Gates tested over two days at two dams

What are called limited engineering and operational tests were conducted Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hartwell and Thurmond dams.  Beth Williams, project engineer for the tests for the Army Corps of Engineers, says the tests are routine and required to ensure the gates are in proper working order, but also provide a chance to train and familiarize staff with operating procedures.  Unlike previous tests at full pool, the test at the Hartwell Dam involved only a few gates.  Only four of the 23 were tested at the Thurmond Dam.  Williams quotes district water managers as estimating that the reservoir levels will decline only 23-thousandts of one inch or less because of the limited time the gates were open.