An opportunity to use federal stimulus funds to perform renovations to spillway gates at Thurmond Lake will require lowering the reservoir’s pool level for up to two years beginning next week, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

“In order to do the repairs we’re going to have to keep the reservoir levels lower than we would want to at this time,” said corps spokesman Billy Birdwell.

The lake’s traditional full pool is 330 feet above sea level, with a winter level of 326 feet above sea level. During the past year, efforts to keep the lake fuller have included cutbacks in the volume of water released from the dam into the Savannah River.

The reservoir fell to a near record low of 313.68 during the 2008 drought and has risen steadily since the beginning of the year. The level Friday was 328.6.

Mr. Birdwell said the $3.9 million project to repair welds on spillway gates involves work at both Thurmond and Lake Russell. Contractors expect the work at Thurmond to take up to two years, with the Russell renovations taking as long as four years.

Consequently, Thurmond will be kept no higher than 326 throughout the work period, he said. “We’re going to work with the contractors to see if we can go higher, but right now the target will be 326,” he said.

Lowering to that level will begin next week.

Although the pool level will be kept lower during the summer recreation season, the corps plans to store additional water in Lake Hartwell (upstream from Russell) to provide safeguards against the impacts of any dry spells that could push Thurmond Lake lower than desired.

“Should we have another dry spell and Thurmond drops below 326, we will be able to move water from Hartwell to cover it,” he said.

No changes are expected in lake levels at the Russell reservoir, he said.

Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com