J. Strom Thurmond Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids J. Strom Thurmond Dam |
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J. Strom Thurmond Dam
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| Location |   US 221 / SR 150, Columbia County, Georgia / McCormick County, South Carolina, USA |
| Coordinates | 33°39′39″N 82°11′59″W / 33.66083°N 82.19972°W |
| Construction began | 1946 |
| Opening date | 1954 |
| Construction cost | $78.5 million |
| Operator(s) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Savannah River |
| Height | 200 feet (61 m) (thalweg) |
| Length | 1 mile (1.73 km) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Strom Thurmond |
| Catchment area | 6,144 sq mi (15,910 km2) |
| Surface area | 71,100 acres (28,800 ha) |
| Power station | |
| Turbines | 7 |
| Installed capacity | 380 MW |
| Annual generation | 700,000,000 KWh annually |
The J. Strom Thurmond Dam, also known as Clarks Hill Dam in Georgia, is a huge structure made of concrete and earth. It's located about 22 miles north of Augusta, Georgia, right where the Savannah River forms the border between South Carolina and Georgia. This dam creates the large Lake Strom Thurmond.
The dam was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1946 and 1954. Its main jobs are to control floods, generate electricity, and help boats travel on the river. The concrete part of the dam is 1,096 feet long and stands 204 feet tall above the riverbed. It holds a power plant that can produce 380 megawatts of electricity. The dam also helps prevent a lot of flood damage every year and offers fun activities like boating and fishing.
Since 1988, the dam has been officially named after Strom Thurmond, who was a long-serving Senator. In Georgia, it was originally named after Elijah Clark, a hero from the Revolutionary War. He is buried near the lake, in an area that is now Elijah Clark State Park.
Contents
Building the Dam: A Look Back
Early Ideas for the Savannah River
Back in 1890, an engineer named Lieutenant Oberlin M. Carter suggested building dams on the Savannah River. His goal was to stop the frequent flooding in Augusta, Georgia. However, his idea wasn't acted upon for many years.
Later, in 1927, a new law allowed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to study how the Savannah River could be used. They looked into generating hydroelectricity (power from water), helping boats navigate, controlling floods, and providing water for farms. By 1933, the USACE suggested building two hydropower dams in the upper part of the Savannah River basin: the Clark Hill Dam and the Hartwell Dam.
Getting Approval and Starting Work
Building the Clarks Hill project was finally approved in 1944 by the U.S. Congress. Local leaders in Augusta, along with Senators Walter F. George and Richard Russell from Georgia, played a big part in getting this approval. President Franklin D. Roosevelt also supported the plan in 1935.
Construction officially began on August 1, 1946. However, work stopped briefly because of money issues after World War II. It restarted in November 1946.
How the Dam Was Built
In 1947, workers started to change the flow of the Savannah River and build a temporary dam called a coffer dam. This allowed them to work on the main dam in a dry area. A special plant was also built to mix the huge amounts of concrete needed for the dam. Giant cranes then moved the concrete to where it was needed.
By 1948, after digging out the foundation, workers began pouring concrete for the spillway. The spillway is the part of the dam that lets excess water flow through. In 1949, the first coffer dam was removed, and a second one was put in place. This allowed the river to flow through eight sluice gates in the new spillway structure.
Work on the main part of the dam continued, even with a steel strike causing a short delay in 1949. By the end of 1950, much of the spillway was finished.
Powerhouse and Generators
Contracts for building the powerhouse were given out in late 1950. The powerhouse is where the electricity is made. The seven generators for the power plant had been ordered a year earlier. Each generator was so big it needed 32 railcars to bring it to the site!
By July 1951, the huge reservoir behind the dam began to fill up. This happened as most of the earth-filled part of the dam was completed. The lake was full by October 1952. In November 1952, the first generator started working, sending electricity to South Carolina. The other six generators came online between 1953 and 1954. The entire project was finished in 1954.
Dam's Impact on Flooding
Since it was completed, the J. Strom Thurmond Dam has saved an estimated $185,000 every year by preventing flood damage. For example, during a big flood in March 1964, the dam lowered the water level in Augusta from 38 feet to 25 feet. This kept the flood from being much worse. The dam also helps keep the river channel clear for boats.
Challenges During Construction
Building the dam wasn't always easy. One big problem was a disagreement with the Savannah River Electric Company (SREC). This company had a permit to build their own power dam at the same location. However, they gave up their permit during the Great Depression because there wasn't much demand for electricity.
When the USACE started planning the dam, SREC said they wouldn't interfere. But in 1946, when construction was briefly halted, SREC tried to get their permit back. The government denied their request. A politician named George A. Dondero tried to pass a law that would let SREC build and run the powerhouse, but his plan was defeated. After that, SREC stopped trying to fight for the project.
Dam and Power Plant Features
The J. Strom Thurmond Dam's powerhouse is a strong concrete structure. It's surrounded by earth-filled dams, making the total length of the dam about one mile. The concrete part is 1,096 feet long and stands 200 feet high from the riverbed.
The dam created Lake Strom Thurmond, which covers 71,000 acres. The lake stretches 29.4 miles up the Savannah River and 17 miles up the Little River. This dam is 239.5 miles upstream from where the Savannah River meets the ocean. Along with the Hartwell Dam (built in 1962) and the Richard B. Russell Dam (built in 1985), these dams create over 120 miles of lakes.
The dam helps provide electricity during times when it's needed most. It has seven hydroelectricity generators, each capable of producing 40 megawatts of power. Each turbine, which spins the generator, weighs 300 tons and is 30 feet across. Water flows to these generators through seven large pipes called penstocks, which are 214 feet long.
The dam's spillway has 23 tainter gates. These gates help keep the lake at a normal level and control water during floods. The dam produces 700,000,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. This power is managed by the Southeastern Power Administration.
