Lake Murray dam to open spillway overnight

SCE&G announced Wednesday evening it is opening the spillway at its Saluda Hydro facility because of “significant upstream inflows into Lake Murray.”

This is only the second time since 1969 that floodgates will be opened at the Lake Murray dam. The other time was during the disastrous rainfalls of early October. Low-lying homes and roadways downstream and elsewhere flooded as creeks and rivers rose.

SCE&G was criticized for lack of advance warning by residents of some downstream communities that were inundated in those floods. The rush of water contributed to heavy damage in the Coldstream and Pine Glen neighborhoods in Irmo and the Riverland Park neighborhood in Cayce, spawning several lawsuits against SCE&G.

One of four spillgates will be opened at 4 a.m., pouring up to 18,000 cubic feet per second into the Lower Saluda River, the utility announced early Wednesday night. Residents downstream are urged to stay alert for updates from local media and SCE&G’s twitter account (@scegnews).

South Carolina Electric & Gas operates the Lake Murray dam. The utility said Dec. 23 it would give three hours’ warning before opening the gates when it contemplated opening them that day. SCE&G likes to keep Lake Murray below “full pool” at 360 feet.

The utility tested warning sirens and lights Wednesday afternoon as part of normal maintenance.

Residents on the lake will continue to see the lake level rise, the utility said, but that level will be kept within its legally licensed limit. The giant utility says it will continue monitoring lake levels over the next 48 hours and take additional actions as warranted.

Downstream, West Columbia city officials Wednesday night said the popular Wyman M. “Mac” Rish Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater was closed until further notice because of rising river water and flooding.

Flood warning

The National Weather Service, late Wednesday, issued a flood warning affecting the Midlands through January 3 at 9 p.m.

One warning covers the Congaree River at Carolina Eastman, south of Columbia, affecting Calhoun, Lexington and Richland Counties. The forecast extent of flooding on the Congaree was downgraded from minor to moderate severity in Richland and Lexington Counties.

A flood warning issued for the Saluda River at Chappels, affects Greenwood, Newberry and Saluda counties. And a warning for the Enoree River at Whitmire covers Newberry and Union Counties.

Roads closed because of flooding

Twenty-nine roads in 12 counties were closed to traffic Wednesday because of flooding or damage due to rain, the South Carolina Department of Transportation reported. Those included Lexington County but not Richland.

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Department reported numerous road closures. In four instances, a bridge was either under water or had failed because of flooding. “This is a fluid situation; roads will open and close where needed and warranted,” Newberry Sheriff Lee Foster said in a news release.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Lake Murray dam to open spillway overnight."