Partial drawdown planned for Nimrod Lake

According to G&F District Fisheries Biologist Bob Limbird, another attempt will be made to conduct a drawdown of Nimrod Lake this year.

This will be the first drawdown that's been possible since the initial 10 foot drawdown and fish kill was conducted when the current water management plan was put in place several years ago. It was delayed by drought the first go around and by flood the next year. Then last year it was delayed because of work the USACE wanted to get done before a drawdown was implemented.

Mother Nature permitting, the water level will be raised from 342 up to 343 by March 15 and held at that level until May 15.

It will then be lowered to 337 and held at that level until Oct 1.
(The lake under the current water management plan will be 5 feet higher than during past drawdowns)

It's expected that boaters will be able to launch from the 2 ramps located at Anderson Branch that are normally underwater but should be exposed enough during the drawdown to use.

The purpose of the drawdown is to promote re-vegetation of the shoreline and concentrate prey fish for predator consumption. I'm not sure if a fish kill is planned or not.

According to the water management plan, if Mother Nature cooperates and allows this drawdown to take place the next drawdown of Nimrod should occur in 2015.