Heat and humidity bring lower lake levels

The government confirms what folks are saying when they have a look at Lake Hartwell these days.  With the heat and the humidity and less rain come lower lake levels.  Billy Birdwell, spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, says the heat means more water evaporates from the reservoirs and the plants onshore suck more water out of the reservoirs to keep themselves green.  The corps uses a water manual and drought contingency plan to deal with the situation.  The plan and manual are not always popular with the public, Birdwell says, they strike a balance in managing the resources among a variety of uses—whether the basin has too little rainfall, too much rainfall, or “just right” rainfall.