Thread: record lake level?

Part of an email I was sent...explains some of the water problem.

I stopped by the Corps of Engineers office this morning. I was surprised that there was no one there except me. I was able to walk right up and start asking questions.

As most of you know, we have had record rain in the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Valleys. All of that water you have been seeing on TV in Nashville has to go through Lake Barkley before it gets to the ocean. The Corps said this morning that this is a "Thousand Year Flood." There is flooding below both dams as they turn as much water as possible through the spillways and gates. All gates were open this afternoon on Kentucky Dam. Most gates were open on Barkley Dam. I was told that they are running as much water through the dams as the dams allow without risking damages to the structures. It sounded to me like some dam problems when the water is this high.

My first question was when the river (lakes) would crest and how high was the estimated crest level. At 4PM on Monday the 3rd, the lake levels were at 365.2 feet above sea level. Today at 4PM the level was at 366 feet. The Corps has no estimate of when a crest will occur or what level it will be. They have never seen this situation before so they can not estimate what it will do. The Nashville water will arrive at Barkley on the afternoon of the 5th. There is water in the Cumberland Mountains that has not reached Nashville. The Ohio Valley also had flooding and the Corps will have to start holding water behind Barkley and Kentucky Dams because the Ohio will not be able to take as much extra water when the Ohio River flood water reaches west Kentucky sometime this week.

I pressed the question about lake levels and was told that their guess would be that the lakes reach a level somewhere around 370. Barkley Dam, I was told, would overflow at 376. I had always been told it would overflow at 378 feet but today the number was 376. All buildings on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley should have been built at least 378 feet above sea level. Some boat docks could suffer damages but houses will be safe.

You can call a number on your phone to get TVA lake information. The number is: 1-800-238-2264. The code number for Kentucky Lake is "33". Use this number and this code to find the water level at Kentucky Dam. Because Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are connected, the water levels are going to be within one foot. At the moment, they are pulling water out of Barkley through Kentucky Dam.

I am sure that your thoughts and prayers are also with all of those who are flooded and at risk. 30 have lost their lives in this latest weather disaster. At the moment, it is not as bad as the news reports make it appear except for those who live on the river below the dams. For them it is as bad as it gets in a flood.

At the quarry, the water level is up to the bottom of the white around the Indian head

TVA: Reservoir Information

thanks for the info BIGBADDAD... appreciate you passing it along...

everybody stay safe out there...!!