Home > News > Savannah River Committee & Drought 2007

The Army Corp of Engineers reports that we face the worst drought in 53 years. Georgia reports a level 4; the highest level with mandatory conservation. South Carolina is at level 3 with local providers voluntarily applying water rationing. The Corp has reduced downstream flows and plans further reductions the 2nd week of December.

These were some of the updates that was provided at a meeting of the Savannah River Committee which took place at the conference center of Clemson University. The Committee's role is to generate management plans to provide water for the stakeholders including farms, towns, power generation, navigation, & environmental.

Public input was allowed. Ben Turetzky, Exec. Director of FOLKS, addressed a number of issues for the upstate lakes and particularly their economic role in replacing the many lost jobs in the region. Greenville Water stressed the importance of Keowee for their future growth.

The Committee received reports on water planning from Georgia and SC. Georgia spoke to the need for sharing the burden with like water restrictions during droughts.

This Savannah River Committee will generate a web site in the next few months.. When that occurs we will provide links to their site. The Corp will also post their updated report on the drought and again we will provide links when that occurs.