Santee Cooper Begins Controlled Spilling at Santee Dam
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Increased rainfall in the Santee Cooper watershed and upstream lake operations have resulted in increased inflows into the Santee Cooper Lake system. Due to elevated lake levels, Santee Cooper will start a controlled spilling operation at 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, at the Santee Dam on Lake Marion.
The flow will begin at a rate of 10,000 cubic feet of water per second (or about 4.48 million gallons per minute) into the Santee River to keep lake levels below the FERC operating license maximum elevation. The operation will continue until further notice. Santee Cooper has also been operating the St. Stephen hydro units since March 4 to help control lake levels.
System Operations will continue to monitor rainfall projections and inflows into the Santee Cooper Lake system and provide updates as conditions change.
Santee Cooper’s dams and dikes are secure. Spilling is a normal part of Santee Cooper’s hydroelectric operations in periods of increased inflows into the lakes. Information will also be updated each business day on the lakes’ information line, 1-800-92LAKES.
