MOBILE, Ala.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District announced today that West Point Lake will most likely not reach a full pool of 635 mean sea level (msl) by June 1. Today’s reservoir level is 632.31 and is forecast to fall near 630 msl over the next two weeks unless the Chattahoochee river basin receives significant rainfall.
A lack of normal rainfall has reduced inflows into the Chattahoochee River. Under the Revised Interim Operating Plan (RIOP) for Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, this lower Basin Inflow places restrictions on how much water can be stored versus released into the Apalachicola River for endangered species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works closely with the USACE to ensure required water flows are adhered to as outlined in the RIOP. Under the current conditions the RIOP does not require draw from storage, but it does limit our ability to refill.
As the Memorial Day holiday weekend approaches, visitors to West Point Lake are encouraged to swim at one of three designated swim beaches (Yellowjacket, Earl Cook and Rocky Point parks). Please use caution when swimming from the shoreline, never dive into the water, operate your boat within the navigation channel, and be on the lookout for obstructions. Dock owners should monitor the water level and remove their boat if they determine it could become stuck on the shore if the lake level declines.
For reservoir level projections and additional detailed information on water management at projects managed by USACE Mobile District are available at http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/.
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Release no. 16-014