MOBILE, Ala. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, is closely monitoring changing drought conditions across the region's river basins.
Moderate to extreme drought conditions currently exist in the Mobile District, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought indicators suggest that, without significant rainfall, drought conditions are likely to persist as summer approaches.
Drought conditions began to develop in the region last summer and have worsened across most of the Southeast since then. Despite some recent below-average precipitation, drought conditions continued to expand. Over the last 30 days, the region has received only half the normal rainfall.
Streamflow conditions are well below normal in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) basin and the upper Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT), Black Warrior-Tombigbee, and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway basins. A drier-than-normal winter and spring season has reduced streamflow to below normal levels, setting some record-low readings in some locations. Pool levels for the headwater projects at Buford, Carters, and Allatoona dams remain below median-pool elevations for this time of the year. Based on current conditions and forecasts, Federal ACF project drought operations began on May 1.
In the headwaters of the ACT basin, Carters is approaching Zone 2 based on the composite storage of the upper and lower pools. When reached, minimum flows from the reregulation dam change from monthly-varying flow targets to a constant release of 240 cubic feet per second. Additionally, Allatoona is in Zone 3, but continues to meet all authorized project purposes. Currently, in the lower ACT, Drought Intensity Level 2 conditions are active, reducing the combined flow from the Alabama Power Company projects on the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers from 4,200 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 3,700 cubic feet per second. Federal reservoir conditions are expected to continue to decline in the region without significant rainfall.
The short-term forecast indicates below-normal rainfall for the region, while the long-range models indicate an equal chance of normal rainfall over the next three months. With the current long-range outlook, drought conditions are expected to continue over the next several months and may intensify quickly during the summer months.
Spring is typically a period when flooding is more likely. Because of the low rainfall, there is currently no flooding, and a below-normal flood risk is forecast. However, this does not mean there will be no flooding, as gauges in our area of responsibility depend on antecedent conditions, location, rainfall duration, and intensity.
The Mobile District typically receives significant rainfall between February and April. That rainfall helps refill the reservoirs. The lack of rainfall thus far and the expected low rainfall in May are contributing to the drought.
With lower lake levels at Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona, and Carters Lake, the District staff urges boaters and other recreational users at the Federal reservoirs to use caution, always wear life jackets, and be aware that obstructions that are not normally visible can become hazards.
For additional information on water levels or water safety, please contact the Mobile District Public Affairs Office at (251) 690-2505.