Clarks Hill Lake

Clarks Hill Lake
Name	Clarks Hill Lake
Other name	J. Strom Thurmond Lake
Location	McDuffie County, Lincoln County, Elbert County, McCormick County, McCormick County, Columbia County
Type	Reservoir
Inflow	Savannah River
Outflow	Savannah River
Basin countries	United States
Area	71,100 acres
Created	1952–1954
Operator	United States Army Corps of Engineers

Clarks Hill Lake is a large reservoir on the Savannah River bordering Georgia and South Carolina. Built and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s, it serves for hydroelectric power, flood control, navigation, and recreation. The impoundment created a major inland water body adjacent to cities and sites such as Augusta, Aiken, Thomson, and Greenville County, influencing regional development, wildlife habitats, and interstate water management.

Introduction

Clarks Hill Lake lies on the Savannah River between Augusta and Lake Hartwell and forms part of a chain of reservoirs including Richard B. Russell Lake and Allatoona Lake. The project involved federal agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers and intersected with state governments of Georgia and South Carolina. The impoundment altered landscapes near historic sites like Fort Moore and transport corridors including the Southern Railway and U.S. Route 1.

History and Construction

Initial authorization for the impoundment followed studies by the Tennessee Valley Authority and flood control proposals advanced during administrations of Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Construction commenced after Congressional approval influenced by representatives such as members of the United States House Committee on Public Works and senators from Georgia and South Carolina. The dam and powerhouse were engineered by contractors who had previously worked on projects like Barker Dam and Hoover Dam, applying techniques referenced in publications from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Engineering News-Record.

During construction, relocation efforts affected communities documented in records from the National Archives and Records Administration and actions by the Federal Power Commission. Labor and materials were sourced via companies headquartered in Atlanta and Columbia, with logistical support from railroads including the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and trucking firms operating on the Interstate Highway System such as Interstate 20 and Interstate 26.

Geography and Hydrology

The reservoir inundated river valleys in counties such as McDuffie County, Lincoln County, and Elbert County on the Georgia side and McCormick County on the South Carolina side. Hydrologic behavior is influenced by tributaries like the Little River and features documented by the United States Geological Survey. Long-term monitoring by agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and regional bodies such as the Apalachee Regional Water Resource Management Council informs water level regulation, sedimentation rates, and nutrient loading compared with other impoundments like Lake Hartwell and Lake Seminole.

Sediment transport and geomorphology relate to upland soils mapped by the United States Department of Agriculture and to watershed practices promoted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Seasonal flows affect downstream navigation on the Savannah River National Wildlife Refuge corridor and interface with infrastructure such as the Savannah Harbor shipping channel and the Port of Savannah.

Recreation and Wildlife

Clarks Hill Lake supports recreational activities similar to those at Lake Lanier and Lake Oconee, drawing anglers, boaters, and campers. Species of interest include Largemouth bass, Striped bass, Bluegill, and populations of wood duck and great blue heron that use adjacent wetlands. Public lands and parks managed around the impoundment provide facilities akin to those at Harrison Bay State Park and are linked to trails like segments of the East Coast Greenway and facilities overseen by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Events and tournaments hosted on the lake attract participants from organizations including the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and collegiate clubs from institutions such as the University of Georgia, Augusta University, and University of South Carolina. Nearby cultural and historic sites such as Concord Baptist Church and the Sacred Heart Cultural Center provide regional context for visitors.

Infrastructure and Management

The dam, powerhouse, and associated locks were constructed and are operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers District, Savannah District in coordination with state agencies. Power generation interfaces with regional utilities including the Tennessee Valley Authority grid and investor-owned utilities like Georgia Power and cooperatives in SCE&G service areas. Management includes coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for floodplain mapping and with the United States Coast Guard for navigation safety.

Support facilities include boat ramps, marinas run by private operators licensed under lease agreements with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and transportation connections to highways such as U.S. Route 221 and rail spurs formerly used by the Norfolk Southern Railway. Historic preservation work on affected sites has been documented by the Historic American Engineering Record.

Environmental Issues and Conservation

Environmental concerns mirror those at comparable reservoirs including eutrophication studied by researchers at University of Georgia and Clemson University, invasive species management for organisms such as Asian carp and Hydrilla verticillata, and habitat restoration projects coordinated by non-profits like The Nature Conservancy and state chapters of the Audubon Society. Water quality monitoring involves the Environmental Protection Agency programs and state water quality standards set by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Conservation initiatives have included riparian buffer restoration funded through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service programs and community partnerships with institutions such as Augusta University Medical Center and Aiken Regional Medical Centers to promote watershed stewardship. Research partnerships with academic entities including Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and federal labs like Oak Ridge National Laboratory address long-term climate resilience, sediment dynamics, and biodiversity conservation strategies tailored to southeastern reservoirs.

Category:Lakes of Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Reservoirs in South Carolina