East Ga. lake expected to hit lowest level since 2002

AUGUSTA - Drought-parched Thurmond Lake is expected to fall to its lowest level since 2002 within the next 10 days.

The low level will trigger Level 3 of the U.S. Corps of Engineers' drought-management plan for only the second time since it was adopted in 1989.

The plan calls for additional water to be moved from Lake Hartwell to keep Thurmond full enough to maintain the minimum flows into the Savannah River that are needed by downstream users.

The reservoir's pool level and the drought plan's Level 3 benchmark dictate how much water is released into the Savannah River for drinking, industrial processes and wastewater dilution for Augusta, Columbia County, North Augusta and a number of industries.

Thurmond Lake is 13.44 feet below the full pool of 330.