibilities. I've mentioned Gregg Shoals. That ramp is one of three in this area that provide direct access to the Savannah River. I mentioned that I have not launched at this ramp. I have been to it several times and would think that you'd encounter no problems. Other Lowndesville area ramps are Harpers Ferry and Allen Creek, which both allow access to the Savannah and are both on the enormous McCalla Pennisula.
Next down the line, is Felkel. As far as access to Rocky River, this ramp is simply one of the best. If you launch here, you will be in mid Rocky River. Allen Creek and Felkel both offer unique things to a fisherman. Standing timber, bridges, rip rap, and even old bridge structure. I say this is unique because if one chose to, these types of fishing are available from these ramps and are easily accessible to fishermen in canoes, or boats under power from paddles or trolling motors. My point is, you can have excellent fishing opportunities without spending a fortune, simply based on the close proximity of these ramps to the aforementioned attractors.
Moving ever closer to CF, our next stop is Latimer. Latimer offers a great fishing pier that most of us are familiar with and a boat ramp that provides access to the lower Rocky River area, the McCalla peninsula, the Calhoun Falls State Park and is well lit after dark. This ramp provides for ease of turnaround and plenty of parking. Unfortunately, it does not have a place to tie your boat, so, unless you don't mind pulling your boat up to the bank, this ramp may be easier for two people to launch from. This ramp also provides excellent sunset vistas for the late afternoon drive.
Our next lake access comes from the Calhoun Falls State Park. The launching area is very nice. There is a dock, pier, direct access to the Park Store and plenty of parking.
Located within the Town Limits of Calhoun Falls is Blue Hole. This launching area is pretty steep and has only one ramp. In spite of that, the dock and good parking make it a winner. Both Blue Hole and the Park provide easy access to the gas pumps at the Park Store.
I am gonna add the Elbert County Ramp and Beaver Dam Marina to our list just because of how close they are to Calhoun Falls. I have not launched at Beaverdam, but, it does provide and opportunity to get gas. Next, is the Elbert County Ramp. It is simply awesome. Great ramps, great parking, excellent dock and access to Beaverdam Creek, Savannah and Rocky Rivers the CF State Park, Blue Hole, the trestle, 72 Bridge and the dam itself. Whewwww. That said, it's just a few minutes from CF. I'm not gonna get into the other Georgia ramps that provided access to Lake Russell. They too are nice, close and easily accessible from Calhoun Falls, but at this point, we are coming back to Carolina.
Just outside of the town limits are two good launching areas. Milwood provides direct access to the largest and deepest parts of Lake Russell. No dock to tie up to, but again, sunset vistas from this spot are just awesome. Just around the corner is Beer Garden. Now this is one of my favorites. Easy to get in, easy to get out and the ramps are not steep. I launch here often and even by myself, it is no problem. This ramp drops you directly into Beer Garden Creek. Follow this cove out to the main lake and you are definitely in the "Big" water.
Moving just further out of town, there is the old Atkinson Boat Ramp. This ramp has been closed for years. I don't know why. When open, it provided excellent lake access. You launch on the edge of the big water in a pretty secluded cove. It is a shame that the town of Calhoun Falls and Abbeville County hasn't worked together to get this ramp back open.
Finally, there is Manor boat ramp. This may be a little out of the way for some, but the parking is good and launching your boat is easy. This ramp allow direct access to Manor Creek, the big water and the dam. This is your closest place to launch on the South Carolina side to fish behind the dam. If you are looking for deep, deep, deep water.....you can find it from here.
Calhoun Falls provides great access points to 26,500 acres of fun for the water enthusiast. Just thought you shold know.
Drought Officially Over
For the first time since August 2006, no area of South Carolina is under a drought declaration. Increased rainfall frequency and coverage over the last six months have alleviated the drought conditions statewide. All 19 Upstate counties were removed from drought status June 10 by the South Carolina Drought Response Committee. On April 15 the committee lifted the drought declaration for the remaining 27 counties.
"The timing, amount and duration of the rainfall have brought all drought indicators back to normal levels," said Hope Mizzell, South Carolina state climatologist. "Many stations report above normal rainfall since January." (See table below.)
According to DNR hydrologist Masaaki Kiuchi all regularly monitored streams show no drought, and lake levels around South Carolina are normal except in the Savannah River Basin, which is slightly below normal. Upstate wells show improvement, and water levels are rising in most monitoring wells. However, groundwater levels in some areas of the Upstate may not be sufficient to adequately support streamflows if rainfall declines.
"Every region of the state has been impacted by this drought," said Ken Rentiers, chairman of the S.C. Drought Response Committee. "The return to a normal rainfall pattern brings welcome relief." The committee recommends that the public continue to use water wisely.
"Even though we have overcome the rainfall deficit associated with the drought, we are still dealing with some of the long-term drought effects," said Dennis Chastain, a member of the West Drought Committee. "Several of the upper Savannah reservoirs remain below full pool. We encourage residents of the northwestern areas of the Upstate to continue to voluntarily conserve our water resources. If we have learned anything over the past several years of dealing with drought, it is that no one should waste water."
| Station | Year to Date Rainfall Total | Percent of Normal |
| Gaffney | 27.09” | 119% |
| Long Creek | 34.07” | 115% |
| Anderson | 25.28” | 115% |
| Greenville-Spartanburg | 23.08” | 99% |
| Chester | 22.40” | 105% |
| Saluda | 23.46” | 107% |
| Sumter | 20.61” | 100% |
| Orangeburg | 22.17” | 109% |
| Charleston | 19.29” | 100% |
Contact South Carolina State Climatologist Hope Mizzell in Columbia at (803) 734-9568 or e-mail at mizzellh@dnr.sc.gov for more information
South Carolina's natural resources are essential" for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy. Find out why "Life's Better Outdoors" at: www.dnr.sc.gov/green/index.html
Russell Dam, Lake Among Civil Works Projects
The United States Army Corps of Engineers today (April 28, 2009) released a listing of Civil Works projects to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For the Savannah District, the legislation funds nearly $94.3 million in construction and operations and maintenance projects. Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake will receive $14,307,000.
The expenditure plan for the dam and lake include:
Free Fishing Days
South Carolina's free fishing days will be held this year from June 6-7. Free fishing days allow people who would like to try the sport of fishing to go without having to purchase a license. You can borrow a rod, reel and tackle box from the Calhoun Falls State Recreaton Area if needed and available.
Fishing equipment and tackle can also be borrowed for the free fishing days at a nearby tackle loaner site. The state's 26 tackle loaner sites are housed in state and county parks all over South Carolina. Make sure to call ahead to the tackle loaner site of your choice to find out more information about the site you'll be visiting, the type of bait you'll need to bring and to make sure equipment will be available. To rent out equipment is free! A full list of tackle loaner sites and their locations.
There are also numerous other free events around the state for the ninth annual National Fishing and Boating Week, May 31--June 7.
"Best RV Campground"
Calhoun Falls State Park, recognized as having "one of the best RV campgrounds in the park system," is one of a few campgrounds featured on the S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism website.
Outflows Stopped at Lake Thurmond
Due to abundant rains in the upper Savannah River Basin including significant rain in the Stevens Creek sub-basin immediately below the J. Strom Thurmond Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has stopped all outflows from the Thurmond Dam for 24 – 48 hours beginning late today (February 28, 2009).
Inflows to the Savannah River below Thurmond Dam reached as high as 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). The required minimum outflow from Thurmond Dam is currently 3,600 cfs to meet downstream needs. With the natural flows exceeding minimum requirements, Col. Ed Kertis, the commander of the Savannah District, in consultation with Corps of Engineers water managers, decided to suspend discharges from the reservoir. Water managers will evaluate the river flow early Monday to determine when outflows from Thurmond Lake must resume.
The Corps will evaluate each rain storm for the ability to retain more water in the three Savannah River reservoirs it controls. Not all storms will provide the needed downstream flow for long enough to make suspending discharges practical.
The three reservoirs, Lakes Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond, along with the Savannah River below Thurmond Dam, provide water for cities, industries, utilities, and waste treatment for cities from Greenville, S.C., to Savannah, Ga. The reservoirs provide recreation opportunities to tens of millions of visitors each year.
Recent dry conditions prompted the Drought Response Committee to upgrade the drought declaration for 16 counties along the coast and Pee Dee region from no drought status to incipient: Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, Horry, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Colleton, Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper.
Five counties in the Catawba –Wateree River Basin were downgraded to moderate status: York, Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster and Kershaw.
All SC Counties Now in Drought
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources convened the S.C. Drought Response Committee on Feb. 19 in Columbia. Dry conditions continue in the Upstate where nine counties remain in extreme drought. The counties remaining in the extreme category are: Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Greenwood and McCormick.
Recent dry conditions prompted the Drought Response Committee to upgrade the drought declaration for 16 counties along the coast and Pee Dee region from no drought status to incipient: Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, Horry, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Colleton, Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper.
Five counties in the Catawba –Wateree River Basin were downgraded to moderate status: York, Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster and Kershaw.
Protecting Our Water Resources
by Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-South Carolina)
The lakes along the Savannah River Basin are a vital part of our community. Lakes Hartwell, Thurmond, and Russell attract thousands of visitors each year. In addition to serving as economic engines for the region, these three lakes provide clean, safe drinking water to thousands of residents. Unfortunately, the severe drought facing the Upstate is threatening our lakes and negatively impacting our local economies.
Record low rainfall in the area has pushed our lakes to their lowest levels in more than two decades. There appears to be no relief in sight as the National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures over the next three months will be unusually warm while precipitation will remain below average.
To make matters worse, the Army Corps of Engineers, who oversees the outflow of water from these lakes into the Savannah River, is required to operate under what I believe is an outdated and broken set of policies known as the Drought Contingency Plan. According to the Drought Contingency Plan for a level three drought, Lakes Hartwell, Thurmond, and Russell must release 3600 cubic feet of water per second into the Savannah River.
The question on my mind and on the minds of many in our District is a simple one; why can't the Corps reduce the outflow from these lakes that are already at dangerously low levels?
Several months ago our office started looking into the issue. Finding the answer to that relatively simple question was a slow and frustrating process, but what we discovered was surprising. Essentially, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under authority of the Endangered Species Act, prohibits the Corps of Engineers from reducing outflow rates below 3600cfs in order to protect the short-nosed sturgeon, an endangered species of fish that lives in the Savannah River.
Once we knew what the problem was, our goal became finding a solution. Through numerous letters, phone calls, and meetings, our office worked to get NOAA to allow for a temporary reduction in the outflow rate by 500cfs for all three lakes from November 2008 to February 2009. This temporary reduction bought us some time to find a more permanent solution.
On December 22, 2008, I sent a letter to the Corps asking that they continue the reduced outflow rate for as long as possible past January. Additionally, the states of South Carolina and Georgia echoed my request in formal letters to the Corps. The Corps responded stating that they would do everything they could to ensure the reduced outflow rate continued beyond January.
Last week, we received word that NOAA refused the Corps' request to continue the lower release rate of 3100cfs. I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with this decision given that NOAA has no conclusive evidence that the short-nosed sturgeon would be adversely affected by the reduced outflows. While NOAA may be uncertain of how its actions affect the short-nosed sturgeon, I am certain that their refusal to comply with our request to continue reduced outflows will have a serious negative impact on our lakes and the surrounding communities. NOAA's protectionist view fails to meet the standards of good stewardship found in collaboratively conserving precious resources. Unlike the citizens of our state who are wisely conserving water, NOAA is showing little regard for making similar short-term sacrifices for a resource that impacts all our interests.
Today, I sent a letter to Mary Glackin, Acting Director of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, asking her to reconsider NOAA's decision requiring the Corps' to increase release levels from 3100cfs. NOAA's action jeopardizes the safety of our families and the economy of each community surrounding the lakes. If you would like to read this letter in its entirety, you can do so by clicking here.
In addition to looking for continued temporary relief, I am working towards a long-term solution. To that end, I met with General Schroedel, regional leader for the Army Corps of Engineers, on January 11, 2009 to address my concerns about flaws in the Drought Contingency Plan. General Schroedel and I had a productive meeting, and I remain optimistic that much-needed reforms to the Drought Contingency Plan will be made. However, adjustments to the Drought Contingency Plan are only part of the solution. I am considering introducing legislation that will amend the Endangered Species Act in a manner that would allow for the protection of our lakes and water supplies.
As we continue to make progress on this important issue, I am committed to keeping you up-to-date and informed. I will issue regular updates via email and post important information regarding the situation on our website, www.barrett.house.gov.
I want you to know that I understand and share the frustration surrounding the drought, and I will continue to do all that I can to find an immediate and temporary fix while working towards a long-term solution. Should ever have any question about this issue and our efforts, please feel free to contact our office at (202) 225-5301.
Drought Response Committee to Meet
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will convene the South Carolina Drought Response Committee at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. The meeting will be held at the S.C. Forestry Commission's headquarters building located at Harbison State Forest at 5500 Broad River Road in Columbia.
The purpose of the drought meeting is to evaluate the drought status statewide. The committee will review climatic data, streamflow and lake level data, and drought impacts. Local response to the on-going drought will also be reviewed to determine if additional actions are needed to insure sustainable water supplies.
The S.C. Drought Response Committee last met on Oct. 28, 2008. Ten counties remain at severe and three remain at moderate status. Recent rains prompted the Drought Response Committee to remove the drought declaration for five counties: Beaufort, Chesterfield, Darlington, Hampton and Jasper. Eleven counties along the coast and Pee Dee region remained at no drought status. However, dry conditions continue in the Upstate where nine counties remain in extreme drought. The counties remaining in the extreme category are: Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Greenwood and McCormick.
For more information about drought, visit the Office of State Climatology or contact State Climatologist Hope Mizzell in Columbia at (803) 734-9568 or e-mail at mizzellh@dnr.sc.gov.
Antler-Scoring Sessions Set Across South Carolina
Antlers will abound throughout the Palmetto State as the search for new state record deer antlers gets underway during the S.C. Department of Natural Resources' annual series of scoring sessions.
A scoring session will be held at the Greenwood DNR office, 2751 Hwy. 72 East, Abbeville, by appointment only during March, (864) 223-2731.
Each year during March, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) scores deer antlers throughout the state, with a major scoring effort during the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic scheduled for March 27-29 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia. A total of 5,038 sets of white-tailed deer antlers, including 4,858 typical racks and 180 non-typical, are currently ranked on South Carolina's all-time antler records list, according to Charles Ruth, Deer Project/Turkey Project supervisor for DNR. Minimum scores for state record listing are 125 points for typical antlers and 145 points for non-typical antlers. Scoring is based on the Boone and Crockett system.
The objectives of the state records list are to recognize outstanding animals and to identify areas that produce quality deer, according to Ruth. This information allows biologists to take a closer look at habitat, deer herd condition, and offer habitat management suggestions to landowners.
Although record deer have been recorded from all counties, Aiken, Anderson, and Orangeburg counties have produced the greatest numbers in the past three to four years. Generally, larger deer are more abundant in areas that have fewer deer, as compared to parts of the state with high deer numbers, according to Ruth. Last year's scoring sessions produced 228 new entries into the South Carolina records list, the highest number of entries in 15 years.
Hunters must provide necessary documentation, such as the date and county of the kill, and sign a "fair chase" statement when they bring in a set of antlers for scoring. Antlers in velvet or those that are broken and repaired or antlers separated from the skull plate cannot be officially measured for the state records list. If the lower jawbone of the animal was extracted during taxidermy or otherwise saved, it should be brought to the scoring session so biologists can determine the deer's age. An accurate weight measurement at the time of the kill is also helpful.
Savannah River Commission to Meet
With river issues between South Carolina and Georgia on the agenda, the Savannah River Maritime Commission will meet at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 3, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335, 1000 Assembly St. in Columbia.
The Savannah River Maritime Commission was established to represent South Carolina in matters pertaining to the navigability, depth, dredging, wastewater and sludge disposal, and related collateral issues in regard to the use of the Savannah River as a waterway for ocean-going container or commerce vessels.
Board meetings are open to the public and anyone with business for the commission or needing directions to the meeting should call (843) 987-9211. Dean Moss of Beaufort is chairman of the commission. Michael G. McShane of Johns Island, S.C. Natural Resources Board chair, is an ex-officio member of the commission.
Items on the agenda include: Update: Lower Savannah River dredging environmental impact statement; Report and vision for the future – Georgia Ports Authority; Current river issues between South Carolina and Georgia; General discussion.
Flow Reductions to End
On February 1, 2009, the US Army Corps of Engineers will resume discharges of 3,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the current 3,100 cfs out of the J. Strom Thurmond Dam near Augusta, Ga., and its three-reservoir system on the Savannah River – Hartwell, Richard B. Russell, and J. Strom Thurmond – as required by a 2008 Environmental Assessment.
Since Nov. 24 Corps water managers have operated the reservoirs under a temporary deviation to the Savannah River Basin Drought Contingency Plan (SRBDCP) to conserve water in the pools during the severe ongoing drought.
Federal and state natural resource agencies had approved the reduction following requests from natural resource officials from the states of Georgia and South Carolina.
The discharge represents a return to operating the reservoirs at our previously approved 3,600 cfs release.
As severe drought conditions persist in the region, specialists with the US Army Corps of Engineers continue their coordination with the Federal and state natural resource agencies to evaluate whether conditions may be suitable for reducing the flows in the future.
Boat Ramp Work at Clarks Hill
Historic low lake levels have enabled the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
to repair and extend numerous boat ramps at the J. Strom Thurmond Lake at Clarks Hill, SC.
During the drought of 1989, the lake elevation at Hartwell dropped to 312.79 ft. mean sea level
(ft.-msl), the lowest level since 1962. During that period, the Corps extended many boat ramps
on the lake. With the present low lake levels, the Corps is once again repairing, extending and
removing siltation from many of the ramps on the lake.
“We are excited about making ramp improvements for the benefit of the public, allowing our visitors to access the lake for longer periods during times of low lake levels,” said Ranger Chrissy Westerberg, Corps chief ranger of recreation. “However, boaters are urged to inspect ramp conditions carefully and use at their own risk.”
Ramp repairs were recently completed at Mt. Carmel day-use, Rosseau Creek, Dordon Creek, Mt. Pleasant, and Cherokee. Ramps that have been extended include Amity, Cherokee, Chamberlain Ferry, Leroys Ferry, Double Branches and Modoc campground. An additional lane has been added at Modoc 7 day-use ramp. Remaining repairs and extensions are dependent upon lake level changes.
In addition to Corps ramp improvements, Mistletoe State Park is in the process of moving the location of, and extending, their low water boat ramp. Columbia County is also extending ramp #2 in Winfield Hills Subdivision. Dorn Fishing Facility, in McCormick, SC, has also extended two launching lanes and now has the second deepest ramps on the water, after Leathersville ramp.
New ramp elevations are being continually updated on the Corps webpage as construction is completed. For ramp elevations and a list of ramps that are currently open, go to www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/boating.htm
Boaters are reminded to use extreme caution due to the continued low lake levels. Don’t forget to wear a life jacket.
For additional information, contact the Thurmond Lake Project Manager’s Office toll free at 1-800-533-3478, or visit their website at: www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond.
Watercraft Service Fees Increase
New watercraft service fee increases began December 11, 2008. The fee increases were incorporated into the boating bill recently passed by the S.C. General Assembly. The revenue generated from the fee increase will help cover S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administrative costs of forms, decals and other operation expenses.
Fees that will increase include:
Water Outflow Reduced
Water managers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began on November 24 reduction of outflows from the J. Strom Thurmond Dam near Augusta, GA, in an effort to conserve water in three major reservoirs: Russell, Thurmond, and Hartwell.
Lakes Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond, all on the upper end of the Savannah River, provide water to communities from Greenville, SC, to Savannah, GA, as well as several industries and utilities. They also provide recreation to millions of visitors annually. Water managers reduced the outflows from the three-reservoir system from 3,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) daily average to 3,100 cfs in a phased approach over seven days.
In response to the severity of the ongoing drought, natural resource officials from Georgia and South Carolina requested a flow reduction. Col. Ed Kertis, Commander of the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, approved an environmental assessment allowing the flow reduction to begin.
Reduced flows will continue through January and could be extended through February, 2009, if further study indicates no impact to shortnose sturgeon spawning. Federal, state, and non-government specialists will monitor the Savannah River for indications of unanticipated impacts of the reduced flow. Under an adaptive management process, water managers will move quickly to restore flows if needed.
Drought on DNR Agenda
The S.C. Natural Resources Board, the policy making body of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, will meet 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335, 1000 Assembly St. in Columbia.
Board meetings are open to the public and anyone with business for the board or needing directions to the meeting should contact the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Columbia office at (803) 734-9102. Michael G. McShane of Johns Island is chairman of the S.C. Natural Resources Board.
Items scheduled on the agenda for the S.C. Natural Resources Board meeting include:
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
Water Flow Reduced
Water flow from Russell, Thurmond, and Hartwell lakes will be reduced from 3,600 to 3,100 cubic feet per second until February to help conserve water, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Savannah River Committee to Meet
South Carolina's Savannah River Committee will meet with Georgia's Savannah River Committee on Monday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion, White Oak Room, Martinez, GA to continue their discussion of issues arising in the Savannah Basin.
The bi-state meeting is open to the public. The Savannah Rapids Pavilion is located at 3300 Evans-to-Lock Road, Greene Street, Martinez, GA. For directions to the Joint Savannah River Committee meeting, call (706) 868-3349.
Items on the agenda include:
Water Reduction Assessed
Planners and environmental specialists with the Army Corps of Engineers
continue their evaluation of a request to reduce water discharges from the J. Strom Thurmond
Dam on the Georgia-South Carolina border.
The states of Georgia and South Carolina requested the Corps of Engineers to reduce outflows from the Thurmond Dam from the current 3,600 cubic feet per second (daily average) to 3,100 cfs to retain more water in the three reservoir system on the upper Savannah River. The Corps of Engineers began an expedited public comment period that ended Oct. 27. State officials had requested a flow reduction from Nov. 1, 2008, through Feb. 28, 2009.
Due to the large number of comments and due to requirements to allow other agencies and governments a full 30-day comment period, the decision on reducing outflows can be completed no earlier than mid- to late November.
“Our commitment is to follow the letter and spirit of the law and thoroughly evaluate this change,” said Col. Ed Kertis, the commander of the Savannah District of the Army Corps of Engineers. The Savannah District operates Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond dams.
The on-going drought in the Southeast has led to record low levels in the reservoirs managed by the Savannah District. District officials voluntarily reduced the outflow from the Thurmond Dam to 3,600 cfs in October 2007. In mid-August the reservoirs reached drought contingency level 3 which limited outflows to 3,600 cfs.
Drought Status Maintained for Most Counties
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources convened the S.C. Drought Response Committee on Oct. 28, 2008, in Columbia. The counties remaining in the extreme category are: Abbeville, Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Laurens, Greenwood and McCormick. Ten counties remain at severe and three remain at moderate status. Recent rains prompted the Drought Response Committee to remove the drought declaration for five counties: Beaufort, Chesterfield, Darlington, Hampton and Jasper. Eleven counties along the coast and Pee Dee region remained at no drought status. However, dry conditions continue in the Upstate where nine counties remain in extreme drought.
Stan Simpson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, presented information on the current record low lake levels on Lake Hartwell and Lake Thurmond. Thurmond is nearing the bottom of its conservation pool, at which point according to the Corp’s Drought Management Plan discharge from Thurmond will equal inflow into the lakes. The Corps reduced releases last October to a minimum of 3,600 cubic feet per second, however, with the intensifying drought conditions, Georgia and South Carolina Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control requested a further reduction to 3,100 cubic feet per second beginning November 1 and lasting through the end of February. Through the proposed reduction, South Carolina and Georgia officials hope to conserve more water in the Corps' three reservoirs (Lakes Thurmond, Hartwell and Russell) while still meeting the needs of the downstream users and to protect the environment.
Hope Mizzell, SC State Climatologist, reported that the long-lead forecast from NOAA is not encouraging calling for below normal rainfall through the winter into early next spring. "The reality is, the Savannah Basin cannot endure another year of drought without significant impacts to water users from Seneca to Savannah," said Steve de Kozlowski, Interim Deputy Director for DNR’s Land, Water and Conservation Division and Drought Response Committee Chairman. "The drought may be focused in the Upstate, but it now affects flows in the Savannah River over 150 miles downstream. Therefore, every effort must be made by all water users to conserve water in the upper part of the basin."
According to DNR, 45 water systems statewide have mandatory water restrictions in place. During the winter outdoor use is normally reduced, but there are other ways to conserve water inside your house. Find and fix all leaks. A faucet drip of two tablespoons a minute adds up to 105 gallons a week of water wasted. Take shorter showers. Install water-saving devices such as low flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Run dishwashers and clothes washers with a full load only. Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth, washing your hands, shaving or doing dishes. Use the wastebasket, not the toilet, to dispose of trash. Consider buying a low-flush toilet; it uses only 1.6 gallons per flush. Flush toilets only when necessary. Place a bucket in the shower to collect the water while it is heating up. Use the water on plants or to refill a flushing toilet.
Contact Mizzell in Columbia at (803) 466-0814 or email at mizzellh@dnr.sc.gov for more information.
For more information about drought, visit the Office of State Climatology.
'Extreme' drought status continues
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources convened the S.C. Drought Response Committee on September 16, 2008 in Greenville and nine Upstate counties remain in extreme drought. Ten counties were downgraded or maintained at severe and three remain at moderate status. Thirteen counties were downgraded to incipient status. Recent rains prompted the Drought Response Committee to remove the drought declaration for ten counties: Marion, Dillon, Marlboro, Florence, Horry, Williamsburg, Berkeley, Dorchester and Colleton. The drought declaration was removed for Georgetown and Charleston during the August meeting.
As of September 14, 2008, Lake Russell was almost four feet below its full pool level of 475. The lake is only allowed to go down five feet, according to the Corps of Engineers.
The counties remaining in the extreme category are: Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Greenwood and McCormick counties.
Stan Simpson, US Army Corps of Engineers, provided a review of the Corps’ operation of the Savannah River lakes in response to the drought explaining that Lakes Hartwell and Thurmond is expected to reach new record lows over the next 10 weeks.
Andy Wachob, DNR Hydrologist, reported all lakes around the state are below their target level except Lake Murray. He noted Jocassee, Hartwell and Thurmond lakes were the hardest hit by drought. He also spoke about the steady decline in most Upstate groundwater wells with a well in Spartanburg at a record low and a well in Oconee County near record low.
According to Mizzell, "We are entering the driest months climatologically, October-November, and without rainfall from tropical systems, rainfall amounts during these months can be very low."
Steve de Kozlowski, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Land, Water, and Conservation Division Interim Deputy Director, stated, "Upstate water systems can ensure they maintain adequate supplies through rigorous conservation efforts."
For more information about drought visit the Office of State Climatology drought Website or contact State Climatologist Hope Mizzell in Columbia at (803) 734-9568 or email at mizzellh@dnr.sc.gov for more information.
Redeye Bass Declining
One of South Carolina's native bass, the redeye, is in decline, but not for the reasons one might suspect. It's not overfishing or loss of habitat that has biologists concerned about this fish's status, but rather its interaction with a closely related species, Alabama spotted bass.
Alabama spotted bass were introduced, presumably by anglers, into Lake Keowee in the mid-1980s. This unauthorized introduction resulted in the growth of a significant spotted bass fishery there, which coincided with a dramatic decrease in abundance of native redeye bass. There was a similar introduction in Lake Richard B. Russell. The Alabama spotted bass has spread throughout the upper Savannah system of reservoirs, and is now present in Lakes Jocassee, Keowee, Hartwell and Russell. By the early 1990s fisheries biologists were seeing physical characteristics of both species in single specimens, and redeye bass from Lake Keowee were becoming difficult to identify. Hybridization between native redeye bass and the introduced Alabama spotted bass was suspected, and later confirmed through DNA analysis.
The redeye bass is one of the black bass, a group of closely related species that includes the more widely known largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. The redeye and largemouth bass are the only two black bass native to South Carolina waters. The redeye bass is one of the more rare black basses. In South Carolina, it is native only to the Savannah River drainage, comprising a natural resource that is unique to the state. Studies have shown Savannah drainage redeye to be distinctive both physically and genetically from redeye in other drainages within the species' range. Redeye bass prefer cool flowing mountain foothill and piedmont streams, but have also thrived in the upper Savannah lakes. The world record redeye bass weighed 5 pounds, 2.5 ounces, and was caught by a South Carolina angler on Lake Jocassee.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has partnered with Duke Energy and University of South Carolina in the study of redeye bass, and has been awarded a federal grant to fully evaluate the impact of hybridization on redeye bass throughout the Savannah drainage. Beginning in 2004, tissues from about 1,300 bass were collected for genetic analysis. Fish were evaluated from Lakes Jocassee, Keowee, Hartwell and Russell, as well as from eleven stream redeye bass populations throughout the drainage.
DNR monitors stocks of freshwater fish throughout the state and engages in public outreach efforts to educate anglers on the importance of returning fish only to those reservoirs from which they came. This was highlighted during the Aug. 14-17 Forrest L. Woods Tournament when tournament officials paid special attention to maintain separate hauling trucks for those fish caught in Lake Murray and Lake Monticello. DNR biologist Jean Leitner said, "The movement of fish, or of any aquatic plant or animal, from one water body to another has the potential to do severe damage. What we have found in our redeye bass populations is a perfect example of that."
While nine of 11 stream populations were free of hybrids, what has been found in the lakes is much more negative. Pure redeye bass have become extremely rare in Lakes Keowee and Russell, where Alabama spotted bass were introduced and initially 'took off' in the drainage. The non-native Alabama spotted bass made up 33 percent and 21 percent of the fish analyzed from Lakes Keowee and Russell, respectively, while redeye bass appear to have been almost completely displaced. Less than 1 percent of fish collected from Keowee, and only 5 percent collected from Russell could be identified as redeye bass.
Redeye bass did comprise 44 percent and 32 percent of fish analyzed from lakes Jocassee and Hartwell, and pure Alabama spotted bass were rare in those two populations. But hybrids made up 24-32 percent of fish caught from all four lakes. The majority of those hybrids were the result of redeye bass x Alabama spotted bass crosses. A small number of hybrids between largemouth bass and Alabama spotted bass were collected as well.
"The proportions of pure redeye and Alabama spotted bass found in the four lakes studied correspond well with the introductions of spotted bass into Lakes Keowee and later Russell," said Leitner. "Further, the displacement of redeye bass in favor of Alabama spotted bass in Lakes Keowee and Russell indicates that hybrids between the two species are selectively backcrossing with redeye. If this is the case, we would expect the proportion of redeye bass in Lakes Jocassee and Hartwell to decline with each successive generation. Over time, they would approach those seen in Lakes Keowee and Russell. Certainly the ability of native redeye bass to persist in these reservoirs is in question."
An equally negative, but more recent development in the status of the native redeye bass of the Savannah drainage is the sudden appearance of non native smallmouth bass in the area of the Savannah River known as Augusta Shoals. A push to stock smallmouth in that area of the Savannah has been resisted by both the Georgia and South Carolina DNR's because of the threat it would pose to redeye bass. However, over the last year anglers have reported catches of smallmouth bass in the shoals. DNR followed up those reports with collections of fish last fall, and confirmed the presence of smallmouth bass as well as hybrids in a population that yielded only pure redeye bass three years earlier.
Leitner said this emphasizes how damaging the indiscriminate movement of fish can be. "Hybridization in those major redeye populations represents a huge loss for one our native natural resources," she said. "We were glad to still find pure redeye in many of the smaller streams surveyed. Protection of those habitats and the fish in them will likely prove vital to the future of redeye bass in the Savannah drainage."
Contact DNR biologist Jean Leitner via e-mail at LeitnerJ@dnr.sc.gov for more information on redeye bass in South Carolina.
Volunteers Needed for Lake Russell Cleanup
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Richard B. Russell Lake Office and the Georgia and South Carolina Departments of Natural Resources have joined forces in the nation’s largest environmental, hands-on volunteer initiative to improve and enhance public lands. Volunteers are being recruited for a cleanup campaign on the shoreline and islands around Lake Russell that begins on August 27, 2008, and concludes on National Public Lands Day, September 27, 2008.
The cleanup effort provides an opportunity for people who care about the lake and the environment to roll up their sleeves and give something back to the lake and public lands enjoyed by so many Americans. Volunteers from scout groups, civic organizations, church groups, schools, businesses, along with entire families can participate.
Cleanup times and dates, as well as locations, are flexible. Call the Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers to schedule a convenient time.
Anyone interested in volunteering can obtain a sign-up form online at www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/russell. Simply fill out the form and return by mail or in person to the Russell Lake Office. The sign-up form will also be available at Corps of Engineers’ lake offices and state parks. Once registered, volunteers will receive more detailed information including safety tips, litter collection sites, and drop-off locations.
Trash bags will be provided for the cleanup. All participants will receive a map of the lake, sports bottle, t-shirt, and a coupon for one fee-free day at any federal park.
“Our forests, lakes, and recreation areas are a national treasure and keeping them clean means keeping them safe and beautiful for people to enjoy,” Corps Park Ranger Angela Jones said. “We hope people will come out to support the cleanup of Lake Russell.”
For more information, contact Ranger Jones toll free at 800-944-7207, ext. 3407, or 706- 213-3407.
Extreme Drought
The South Carolina Drought Response Committee declared on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, Abbeville County is in an extreme drought. The committee, however, chose to encourage voluntary water conservation over mandatory restrictions.
Russell Shoreline Needs Volunteers
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources and its partner organizations were recently awarded a two-year grant totaling $34,476 to enhance fish habitat on Savannah River reservoirs. Members of the public are being asked to assist in this habitat development effort. Volunteers will work with government agency personnel in planting 2,500 water willow plants at pre-selected sites on Lake Russell on Saturday, June 21.
Volunteers should meet at the Elbert County Boat Ramp off Hwy 72 on the Georgia side of Lake Russell at 8:30 a.m. Take SC Highway 72 out of Calhoun Falls, Abbeville County, SC into Georgia. Watch for the boat landing signs about one mile on the right.
Call S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries biologist Gene Hayes at (864) 223-1307 or Jamie Sykes with Corps of Engineers at 1-800-944-7207 before June 18 for more information on the project or how you can volunteer. Volunteers should bring a shovel, a personal flotation device (PFD) and be prepared with waders or otherwise to get wet. Sunscreen, water and sunglasses are also highly recommended.
"An insufficient native aquatic plant seed bed in Lake Russell is considered the primary reason for the lack of abundant aquatic plants," says biologist Hayes.
The Russell sites have been selected based on topography, soil type, and identified lack of established emergent aquatic shoreline vegetation. A project goal is to attain at least a 450 square feet coverage area at each site. Twenty-five planting sites have been identified on both the South Carolina and Georgia side of Lake Russell.
Water willow (Justicia americana) is a native emergent wetland plant that grows in shallow, shoreline areas of lakes and rivers. It has been successfully established in other South Carolina reservoirs including, Lakes Marion and Moultrie, where it has expanded significantly beyond the initial colonies. Such vegetation provides habitat for a host of organisms both aquatic and terrestrial, as well as protection against shoreline erosion due to wave action. A number of sportfish, such as largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish, benefit from vegetation providing cover and harboring food items.
This is particularly important for spawning and recruitment, because water willow provides excellent nursery habitat where juvenile fish can grow to sizes that allow them to compete for food in the more open water environments that are typical of Lake Russell.
A follow-up evaluation is planned during fall 2008 to assess plant survival and degree of area coverage over the life of the project.
Grant partners include Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia and South Carolina Bass Anglers Sportsman’s Society (B.A.S.S.) Federations, Lake Hartwell Association, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina's natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state's natural resources and its people.
Memorial Day, Summer Lake Safety
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials who manage Hartwell, Richard B. Russell, and J. Strom Thurmond Lakes urge visitors to be careful in and on the water during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend and throughout the remainder of the summer recreation season.
All camping areas and picnic sites are open and Corps officials expect heavy Memorial Day weekend crowds at these areas. A number of boat ramps at Hartwell and J. Strom Thurmond lakes have been closed due to the low lake levels. Information on boat ramp closing/opening, current lake levels and projections, can be found at the Corps’ website at www.sas.usace.army.mil.
Information can also be obtained by calling the appropriate lake office: Hartwell Lake - 888-893-0678, Richard B. Russell Lake - 800-944-7207, J. Strom Thurmond Lake - 800-533- 3478.
“Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends on the lakes,” said Tanya Grant, Park Ranger at Hartwell Lake. “For many people, it is the first opportunity of the year to get the boat out of dry dock and onto the water. We urge boaters to check their boats carefully to make sure they are in good working order and check all safety equipment, especially life jackets, which may have been misplaced or damaged over the winter. It is also every boater’s responsibility to know and understand the state boating laws before getting out on the water.”
“Unfortunately, it is all too common for drownings to occur on area lakes, especially on holiday weekends,” Ranger Grant said. “We know that people are coming out to the lake to have fun and relax but they still need to think about safety”. Whether boating or spending the day picnicking and swimming in one of the many lakeside parks, if you plan on being in or near the water, the most important thing you should do is bring a life jacket for you and everyone in your family or group and wear it.
The most common causes for drowning on Corps lakes are overestimating one’s swimming ability and falling from the boat. Ranger Grant said, “Area lakes are not like backyard pools – water depths vary, drop-offs, holes, rocks and tree stumps may exist, and visibility into the water is limited. Plus you have the added factors of wind and wave action. Just because you and the kids can swim in a pool, doesn’t mean that you can swim well in a lake under these conditions.”
Don’t be tempted to swim across coves or out to an island, buoy, boat, or a raft or toy that has drifted away. Distances across water are difficult to estimate and are usually much further than they appear. Falls from boats are very dangerous but wearing a life jacket will significantly increase your chance of survival even if you are injured. The bottom line is be prepared by wearing your life jacket.
The majority of drownings happen quickly and silently; a child can drown in less than 20 seconds and an adult in less than a minute. It is estimated that 90 percent of drownings could have been prevented if the victims had been wearing a life jacket.
Low lake levels, due to the extended drought, continue in area lakes. There is still plenty of water for recreation but Corps officials urge everyone to use an extra degree of caution and common sense.
Memorial Day weekend visitors will find Hartwell Lake at 651.7 ft. below full pool, or 8 ¼ ft. down from guide curve. J. Strom Thurmond Lake is projected to be at 321.7 ft. below full pool, or 8.3 ft. down from guide curve. Richard B. Russell Lake will be at 473.7 ft. below full pool, or 1 ½ ft. down from guide curve.
Boaters and skiers are encouraged to stay within the marked navigational channels and to be on the lookout for exposed or barely submerged hazards such as shoals, rocks, and tree stumps as well as shallow areas. Park rangers periodically inspect the main channel and routes from public boat ramps to the main channel for hazards. New hazards found are marked with orange basketball-sized buoys. Hazards outside the main channel or routes from private ramps and docks to the main channel are not marked.
Swimmers are warned against swimming in unfamiliar areas because of hidden hazards such as stumps, holes and debris. Swimmers should never swim alone or in remote areas of the lakes. Water skiers should have a responsible driver and spotter, and should stick to marked channels, and be on the lookout for exposed or barely submerged hazards and shallows.
Visitors should use extreme caution when walking or wading along the shoreline or other low areas created by the present water conditions. Officials have seen an increase of people walking and wading out to areas such as shoals and islands. Walking to these areas can be hazardous - the lake bottom can be extremely slippery and hidden drop-offs or holes may be present. Also, water depth and the distance across water are often very deceiving, often being deeper and further than they appear.
For more information, contact the appropriate lake office: Hartwell Lake - 888-893-0678, Richard B. Russell Lake - 800-944-7207, J. Strom Thurmond Lake - 800-533-3478.
Arthur Hills to Design Golf Course at Sanctuary
Esteemed course architect Arthur Hills has been selected to design 18 holes here on the tranquil shores of Lake Russell, where the initial development phase of The Sanctuary at Lake Russell — a residential resort community in Abbeville County — is now underway.
Developed by Charlotte-based U.S. Land Investments, The Sanctuary is all about Lake Russell, the most beautiful of three inter-connected lakes located in the Piedmont region of Georgia and South Carolina. Formed by a late 20th century damning of the upper Savannah River, the shores of Lake Russell will soon be home to private homes, a semi-private golf club from the hand of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, a marina, and the luxury of Calhoun Falls State Park (with its 25,000 acres of protected public land) right next door.
“The Sanctuary at Lake Russell is a different sort of second-home/retirement opportunity because, while it sits close to the populations centers of Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville and Augusta, it’s a world away in terms of pace, lifestyle and environment,” said Stephen Rosenburgh, chairman of U.S. Land Investments. “The Lake is truly a wonder: 26,000 acres, 500 miles of shoreline, 176 feet deep, crystal clear and — because it’s a damned river — the water height never fluctuates more than 5 feet. The area all around our community is almost completely undeveloped for miles. We like to say that resident of The Sanctuary will have Calhoun Falls State Park for their backyard, Lake Russell for their swimming pool and neighbors of whitetail deer, eastern wild turkeys and more waterfowl than we have time to name.”
On May 3, the development launched its second sales event; the first sold 34 of 370 available home lots. For sales information, call 800-831-LAKE.
The Sanctuary at Lake Russell is a multi-phase development of considerable scope and ambition. This first phase will include 370 homes, pool club and pavilion, recreation fields and picnic areas, trail systems, marina and fishing piers (Russell renowned as one of the best fishing lakes in the Southeast). Phases II through V will include the semi-private golf course, resort hotel and second marina. The full master plan calls for no more than 2,000 residential real estate units.
“We’ve done a great deal of course design work across the Southeast, but we’ve never seen a piece of property quite like this one,” said Arthur Hills, partner and principal with Toledo, Ohio-based Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associations, designers of more than 200 courses worldwide including the Golf Club of Georgia, famed Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island, and the new Club at Olde Stone, recently named by Golfweek magazine the top course in all of Kentucky.
Hills/Forrest is expert at fashioning golf courses in the context of luxury real estate communities, a priority at The Sanctuary. In 2007, Golf Connoisseur ranked three of the firm’s designs, including Fiddler’s Creek and Bonita Bay in Naples, Fla., among the nation’s top 40 real estate courses in the world. “We see that sort of potential at Lake Russell, which is why we’re involved,” Hills added. “The lake is exquisite, and its creation seemed to have been executed with great golf in mind.”
US Land Investments is the force behinds some of the region’s most successful residential developments; Legend Oaks Plantation in Summerville, S.C.; Starnes Crossing in Waxhaw, N.C.; Stonebridge in Mineral Springs, N.C.; and Grass Meadows in Charlotte, to name just a few. But The Sanctuary at Lake Russell is a departure not just in scope but, in Rosenburgh’s view, setting.
“It’s a unique place, a retreat — in large part because it’s a lake that, until 1984, wasn’t even here,” he says. “You can see and feel these untouched, pristine qualities the moment you stand there on the shore. It’s like living in a national park.
“Fact is, there simply aren’t too many places left like this one. It’s one of the many serendipities surrounding Lake Russell and this project. Here’s another one: The Army Corps of Engineers insisted on a 300-foot setback reserved for public use and recreation. Accordingly, our golf holes will sit in this buffer, lining the lake, and they will be stunning.”
Arthur Hills/Steve Forest and Associates is one of golf’s most active and respected practitioners of golf course design. Today the firm has more than 40 separate original design and renovation and projects underway in Mexico, Canada, the United States and Europe. Course raters can’t stop gushing about two of the firm’s new Swedish designs: iiHBiSand Golf Club, just more than a year old but already ranked by Golf Digest among the world’s Top 100 courses outside the United States (#82), and Hills Golf Club, named by Travel+Leisure Golf magazine among the top 10 courses to open worldwide in 2005. Both are strong candidates for the 2018 Ryder Cup Matches in Sweden. Closer to home, the Wolfdancer Course at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines near Austin, Texas — was named among GOLF Magazine’s “Top 10 New Courses You Can Play” for 2006.
Campground Cookoff Thanks
by Allen Stancil, Senior Ranger
Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area
Thanks to all that came to our Spring RV Show at Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area this past weekend. The weather could have been better, but we still had a great time. Jody's RV of Greenwood came and had RV's for people to tour. Jody also donated prizes for our campfire raffle. Thank you and your staff. I would like to thank the CF Market for donating the hotdogs and s'mores for our campfire. Everyone enjoyed them. Also, I'd like to thank the Sportsman for providing biscuits, hotdogs, and BBQ sandwiches. People are still talking about how good the food was. And a special that thanks to all the employees of the park that helped to make this event a success.
"Severe" Drought Continues
A severe drought continues for Calhoun Falls and many other South Carolina areas, according to the State Department of Natural Resources. The counties that remain in the severe category are Abbeville, Anderson, Chester, Cherokee, Greenville, Lancaster, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union, and York. The counties downgraded to moderate drought include Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenwood, Hampton, Kershaw, McCormick, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Saluda. Twenty other counties throughout the state were lowered to incipient drought status.
Campground Cookoff to be at CF State Park
Competitors from around the Southeast are invited to gather around the campfire for the first annual South Carolina Old 96 District Campground Cookoff to be held Sept. 19-21, 2008 at the Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area on Lake Russell.
The Old 96 District Tourism Commission, which markets the South Carolina counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens and McCormick, has developed the event with support from the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
The winners will be crowned by three nationally known celebrity judges – Rick Browne from “Barbecue America” on PBS; Dotty Griffith, the former dining and food editor for 30 years at the Dallas Morning News, and Charles Mattocks, “The Poor Chef” seen on NBC affiliates and purveyor of spices in Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart stores.
Interested amateurs can enter one of three categories: appetizer, entrée or dessert. Each dish must be prepared from scratch and cooked over a campfire of charcoal or wood. Cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200 and other in-kind donations from companies such as Camping World and Dodge Manufacturing will be awarded for first- through third-place winners. Applications are available online at www.campgroundcookoff.com and must be received by Aug. 15, 2008.
A minimum two-night stay at the Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area campsite is required for the entrants, and there will be many activities for the entrants, family and friends to attend, including a “ring of fire,” complimentary barbecue for the contestants, bluegrass band, displays from sponsors, and cooking demonstrations by the celebrity judges. Contestants must be 18 years of age or older and there can no more than three members to a cookoff team.
The award-winning recipes will be compiled into a cookbook available after the Campground Cookoff at the Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area and through the Old 96 District Tourism Commission Web site at www.sctravelold96.com.
To enter and view general rules visit www.campgroundcookoff.com or call toll-free at 1-866-354-0003. Reservations at Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area can be made by calling (864) 447-8267.
Elbert County Asks for Hearing Over South Carolina Dock Plan
By Gary Jones
The Elberton Star
Saying an application to construct floating docks on Lake Richard B. Russell “violates the original intent of pristine conditions” on the lake, Elbert County Administrator Bob Thomas has written a letter to the South Carolina Department of Commerce (SCDOC) asking for a public hearing in Elbert County or in Abbeville County, S.C., because of objections by property owners on the lake.
The application calls for floating docks “strategically placed in front of private property and as such will become private docks for the residents and homeowners of the development company,” Thomas wrote in a letter dated March 7 to the SCDOC.
The letter was sent prior to a March 10 deadline established by the Charleston (S.C.) District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for comment on the Lake Russell project in which the SCDOC has submitted the application to build floating boat docks in the Blue Hole Recreation Area.
The proposed docks are strategically located just off the shoreline on the South Carolina side next to a private gated-community development project.
The letter by three days precedes a March 10 letter to the Corps of Engineers from Hunton & Williams law firm in Atlanta, which is representing 14 businesses around the lake who “have interests along the shores of Lake Russell, in the form of businesses, real and personal property, and recreational use and enjoyment of the lake.”
According to documents submitted to the Corps of Engineers by the law firm, a company known as The Sanctuary (out of Charlotte, N.C.) is advertising that the 125 boat slips proposed in Lake Russell would be for the development’s “private exclusive use.”
This violates the Corps of Engineers intent for the lake to the body of water in a pristine state for recreational use, say the homeowners.
The interested parties in the Hunton & Williams law firm are Evergreen Resources, Beaverdam Marina, Vandiver Family Investment LP, Beaverdam Estates Homeowners Association, Savannah Bluff Homeowners Association, Allen Creek Homeowners Association, Horseshoe Pointe Homeowners Association, Wilson Creek Homeowners Association, Pickens Creek Homeowners Association, Newton’s Pointe Homeowners Association. Newton’s Landing Homeowners Association, Craft Ferry Homeowners Association, Patriots Pointe Homeowners Association and Coldwater Creek Homeowners Association.
Thomas said his letter is an effort to “level the playing field” for development at Lake Russell.
According to Thomas, if a private development is allowed to provide homeowners on the South Carolina side “exclusive private access” to those docks, then that precedent would create an environment in which all development would move to the South Carolina side.
“If that kind of development is going to be allowed then Georgia needs the same kind of development access,” said Thomas, who said he was asking the Corps of Engineers to enforce the same rules for both sides of Lake Russell.
Although a congressional mandate for a land swap through federal legislation made possible by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) put the development on a fast track, the legislation didn’t allow the developers a pass on Corps of Engineers restrictions on the lake, according to the law firm’s letters.
Russell Dam in President's Budget
President George Bush's fiscal year 2009 Civil Works budget, released February 4, 2008, contains $61,021,000 for projects, studies and operations and maintenance in the Savannah District. The Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake project was included in the budget request for an additional $1.45 million for the continuation of environmental monitoring and the oversight of one remaining hydropower contract for the installation of the static start system to operate the pump back units inside the dam.
'Severe' Drought Status Maintained
The S.C. Drought Response Committee met Jan. 23 in Columbia and decided to maintain the drought status at "severe" for all South Carolina counties except Jasper and Beaufort, which will remain at moderate. While the committee recognized that precipitation has been above normal for the past 30 days, it has not been enough to return streamflows, ground water, and reservoirs to the moderate drought status. The Committee was also concerned because forecasters expect a return to below normal rainfall for February through April 2008.
Lake Russell Surviving Drought
While the lingering drought has dropped Hartwell and Thurmond lakes 10 feet or more, and closed many boat ramps, Lake Russell remains near full pool and all boats ramp remain open. According to the U.S. Corps of Engineers website, "Because Russell Lake has only five feet of conservation storage, it cannot be drawn down equally with the other lakes beyond 3 or 4 feet (this is why Russell Lake may appear fuller than Hartwell and Thurmond Lakes during a drought)." Drought Plan
Third District Designated USDA ‘Natural Disaster’
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 33 South Carolina counties as a primary natural disaster area due to drought and excessive heat. Congressman Gresham Barrett (SC, 03) sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of Agriculture encouraging him to grant a disaster declaration requested by Gov. Mark Sanford.
“A drought of this magnitude not only brings damage to the soil but can make or break family livelihoods for the next few generations,” said Congressman Barrett. “I am pleased that the drought designation will allow farmers in these areas to apply for much needed emergency loans so that, hopefully, this season’s loss will not affect next year’s productions.”
After reviewing the Damage Assessment Reports, the USDA determined the counties were a disaster area as there was “sufficient production losses in all 33 counties.” Included in the natural disaster designation are all 10 counties of Congressman Barrett’s Third Congressional District. These counties are Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda.
This Secretarial disaster designation allows eligible farmers to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) as long as eligibility requirements are met.FSA will consider each application on its own merit by taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
Nearby Recreation Areas Closed
MT. CARMEL, SC - The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Thurmond Project Office recently announced the closing or partial closing of many recreation areas around Thurmond Lake.
The South Carolina campgrounds that closed in September 2007 include Hawe Creek and Mt. Carmel. Modoc campground remains open until November 30. Leroy’s Ferry campground remains open year round.
The Georgia campground closings in September included Broad River, Hester’s Ferry, Winfield and Ridge Road. The Georgia campgrounds that will remain open until October 31 include Big Hart and Raysville. Bussey Point, Clay Hill (sites 1-4 only) and Petersburg (sites 1-27) will remain open year round.
Day use area closings in September included Parksville in South Carolina. Clarks Hill Park, also located in South Carolina, will remain open throughout the winter. In Georgia, Gill Point, Cherokee, Amity, and Big Hart day use areas closed in September. Also in Georgia, only the Deer Run loop of Lakes Springs remains open, and only the small loop adjacent to the entrance of West Dam is open.
In all the closed or partially closed day use areas, boat ramps remain available to the public unless current low lake levels have made their use unsafe. For the latest information on boat ramp access, visit the Thurmond Lake website at www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond or call 1-800-533-3478 for current information on facilities and ramp closures.