The need for water puts great demands on the Savannah River Basin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District coordinates water management efforts with federal and state natural resource agencies to balance the needs of the Savannah River’s upstream and downstream users.

We operate and maintain the Hartwell, Richard B. Russell and J. Strom Thurmond hydroelectric dams and reservoirs as one balanced system. All our water management actions are based on seven Congressionally-authorized purposes: water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife, flood risk management, recreation, hydropower, and downstream navigation. Depending on drought conditions, the order of these priorities changes. For instance, in severe drought, water quality and water supply take priority.

Often times, conflicting needs for water occur throughout the basin. It’s our job to look at the entire basin–from the northern reaches of Hartwell Lake to the Atlantic Ocean–and manage it as one system using the best science we have available.

We balance the Hartwell and Thurmond pools in a foot-per-foot manner for the top 15 feet of the conservation storage (which is the amount of water stored during normal periods for use during drought). The Russell pool serves as a conduit to move water from Hartwell to Thurmond. Once the pools have declined below this point, we balance them based on the percent of depth remaining in their respective conservation pools.

During periods of drought, we reduce outflows from the dams according to our drought management plan(last updated in September 2012). The plan establishes four “levels” of drought and a protocol for reducing outflows at each level. This plan was coordinated with Georgia and South Carolina natural resource agencies and federal resource agencies.

Check daily updates on lake levels and other hydrologic data on our Water Management web page at http://water.sas.usace.army.mil/home/indexDU.htm

Click Here to read the December 2013 BuyHartwellLake.com Newsletter with the latest news, information and listing on Lake Hartwell.

When the sun sets on another boating season, it is time to get your boat ready for the cold winter months. Taking the necessary steps to winterize your boat will safeguard the vessel and its motor against the elements so it is ready to use when the warm weather arrives. Winterizing your boat also will preserve your investment. Follow these guidelines to prepare your boat for the cold winter months.

·          Fill your boat’s fuel tank to just about capacity. Leave enough room for it to expand. Add gasoline stabilizer to prevent the fuel from degrading over the winter. The stabilizer also curtails the oxidation process and impedes varnish and corrosion.

·          Close the fuel valves to avoid potentially destructive interior condensation. Any thru-port exhaust ports should be sealed with duct tape and the fuel filter and water separator will need to be replaced.

·          Coat the spark plugs. Take out the engine flame arrestor and “shoot” fogging or two-cycle oil into the carburetor while the engine is running. Turn off the fuel supply to burn off an excess fuel. With the engine off inject oil inside the cylinders.  Spin the engine several times to coat the spark plugs. Put the plugs back in but do not connect the wires. This will keep your boat’s pistons from being subjected to air, dampness and other caustic materials when not in use.

·          Fill the engine block with antifreeze. Bleed any remaining engine coolant from the engine block and manifolds and fill with the proper antifreeze for your model boat. Antifreeze containing propylene glycol is environmentally friendly and recommended by nearly all manufacturers.

·          Change the engine’s gear oil. Flush and replace the lower unit gear case lubricant if your boat has an inboard/outdrive engine. This keeps the internal parts free of water damage.

·          Disengage the battery and store in a safe, dry place for the winter. The battery should be fully charged when put away. Retain the charge and maintain the water level while the battery is in storage.

·          Inspect your vessel’s propeller and hub. Look for dented or bowed blades and widespread wear. Change damaged parts and perform needed repairs when winterizing your boat.

·         Prepare the plugs and bulb sockets. Spray the contact points on all plugs and bulb sockets with a moisture displacing lubricant. Wrap the plugs with electrical tape to keep them dry. 

         Clean your boat before storing it for the winter. Remove surface dirt with a washcloth or soft sponge. Check with your local marina before using any commercial product or soap on your boat’s exterior. Any “over-the-counter” glass cleaners or vinegar and water solutions are safe to use, as are most vinyl cleaners and protectants.

     Cover your boat, even if it will be stored in a heated   garage or another type of storage facility. An 8- to 10-ounce cotton canvas is recommended to protect your vessel from grime, dust, insects and bird excrement. It should be tight fitting and waterproof.