USACE Managing a Drought  Overview  Timeline  Depletion Scenario Current Status– 17 Oct 07

Current Conditions

Winter Outlook

Drought

Lake Lanier   1,040 mi 2 Drainage Area   105 MW   1,087,060 Acre-Feet   750 cfs Minimum Flow at Peachtree Creek

Lake Lanier 14 ½ - feet below Summer Pool

West Point   3,440 mi 2 Drainage Area   80 MW   306,131 Acre-Feet

West Point 13 – feet below Summer Pool

W. F. George   7,460 mi 2 Drainage Area   145 MW   244,400 Acre-Feet

W. F. George 5 - feet below Summer Pool

Operations During Drought Conditions Operations During Drought Conditions ☼ Lake levels fall due to declining inflows in basin ☼ Rainfall forecasts indicate dry conditions ahead ☼ State, Federal, local agencies, and stakeholders notified of drought ☼ Press releases issued to public periodically ☼ Discharges are reduced according to Water Control Plan ☼ Navigation reduced and curtailed as conditions worsen ☼ Lakes and basin inflows continue to decline, and recreational uses are impacted. ☼ Releases specifically for hydropower reduced

Operations During Drought Conditions (continued) ☼ Releases from dams made to support water supply and water quality (WS/WQ) ☼ Releases for WS/WQ made through turbines providing limited hydropower ☼ SEPA may purchase replacement energy to fulfill contract ☼ Flow reduced from lower basin projects to meet minimum flow requirements ☼ Water to meet downstream minimum flow requirements draws from project storage thus lowering lake levels. ☼ Coordination made with fishery agencies to facilitate fish spawn operations during low water periods

Drought Scenario 1.Average inflow for ACF basin in May is 40% of normal. Releases from Buford Dam for water supply and water quality needs in Atlanta only. Releases are made thru turbine in most efficient and cost effective means. 2.Lanier reaches peak elevation of in May. 3.Average inflow in June is 25% of normal. Releases from Buford averages 830 cfs in June. 4.Average inflow in July is 29% of normal. Releases from Buford averages 930 cfs in July. 5.Average inflow in August is 21% of normal. Releases from Buford averages 1070 cfs. Increases are due to evaporation, increased summer withdrawals, and dry conditions in basin. Lanier’s level continues to decline. Lake level at Lanier Releases from Buford Dam

Woodruff discharge Lake level at West Point Lake level at George Drought Scenario continued 1.Rainfall event in early May causes rise in lakes. Head limits at George and Woodruff prompt increased releases. 2.In June, lakes at summer level. Releases from Woodruff reduced from 6100 cfs to 5500 cfs. 3.ACF basin inflow averages 4500 cfs (26% of normal) in July. Lakes continue to decline due to water drawn from storage to supplement Apalachicola flow. 4.Rainfall in basin above Woodruff and head limits require increase in discharge. Other lakes continue to decline at slower rate. 5.Conditions worsen in August and flow reduced to 5000 cfs from Woodruff. Lakes continue to decline. Basin average inflow is 2500 cfs. Half of 5000 cfs minimum must come from storage During summer months as conditions change, notification is made to impacted stakeholders and public via basin drought calls, web page, newsletter, press releases and other means.

Lake Lanier Minimum Flow Requirements Up to 1,500 cfs release from Lake Lanier is required to meet Metro-Atlanta water supply withdrawals plus to insure 750 cfs remains in river to meet water quality standards at Peachtree Creek. Water supply withdrawal Local tributary inflow 750 cfs Flow Required for Water Quality

Year-round operations to support flow needs for sturgeon spawning, young sturgeon, mussels, and host fish for musselsYear-round operations to support flow needs for sturgeon spawning, young sturgeon, mussels, and host fish for mussels Minimize or avoid impacts of low flow operations on listed species or critical habitatMinimize or avoid impacts of low flow operations on listed species or critical habitat Provide for storage when water is more plentiful to allow for future augmentation during low flows in support of musselsProvide for storage when water is more plentiful to allow for future augmentation during low flows in support of mussels Minimize conflicts with management for other fish and wildlife species (e.g., reservoir fish management)Minimize conflicts with management for other fish and wildlife species (e.g., reservoir fish management) Minimize impact to other project purposesMinimize impact to other project purposes Revised Interim Operation Plan

June 08, RIOP 15 Nov 07, EDO for the IOP 05 Sep 06, IOP 28 Feb 07, RPM cfs 16 May 07, Volumetric Balancing TS Fay Difference in location of storage in 2007 vs. 2008

ACF System Storage Lake Lanier holds most of remaining basin storage Conservation storage at West Point & W. F. George close to depleted

Drought Zone, Flow < 5,000 4,500 cfs Enter Drought Ops 5,000 cfs Return to Normal Operations

5,000 cfs Flow Target Inflows to ACF basin * Water released from lake storage Flow to Apalachicola River Basin Inflow * * Total basin inflow to ACF basin minus reservoir evaporation and municipal, industrial, and agricultural consumption.

Engage stakeholders via bi-weekly teleconferences Stakeholder Awareness Improve Data Dissemination Communication is key !!! Improved Water Management Tools National Focus on ACF

Water Management The Future…

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