Lake Hartwell dam's spillway test unleashes spectacular water display. What to know.

Travis Jacque Rose, Anderson Independent Mail
·1 min read

The United States Army Corps of Engineers tested all 12 spillway gates at the Lake Hartwell hydropower dam located at 5625 Anderson Hwy at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13.

"We chose this date because the lake levels are optimum at this time," said Steven Tyler, the Savannah District's structural engineer, in a press release.

"These required safety tests ensure the gates will function properly should a high-water event require an emergency release for the safety and integrity of the dam."

An air horn sounded for one minute before the release of water to warn those people fishing or those nearby on the water.

The test lasted approximately two hours, during which hundreds of bystanders watched as water gushed out of the spillway gates.

John Case of Elberton, Georgia takes a photos holding his son Cayden, as the US Army Corps of Engineers test spillways of the Hartwell Dam March 13, 2024. The rare occurrence testing the hydropower dam on the Savannah River with a water release draws spectators, many who brought children on the school day for an educational look at the area lake activity. The spill, one gate at a time, lasted two hours.

"It's always good to share some unique experiences, like the spillway gate test," said Aaron Wahu, Operation Project Manager for the Hartwell Project. "We try to do this test every year, depending on lake levels."

He said the lake was almost two feet over the summer full pool due to the extra spring rain in the area.

While the release provides a spectacular view, its effect on lake levels is minimal, Wahu said.

The US Army Corps of Engineers test spillway of the Hartwell Dam March 13, 2024. The rare occurrence testing the hydropower dam on the Savannah River with a water release draws spectators, many who brought children on the school day for an educational look at the area lake activity. The spill, one gate at a time, lasted two hours.
The US Army Corps of Engineers test spillway of the Hartwell Dam March 13, 2024. The rare occurrence testing the hydropower dam on the Savannah River with a water release draws spectators, many who brought children on the school day for an educational look at the area lake activity. The spill, one gate at a time, lasted two hours.

"The spill gates were opened one foot at a time until all 12 reached five feet, at which point they were closed," he said. "We only reduced the Lake's elevation by two-tenths of a foot."

Hartwell Lake is currently above full summer levels.

Wahu says that Hartwell Dam, Russell Dam, and Thurman Dam work together to protect the river from flooding. "This is the only spill gate test we will run this year," he said.

Residents can check Lake Hartwell's water level at waterdata.usgs.gov

Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Spectators watch water gushing at spillway test at Lake Hartwell Dam.