KY Lake / TN river is closed now, too

[Quackrstackr]

Wouldn't want a distant boat wake to cause a pontoon boat to bang around in it's slip.

CORRECTION: Coast Guard closes 200 miles of Tennessee River to recreational boating traffic

How ridiculous. Barge wakes and high winds are 5 times worse than most recreational boats.. and the recreational boats that cause those enormous wakes aren't likely to be out running around on it right now anyway.

[CatFan]

The closing is because of the drift, not boat wakes.

[Quackrstackr]

Commercial vessels are still allowed to transit the river and are reminded to exercise caution when operating within the safety zone and must maintain minimum safe speed to minimize wake effect to moored vessels and other at-risk infrastructure.

That's not what it looks like to me.

There is no swift current drift in the embayments.

Either I or friends have been out on it nearly every day since Friday. Many of them live within rock throwing distance of it.

[JTMavs]

My toughts and prayers are with all the folks that are affected by this flooding. I hope everyone comes thru it ok!!!

[prister]

I spent part of today talking to a few US Coast Guard officials. At first I was told that only the Tennessee and Cumberland River, the River portion only, was closed. But after being referred to a higher rank, the final word was that all parts (includes embayments) would be closed. I "strongly" urged them to keep the embayments open. Long story short, the lake is closed. The first time they catch you it is a warning, the second time it is a fine up to $32,000. Not sure where they got that number. However, I was asked to fly the lakes with some of the Coast Guard officials tomorrow to observe from the air what is safe and what is not. I will agree that the main river is a safety hazard, and with the discharge through the dams, there is a very strong current. If a boat did break down on the main lakes it would not take as long as you think to be pulled down river, potential over the dam (actually through an open gate). But if anglers would use their sense and stay in embayments, then boaters would be ok (my opinion). Although, fish are scattered some much right now, fishing is poor. Unless you find some bedding redear or bluegill in the grass of flooded yards and underwater gravel drive ways. The bass are up shallow, if you can get your boat through the forest. The danger to boaters in embayments will be when the lake begins to fall. At that time all the loose woody stuff will be pulled out of the woods and into the lake. As far as water level predictions, what I have been told from TVA is 369.6 will be the crest on Saturday. But that is likely to change, as it has been doing for the past several days.

[Quackrstackr]

The bowfishing has been on fire with all of this high water.

I agree with you prister, I see nothing wrong with keeping the embayments open with a closure of the main lake. I think most of the irate anglers and resort owners would be agreeable to that. I know that a few of them (resorts) have called state government today with torches and pitchforks at the ready. What was already a money losing proposition for them has become a downright shutout with the government closure of the lakes.

[ifish]

Thanks Paul,
I have been on Ky. Lake the last 3 days and there is getting to be some debris on the main lake and you are very correct on the fishing. The bluegill and redear are off the beds and very,very scattered. I heard that Ky. Lake was shut down because of the big bass tournaments coming up and they are concerned about a lot of fast boats hitting logs and causing serious injury. Here is the link to the Coast Guards press release today.
UPDATE: Tennessee River, Cumberland River, Kentucky Lake, and Lake Barkley closed to recreational boating

[Wiskers]

I spent part of today talking to a few US Coast Guard officials. At first I was told that only the Tennessee and Cumberland River, the River portion only, was closed. But after being referred to a higher rank, the final word was that all parts (includes embayments) would be closed. I "strongly" urged them to keep the embayments open. Long story short, the lake is closed. The first time they catch you it is a warning, the second time it is a fine up to $32,000. Not sure where they got that number. However, I was asked to fly the lakes with some of the Coast Guard officials tomorrow to observe from the air what is safe and what is not. I will agree that the main river is a safety hazard, and with the discharge through the dams, there is a very strong current. If a boat did break down on the main lakes it would not take as long as you think to be pulled down river, potential over the dam (actually through an open gate). But if anglers would use their sense and stay in embayments, then boaters would be ok (my opinion). Although, fish are scattered some much right now, fishing is poor. Unless you find some bedding redear or bluegill in the grass of flooded yards and underwater gravel drive ways. The bass are up shallow, if you can get your boat through the forest. The danger to boaters in embayments will be when the lake begins to fall. At that time all the loose woody stuff will be pulled out of the woods and into the lake. As far as water level predictions, what I have been told from TVA is 369.6 will be the crest on Saturday. But that is likely to change, as it has been doing for the past several days.

I talked to the USCG yesterday at 1415 hrs. The guy told me the bays were OK.

[Quackrstackr]

As of today, they have reopened Kentucky lake south of the 68 bridge at Aurora/Kenlake. Barkley is still closed.

Stay tuned.. looks like they can and will change their mind by the hour.

UPDATE: Tennessee River, Cumberland River, Kentucky Lake, and Lake Barkley closed to recreational boating
PADUCAH, Ky. - The U. S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Ohio Valley, under authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, reduced the safety zone on the Tennessee River, Tuesday, to the stretch between the Highway 68 Bridge (mile marker 41.7) through Paducah, Ky. (mile marker 0), including portions of Kentucky Lake. The Cumberland River remains closed in the vicinity of Carthage, Tenn. (mile marker 313.6) to Smithland, Ky. (mile marker 0), including Lake Barkley.

Heavy rain falls over the past weekend throughout the Tennessee Valley have necessitated record high water discharge rates from dams along both river systems, creating hazardous river conditions for recreational vessels.
The dangers created by these high discharge rates are many, including swift river currents, heavy debris flows, spilled hazardous materials, and submerged objects including break walls, boat docks, and piers. These extreme flows have also made the navigation buoys in the area unreliable.
Because of these dangers, all recreational vessels are restricted from operating in these areas to include bays, creeks and tributaries until the safety zone is lifted. The water levels and river conditions are being evaluated several times daily by local, state, and federal agencies.
Persons found in violation of the safety zones can be fined under U.S. Code 33. The maximum penalty for violating a safety zone is $32,500.00. These hazardous conditions are anticipated to exist through May 10, 2010.

[Wiskers]

As of today, they have reopened Kentucky lake south of the 68 bridge at Aurora/Kenlake. Barkley is still closed.

Stay tuned.. looks like they can and will change their mind by the hour.

I just got off the phone with the Coast Guard. As of last night all bays and tributaries have been included in the safety zone. Stay off the lake.