Since our last progress report on the flood storage study published November 2014, we received a few inquiries on when the results would be released. In the above linked post we estimated the study would take approximately six more months to complete, which projected a late spring/early summer completion date.

Off by a few months, the study concluded in July 2015. Although we now have a complete data set and hydrology models, our water managers report that the Corps’ Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC), the organization conducting most of the study, is in the process of releasing a report of their analysis on the management of the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF).

With this report, HEC will also be releasing a set of design storms which will require further calibration. Once calibrated, we can assess the reallocation of flood storage at Hartwell.

Data analysis on the reallocation of flood storage at Hartwell is scheduled to take a few months, dependent on available funding and resources.

Recommendations will then be forwarded to the District’s Planning Division to determine whether a reduction in flood pool can be considered as a viable alternative in the next phase of the basin’s comprehensive study, said Corps water manager Stan Simpson.

For those needing a recap or overview of the study, our October 2013 announcement detailed why the Corps began the study.

The story explained how the flood pool analysis intended to examine whether the established 4-foot winter drawdown could be reallocated according to new data.

To summarize, HEC developed rainfall models to analyze the ability of the projects to contain:

• the greatest rain event the basin could expect, known as the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF); and
• the 2- to 500-year storm events at the three Savannah River projects for future analysis. The HEC models, once calibrated, can later be used to analyze possible reductions in flood storage at the projects.

Since then, HEC has developed and run several scenarios to test the ability of the projects to pass the Probable Maximum Flood. These same models are being further refined by the Mapping and Modernization Center for incorporation into the Corps Water Management System (CWMS), a tool that offers features that most Corps water managers need to perform operation analyses on a daily basis.

The CWMS suite can be used to test the feasibility of different scenarios and develop estimates of increased damages due to reduced flood storage, according to Simpson.

Water managers and members of the District’s Planning Division will use these results to evaluate the impacts associated with changes in project operations. If decreasing the winter drawdown is feasible, then reallocating the proposed 2 feet of flood storage to conservation storage would become a viable alternative considered in the third and last phase of the Savannah River Basin Comprehensive study.

If the proposed reduction alternative is the chosen alternative for that phase, the district would recommend a reallocation of flood storage which requires congressional approval.

Thanks for reading us, and as always, we welcome your comments and feedback!

~Chelsea Smith, public affairs specialist COE

 After several months of hit-and-miss precipitation, the sub-basins along the Savannah River delivered in style for August.

– See more at: http://balancingthebasin.armylive.dodlive.mil/2015/09/03/sub-basins-close-out-the-summer-with-a-bang-sort-of/#more-2160

American Bass Anglers, Inc. and Visit Anderso
n have joined together to present the 2015 American Fishing Tour National Championship at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC the week of October 17 -23, 2015.  The event will take place at the new Green Pond Landing launch facility to be completed in December of 2014.  Up to 250 boats will descend upon Anderson, SC to compete for three new Triton Boat/Mercury Outboard packages during the 2015 AFT Championship.  Anglers will be coming from AFT divisions as far away as New York and Kansas to attend the event.  “Visit Anderson is proud to be the host of the 2015 AFT National Championship at Green Pond Landing on Lake Hartwell.  We’ve worked hard to make the facility and our community a world class destination for bass fishing,” said Jennifer Norman, Executive Director of Visit Anderson.

Lake Hartwell lies on the South Carolina/Georgia border and covers 56,000 acres.  The Lake Hartwell Dam was completed in 1959 joining the Savannah, Seneca, and Tugaloo Rivers.  Many events such as the FLW Tour and the B.A.S.S. Elite Series tournaments have been held on the lake.  Lake Hartwell will, also, be the home of the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

The completion of the new Green Pond Landing launch facility will open a whole new chapter for tournament fishing in Anderson, SC.  The state of the art facility will be open in December of 2014 and will include four launch ramps and paved parking for 175 trucks/trailers.  Phase II of Green Pond Landing will take place over the 2015-2016 winter adding additional parking and facilities to the site.  Completion of this facility will bring many events that typically take place in other communities on Lake Hartwell to Anderson, SC.  The AFT National Championship will be the second major event to be held out of Green Pond Landing.  Green Pond Landing is located at:  470 Green Pond Road Anderson, SC 29626.

“We feel privileged to be working with a first class organization such as Visit Anderson.  With the help of Visit Anderson, this should be an AFT Championship for the record books,” said Morris Sheehan, ABA President.  Visit Anderson is located at: 110 Federal Street, Suite 8; Anderson, SC 29625 and can be reached at (877) 282-3660 or www.visitanderson.com.

The American Fishing Tour was originally known as the Military Bass Anglers Association and was formed in 1974 four decades ago. MBAA was purchased by American Bass Anglers, Inc. in January of 2000 and was renamed the American Fishing Tour opening it to grassroots anglers outside of the military ranks. The American Fishing Tour is now the largest grassroots angler tournament trail in the country. There are currently 80+ divisions of the AFT spanning across more than 30 states. Nineteen (19) of these divisions are located in Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina making Lake Hartwell a great choice for an AFT national event.  The American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler. All ABA anglers fish for money and points. The points advance the anglers to their divisional championship and the top 500 anglers in the US are invited to the American Fishing Tour National Championship.

AFT Championship anglers can cash in on contingency programs such as Triton Gold, Atlas Awards, Garmin Grand Giveaway and Mercury/Motorguide bonus money during this event.

American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Royal Purple Lubricants, Carlisle Tires, Odyssey Batteries, Dolphinite, Wicked Glow Lures, T-H Marine, Livingston Lures, Best Western Hotels, Simms Clothing, Garmin, North American Fishing Club, Maui Jim, and Power Pole.  American Bass Anglers, Inc. can be contacted at (256) 232-0406 or by visiting americanbassanglers.com.