SANTEE - Santee Cooper officials Friday said the recent hot, dry weather across the Southeast and federally required lake discharges are causing a drop in the levels of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie.

Both lakes are around 73 feet now and ideally would be around 75.5 feet, according to Santee Cooper.

The dry weather has significantly reduced inflows to the lakes from the Congaree and Wateree rivers to about a fourth their normal rate. The lakes are more than two feet below what Santee Cooper considers the ideal lake level for June.

In addition to the low inflows, another culprit right now is a process called evapotranspiration, which means water lost through evaporation and to thirsty plants drawing it through their roots. Transpiration is a normal process at this time of year, with plants in full bloom, and although evaporation occurs all the time, it happens at a faster pace in hot weather.

“We are not running our hydro units at St. Stephen, to keep as much water as we can in the lakes until Mother Nature provides us some relief in the form of rain,” said Tom Abrams, vice president of planning and power supply at Santee Cooper. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

Santee Cooper is obligated to make certain daily discharges from the lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contract requires a minimum discharge of water from the Jefferies Hydroelectric Station into the Tailrace Canal, where it flows into the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor.

The flow of freshwater prevents saltwater intrusion that could impact industries and river system ecology. Additionally, the utility’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license requires a minimum discharge of water from Santee Cooper’s Spillway unit into the Santee River.

Local marinas, for the most part, have not yet noticed much impact as a result of the lowering of Lake Marion.

Personnel at Santee State Park report that the lowering of the lake there is barely visible at present. Sue Mixon of Popular Creek Landing also says that her marina is not affected as yet. “We’re still doing okay,” she said.

David and Dee Cowden, owners of Stumphole Landing & Marina, report that the water is 2-½ feet low for this time of the year.

“It is starting to affect where boaters can travel on the water because they have to be careful to avoid stumps,” Dee Cowden said.

Dean Stebnitz of Mill Creek Landing said his business is barely affected right now but says there’s a possibility of matters getting worse.

“I only have 30 feet left on the boat ramp,” he said. “If the lake goes down any more, it will become a problem and we may have to stop large boats from coming in.”

Stebnitz pointed out an area where the water is normally above the rock ledge but is now well below it.

“To tell you the truth,” he said, “right now gas prices are hurting us worse than the water levels.”

Boaters and other lake users are encouraged to check daily inflows and lake levels by calling 1-800-92LAKES.

T&D Correspondent Shirley Upton contributed to this report and can be reached by e-mail at writer@ntinet.com.

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