Santee Cooper Begins Controlled Spilling at Santee Dam
Staff Report From South Carolina CEO
Monday, February 10th, 2020
Heavy rainfall throughout the area increased inflows to the Santee Cooper Lakes system. To manage lake levels, Santee Cooper started a controlled spilling operation on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Santee Dam on Lake Marion.
The flow began at 9 a.m. and is currently spilling at a rate of 40,000 cubic feet of water per second (or about 18 million gallons per minute) into the Santee River, and the operation will continue until further notice.
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.