October 31, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- The Army Corps of Engineers will not be able to make an expedited decision on whether to restrict water flow in the Savannah River Valley.

Corps spokesman Billy Birdwell said Friday the needed environmental assessment is not complete and would likely push the decision date to Nov. 20. The corps had hoped to make a decision Friday.

South Carolina and Georgia had asked that water flow through three lakes on the Savannah River be reduced to improve record low water levels in the drought-stricken area.

But the downstream flow keeps saltwater out of the freshwater intakes for Savannah and the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority.

If approved, the water flow through the Thurmond dam would drop from 3,600 cubic feet per second to 3,100 cubic feet per second.

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