Credit: WJBF Staff

Almost three million people enjoy the water at Lake Thurmonds U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-owned parks every year. But, the water is down right now. Swimming areas, that at full pool would normally have almost eight feet of water in them, are bone dry. WJBF News Channel 6′s Brett Buffington warns us of the dangers to keep in mind when the lake level is low.

Almost three million people enjoy the water at Lake Thurmonds U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-owned parks every year. But, the water is down right now. Swimming areas, that at full pool would normally have almost eight feet of water in them, are bone dry.

The water is almost 14 feet past the edge of the swimming areas, and statics show that when the water is down the number of drownings go up.

Patrice Jenkins and her family are enjoying a day at Lake Thurmond. Her husband works at the lake, so her family enjoys the water quite often. But before her kids jump in she lays down the rules to keep them safe, and never turns her back them.

Jenkins says, Theyre never left unattended, eyes are on them all the time.

Jenkins says she knows how dangerous the lake can be. Already this year two people have drown at Lake Thurmond, the latest death happened earlier this week. Lake Thurmond Project Manager Scott Hyatt says, when the water level goes down, deaths at the lake go up.

Hyatt says, Particularly what we see an uptick in, is when theres no water on the swim beaches. Youll see many folks that swim in areas that arent designated and well see an uptick in drowning or fatalities related to that.

Hyatt says many of those deaths are simply people who think they can swim better than they actually can.

A lot of people want something to swim to so theyll see an island or buoy that really doesnt look that far, so they really swim outside of their ability. Theyre not swimming with a buddy, theyre not swimming with a life jacket, and they get out and they got in a situation that they just couldnt get out of.

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