GervaisStreetBridge river access point (Columbia, West Columbia: theater, electric, deal)

[burr]

Anybody go down to the river in the past couple days ? I was picking up my baby from Carolina for Christmas break Sunday, and when crossing the GervaisStreetBridge to WColumbia (378), something looked weird - absolutely NO ROCKS SHOWING ! We stopped at the center and walked down to the river, one of my favorite spots in all of Columbia - and river levels were at record levels. I've never seen the water so high and flows so fast. There would be no walking out on the rocks today !! Definitely a cool and eyeopening reminder of the power of water.

Another observer commented that the river was at record levels. Wow

[rubber_factory]

They will open up the Saluda River Dam from time to time. It happens in the heat of summer, when electricity demand peaks. Also, if a power plant in another state goes out, SCE&G has the ability to open up the dam to generate hydroelectric power, and sell that power down the line to another utility, so it is an on-demand sort of thing. Other than that, I don't think they "turn on" hydroelectric power very often. I suppose they probably open it up just to let out excess water, but I don't know. Last I heard, Columbia was still in a drought.

When they open that dam, they let out all that cold, deoxygenated water out of the bottom of the lake, and it used to be with minimal warning. A buddy of mine got stranded out there, and had to be rescued by helicopter one summer.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by rubber_factory

Last I heard, Columbia was still in a drought.

If we are still in a drought, it is much less severe than last year or the previous couple years. As of last check, we're only 2 or 3 inches below normal for precipitation for the year. The upstate is in a more severe drought than we are.

[burr]

It wasn't from a release for power generation. We have had buckets in the last two months - yes, enough to have an 'average rainfall' year instead of drought numbers. That is what is hard to deal with in these parts, no (measurable) rain for months, then 10 inches in four weeks. It makes rivers act up, flooding culverts, which wash out roads and any low lying areas that are not built to handle more than a good shower.

[mettler]

you can tell if the damn has been opened up or if it is high due to rain by the color of the water. If it is due to rain the water will be muddy due to the run-off. If it is high because of the damn the water is still clear.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by burr

Anybody go down to the river in the past couple days ? I was picking up my baby from Carolina for Christmas break Sunday, and when crossing the GervaisStreetBridge to WColumbia (378), something looked weird - absolutely NO ROCKS SHOWING ! We stopped at the center and walked down to the river, one of my favorite spots in all of Columbia - and river levels were at record levels. I've never seen the water so high and flows so fast. There would be no walking out on the rocks today !! Definitely a cool and eyeopening reminder of the power of water.

Another observer commented that the river was at record levels. Wow

The river is nowhere near record levels, though it is higher than it has been in awhile. I've seen the river high enough where it would reach where the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater is located.

[Captain Worley]

I've seen the ampitheater more than half covered before.

[burr]

WOW ! Although I've never seen it as high as the amphitheater, it was still quite impressive at tops of the riprap. I guess the boardwalk under the bridge and beyond would be doomed if it reached levels you all have seen. And all that brand new boardwalk across the river too.

[Captain Worley]

Yeah, that walkway hadn't been built yet when I saw the ampitheater under water.

Flood of, I believe, 1908 had the water just under the deck of the old bridge. Of course, that shouldn't happen with the dam controlling the saluda.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Captain Worley

Yeah, that walkway hadn't been built yet when I saw the ampitheater under water.

Flood of, I believe, 1908 had the water just under the deck of the old bridge. Of course, that shouldn't happen with the dam controlling the saluda.

Yep. The pic is courtesy of the Richland County Public Library collection.