MOBILE, Ala. – Persistent dry conditions in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) rivers basin is keeping lake levels below normal. A below average forecast of rainfall in the basin through April will require releases from West Point Lake, the only lake above average level for this time of year, to meet downstream system requirements including minimum releases to the Apalachicola River.
“All lakes, except West Point Lake, are below their normal level for this time of year,” Mobile District Public Affairs Officer E. Patrick Robbins said. “And, the Flint River, which typically provides a large portion of the flow requirement for the Apalachicola River during the spring months, is experiencing extreme dry conditions with some river gages reporting flows near their historic minimum.”
West Point Lake, which benefited from early March rains, is two feet above normal for this time of year. In comparison, the other Federal storage reservoirs are below with Lake Sidney Lanier four feet below normal and Walter F. George over a foot below normal for this time of year.
“Without significant rainfall in the ACF basin, releases from West Point must be used to help meet downstream flow requirements,” Robbins said.
Lake level forecasts for West Point Lake indicate the lake will be near an elevation of 631.6 feet by March 31, 2012 with a potential slower downward trend through the first two weeks of April. If the current dry conditions persist into May, it will be unlikely that any of the federal reservoirs in the ACF basin will achieve their normal summer pool level.
Release no. 12-006