Santee Cooper begins controlled spill at Santee Dam

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – Santee Cooper will start a controlled spilling operation at the Santee Dam following the recent increase in rainfall.

Santee Cooper officials say the influx of rainfall in the Santee Cooper watershed and upstream lake operations caused increasing inflows into the Santee Cooper Lake System.

Officials with Santee Cooper say, “Spilling is a normal part of Santee Cooper’s hydroelectric operations in periods of increased inflows into the lakes.”

The controlled spilling operation will start at 8 a.m. on Thursday 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,” said the press release.

Officials say the operation will continue until further notice and they will continue to monitor rainfall projections and inflows into the Santee Cooper Lake system.