On Your Side: What caused the low levels in the Savannah River?

Savannah River Struggles with Low Levels

In Augusta, Georgia, even the recent rainfall has not prevented the critical low levels of local water bodies such as the Augusta Canal and the Savannah River. The Savannah River’s latest level reading was at 103 feet, but a significant dip was noticed from Sunday into Monday. This article intends to unravel the causes of this drop and its possible duration of impact.

Local Businesses Suffer

The situation is affecting more areas than seems apparent at first. Local business owner Greg LaBelle, who operates ‘Two Dudes and a Boat Kayak Rentals’, stated that over his 11-year stay in the region and the four and a half years of running his business, he had never seen the river levels drop so low.

According to LaBelle, the unusually low water level on Monday led to unexpected and unpleasant ‘surprises’ during his kayak tour. As the riverbed was exposed due to the decrease in water level, an awful smell permeated the surroundings. However, that was not the only unexpected result. The reduced water levels also increased the number of alligators seen on the tour.

Unforeseen Lightning Strike The Culprit

Wes Byne from Augusta Utilities attributed the dropping river levels to a localized lightning incident. A lightning strike on power lines led to a loss of power to one of the control motors, causing one of the arms left out of the water to cease functioning. This disarray resulted in the pools beginning to drain in an uncontrolled manner.

Although being an unforeseen incident, Byne assured that the United States Army Corp of Engineers acted immediately. The Corp has since released more water into the river. Despite this action, concerns linger about the potential for a similar event occurring in the future.

Worries for the Future

Business owners like LaBelle whose livelihoods are based on river conditions wonder and worry about the possibilities of such circumstances repeating. “It’s kind of scary knowing someone has that much control over what my business is based on.”, reflects LaBelle.

To stay updated with the daily water levels, residents and businesses are encouraged to keep an eye on appropriate online resources and channels.

Effects on the Community

The sudden drop in the Savannah River’s water level is not just a concern for businesses but for the entire community dependent on the river system for recreation and sustenance. With changes in climate making such events possible, the need for a robust system to handle such emergencies becomes evident.

The community, businesses, and authorities need to work hand-in-hand to find solutions to these problems, all the while ensuring continued support to the local ecosystem’s biodiversity.