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Water Resources: Corps of Engineers' Drought Management of Savannah River Projects

RCED-89-169 Published: Jun 12, 1989. Publicly Released: Jun 12, 1989.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army Corps of Engineers' management of the Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond reservoirs in Georgia and South Carolina, focusing on the: (1) Corps' management of the reservoirs during the 1988 drought; (2) drought's effect on the reservoirs' ability to serve users; and (3) Corps' efforts to develop a drought contingency plan for the reservoirs.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of the Assistant Secretary (Civil Works) In order for the district to be better prepared to manage drought conditions in the Savannah River Basin, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) should require the Chief Engineer to improve the Savannah District's drought contingency plan by ensuring that the plan: (1) is based on thoroughly documented and current water supply needs; (2) includes downstream inflows in determining releases from the projects; and (3) includes actions to be taken in worst-case situations.
Closed – Implemented
The Corps Headquarters Office of Hydraulics and Hydrology staff reported on September 11, 1992 that this recommendation has been implemented. It stated that three specific improvements have been incorporated in a revised Savannah River Basin Drought Contingency Plan. GAO will verify through a review of the new plan and take an accomplishment report, if warranted.
Office of the Assistant Secretary (Civil Works) So that the Corps is prepared nationwide to better manage ongoing and future drought situations, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) should direct the Chief Engineer to ensure that each district has drought contingency plans for all controlled reservoir storage projects, and that the plans are based on a thorough analysis of user needs, adjust release rate calculations to account for downstream inflows, and include worst-case situation plans.
Closed – Implemented
The Corps' Headquarters Office of Hydraulics and Hydrology staff reported at an exit conference on February 25, 1993, that all 334 drought contingency plans required have been completed as of September 30, 1992. GAO did not review the completed plans to verify that they are based on the three factors listed in the recommendation.

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Topics

Natural Resources and Environment
Contingency plansDamsElectric power generationEmergency preparednessEnergy suppliesHydroelectric energyRainfall statisticsRecreation areasWater qualityWater resources conservationWater supply managementDroughts