US Army Corps of Engineers
Posted 8/1/2013
Release no. 13-031

Contact
Bill Peoples
615-736-7161
[email protected]


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 1, 2013) – The annual drawdown of Lake Cumberland has been initiated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District. If no significant rainfall events are experienced, then the lake level is expected to drop below elevation 700 feet by mid-August and reach an elevation of 690 by early to mid October.

As of today, Lake Cumberland is at elevation 703.9 feet. The lake level could be as low as elevation 698 by Labor Day. This would be almost 15 feet higher than it has been over the last six years on Labor Day during the period of the 680 to 685 pool restrictions. No impacts to recreation access are expected over the Labor Day Weekend due to this drawdown. All boat ramps and day use areas that are currently open will remain open and should be useable by the public.

The Corps of Engineers did not begin the lake drawdown any earlier this year than in prior years, but the lake’s elevation on this Labor Day is likely to be lower than the pre-2007 historical level for two reasons. The first is that the lake did not reach its normal high this spring because it was restricted to a target high of 705 feet instead of 723 feet. It has been operated at the 705 target level since April to allow testing and evaluation of the Wolf Creek Dam barrier wall that was completed on March 6. Secondly, the lake level is being lowered to support the final phase of construction on the seepage remediation project this fall. A lake elevation of around 690 feet is required to support this construction activity, which includes the placement of a protective layer of riprap on the dam. This work will take several months to complete during which the lake level will be maintained (pending rainfall) at this reduced level.

The goal of the Corps of Engineers is to return Lake Cumberland to its historical operating conditions by the spring of 2014. To do so will require a successful review and approval of the performance of the dam to that date. The Nashville District’s engineering team has not seen any instrument readings or visual observations that have given them any concern since the completion of the barrier wall.