Comment period opens on temporary changes to Savannah River Basin drought plan

 SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – The Savannah District of the Army Corps of Engineers proposes to make a temporary revision to the 1989 Savannah River Basin Drought Contingency Plan and is soliciting comments from the public on the change. The revision in the plan would reduce the minimum daily average discharge of water from the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake from 3,600 to 3,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) in the fall and winter months for the reminder of the present drought, if conditions warrant the reduction.

The change would preserve water in the three Savannah River reservoirs and delay the time at which those reservoirs would reach the bottom of their conversation storage pools. The Corps of Engineers would restore the discharges from the Thurmond reservoir to the present 3,600 cfs per day daily average if requested by either the states of Georgia or South Carolina.

A more detailed description of the proposed action is contained in the draft Environmental Assessment and Appendices. The comment period, described in the Joint Public Notice, is open until October 31. 

Copies of the Draft EA and unsigned FONSI can be obtained from the following website: www.sas.usace.army.mil , by emailing Mr. William Bailey at following address: william.g.bailey@usace.army.mil .

Written statements regarding the Draft EA and FONSI for the proposed action will be received at the Savannah District Office until

 12 O’CLOCK NOON, OCTOBER 31, 2009

from those interested in the activity and whose interests may be affected by the proposed action.