What is happening to the water level in Lake Hartwell?
That is a great question that I get from almost every buyer, seller, and looker. The answer is simple it all depends on how much rain we get this spring and summer. If the rain stops the water levels drop because the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers will continue to let out the same amount of water each day approximately 3,600 cubic ft per second, that's about 2.3 billion gallons of water a day. We need the rain to replace what goes out, or down stream. Hartwell Lake is down about 8ft now.
Buyers ask if this will affect property values. Of course it does, when looking to purchase a lake front property buyers want to see water at the end of the dock, not dirt or grass growing. From what I have seen most buyers will not even consider a property that does not have water now. This will make some sellers very upset that their once waterfront property is now dry.
However; the Corp of Engineers, Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Mike Gray, along with several other counties that touch the lake have agreed to pay for an economic impact study. The study will be conducted by Clemson's Strom Thurmond Research center's Dr. Michael Mc Coda. The study, Phase one will take into account the tax dollar amount business and communities loose during a drought because of low lake levels. This makes since with low lake levels people aren't going to want to boat, play, or buy lake property on a lake with the water low. If they aren't visiting the lake they are not spending money at local restaurants, stores, or buying lake home toys or building improvements. The study should be complete in one year.
One reason the corp does release water is so that SEPA south east power association can use the water to produce power to sell. SEPA and the Corp would agree that less water released during a drought season will still yield the same dollar amount when power is produced and sold.
It will be interesting to see in the next following years if the water levels on Lake Hartwell remain unchanged. Information provided by U.S. Corp of Engineers website, and Mike Gray Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.
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