At this distance, the waters of Lake Hartwell look fine.  But at a closer look, lake levels aren't as high as they should be.

Park Ranger Tanya Grant knows some boaters don't always take that closer look.

“During periods of low water, there's still plenty of water out on Hartwell Lake to boat safely.  But boaters really do need to use extra caution and common sense if they're gonna be boating on Hartwell Lake in low water conditions,” Tanya Grant tells NewsChannel 32.

Right now, Lake Hartwell is about 3 feet below full pool.  And the Army Corps of Engineers expects that level to decrease another foot before the month is out. 

When that happens, the Corps will go into Action Level One. A spokesperson says during that time, they will monitor each of the 3 lakes in the Savannah District...Thurmond, Russell, and Hartwell to make sure the levels of each are the same.

Even if levels decrease past Level 1, the Corps has handled worse droughts.  In 1981, LAKE levels were down 18 feet.

The most recent drought lasted from 1998 to 2002.  At its worst, Lake

Even if the lake drops that low again, Grant says boaters can still enjoy the water.

“The number one thing boaters should be looking out for are tree stumps, rocks, and shoals that may normally be covered up with water but are now getting exposed or may just be right below the surface of the water,” Grant explains.

Some other tips, when swimming or boating, wear a life jacket. Don't go past navigation markers, and always have some one with you to look out for hazards in the water.

If you plan on visiting Lake Hartwell this summer, you can do 2 things before you head out.

Check the Army Corps of Engineers website at water.sas.usace.army.mil to see what the levels are that day. You can also check to see what boat ramps are closed because of low levels.