Hartwell Dam

Hartwell Dam is a major earthfill embankment dam and hydroelectric power facility located on the Savannah River at the border between Georgia and South Carolina. Owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, its construction was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1950 as part of a comprehensive plan for the Savannah River Basin. The dam impounds the large reservoir known as Lake Hartwell, creating a vital resource for the Southeastern United States that serves multiple purposes including power generation, flood risk management, and recreation.

History

The impetus for the dam's development stemmed from a long history of devastating floods along the Savannah River, which impacted communities like Augusta and Savannah. Following the authorization by the United States Congress, preliminary surveys and land acquisition began in the early 1950s. The project was a significant component of the broader Savannah River Project, which also included other dams like Richard B. Russell Dam and J. Strom Thurmond Dam. Construction commenced in 1955, a period of significant federal investment in water resource infrastructure across the United States, and was completed in 1963.

Construction and design

Hartwell Dam is a massive embankment dam constructed primarily of earth and rock-fill, standing 204 feet high and stretching nearly three miles in length. Its core design includes a gated concrete spillway capable of managing extreme inflow events and a powerhouse integral to the structure. The hydropower facility is equipped with five Francis turbine units, each connected to a generator, with a combined installed capacity of 344 megawatts. The dam's foundation work involved extensive grouting and excavation to ensure stability on the underlying rock formations of the Piedmont region.

Operations and purpose

Primary operations are managed by the Corps of Engineers' Savannah District from the Hartwell Lake Office. The dam's multipurpose mission prioritizes flood control by regulating seasonal flows from the Tugaloo River and Seneca River, its major tributaries. Hydropower generation provides baseload power to the regional grid managed by entities like Southern Company and Duke Energy. Additional operational goals include maintaining minimum flow rates for downstream water quality and water supply, supporting municipalities and industrial users, and providing stable water levels for recreation on the reservoir.

Environmental and social impact

The creation of Lake Hartwell inundated approximately 56,000 acres of river valley, requiring the relocation of communities, highways like U.S. Route 29, and cemeteries. While it transformed the local economy by fostering tourism and lakeside development in towns such as Hartwell and Anderson, it also altered riparian ecosystems. The Corps engages in ongoing environmental management, including shoreline stabilization projects, waterfowl habitat creation, and cooperation with agencies like the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Department of Natural Resources to monitor fisheries and water quality.

Lake Hartwell

The reservoir, Lake Hartwell, extends 49 miles up the Savannah River and has over 960 miles of shoreline at full pool. It is a premier destination for boating, fishing—notably for largemouth bass and striped bass—camping, and hunting, managed through numerous Corps of Engineers recreation areas. The lake also hosts major fishing tournaments sanctioned by Major League Fishing and collegiate events. Its waters are crucial for regional water supply, supplementing needs for cities and supporting cooling for facilities like the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant.

Category:Dams in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Dams in South Carolina Category:Buildings and structures in Hart County, Georgia Category:Buildings and structures in Oconee County, South Carolina Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams Category:Dams completed in 1963 Category:Embankment dams