Nashville District watching current rain event closely
With several inches of rain expected Wednesday in areas across Kentucky and Tennessee, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District put its
Emergency Management, Water Management and Crisis Action teams on standby yesterday and is prepared to respond immediately.
“Given the current rain forecast, we don’t anticipate any major issues,” said Lt. Col. Anthony P. Mitchell, district engineer. “But we are readying
ourselves to respond and assist our local, state and federal partners if the rain forecast changes or flash flood conditions develop and warrant an
immediate response.”
Mitchell said his team of hydrology experts and emergency management personnel are monitoring the situation and communicating with the Tennessee
Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service, and U.S. Geological Survey to collectively monitor the rainfall and gauge its effects on
the Cumberland Basin. If the Metro Office of Emergency Management calls for a partial activation of the Emergency Operations Center, the U.S. Army
Corps of EngineersNashville District stands ready to assist as necessary.
Water Release Information for Area Dams
As a precaution from current heavy rain forecasts and flash flood watch by the National Weather Service (NWS), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Nashville District is operating area dams along the Cumberland River and its tributaries to minimize flooding and reduce lake levels due to heavy
rainfall throughout Tennessee and southern Kentucky.
Rainfall totals of 2-3 inches are forecast for the Nashville area.
The following information is currently available regarding operations at Corps dams along the Cumberland River and its tributaries.
Cumberland Basin Update – 24 February 2011 - 0600
Rainfall:
NWS issued QPF outlining forecasted cumulative rainfall totals from 0600 today through 0600 Sunday:
Storage Projects:
Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River, Jamestown, Ky. – pool is at 680.8 and slowly falling. Discharge is 10,710 cfs (three turbines). Upstream
gages have received 0 to ¼” rainfall. Plan is to maintain current schedule of two to three hydropower units. Releases from the project will probably
increase as we attempt to maintain IRRM levels if we receive forecasted rainfall.
Dale Hollow Dam on the Obey River, Celina, Tenn. – pool is at 642.5 and very slowly rising. Discharge is 0 with 3 hours of generation scheduled
today. Upstream gages have received .38 to .69” of rainfall. Plan is to maintain current schedule of 3 hours generation each day and allow pool to
slowly rise to seasonal levels.
Center Hill Dam on the Caney Fork River, Lancaster, Tenn. – pool is at 625.11 and steady. Discharge is 0. .34” rainfall received at upstream gage.
Scheduled for 8 hours of generation today.
J. Percy Priest Dam on the Stones River, Nashville, Tenn. – pool is at 483.0 and slowly rising. Discharge is 0. Upstream gages have received ½ to
¾” rain. Plan is to hold zero discharge during today’s rainfall event to reduce flow through Nashville.
Main-stem projects:
Cordell Hull Dam on the Cumberland River, Carthage, Tenn.– pool is at 500.1 and falling. Discharge is 17,500 cfs (two hydropower units, no spill).
Plan is to hold 17,500 discharge until this evening as conditions dictate.
Old Hickory Dam on the Cumberland River, Hendersonville, Tenn. – pool is at 444.6 and slowly falling. Discharge is 19,500 cfs total from three
turbines. Have an additional turbine available. Upstream gages have receiving approximately 0.5” rain and .34” rain at the dam. Plan is to hold
three units discharge until conditions dictate otherwise.
Cheatham Dam on the Cumberland River, Ashland City, Tenn.-- pool is at 384.9 and steady to slowly falling. Only two turbines available. Both units
on and an additional spill of 3900 cfs was initiated at 1800 yesterday. Discharge remains a constant 18,100 cfs. Plan is to hold current discharge
unless conditions necessitate increasing.
Barkley Dam on the Cumberland River in Grand Rivers, Ky.– pool is at 355.4 and slowly rising. Discharge is a constant spill of 10,000 cfs. Cadiz
gage is reading almost ¾” rain and Hopkinsville gage .84”. All turbine units unavailable so all discharge will be spill only. Expected to increase
as inflows dictate throughout the day to maintain seasonal pool levels.
Cumberland River Damage Centers:
Celina– stage is 13.29 and rising. ½” rainfall received. NWS forecasting 22’ crest Friday evening (flood stage is 40’).
Carthage– stage is 11.8’ and rising. ½” rainfall received. NWS forecasting crest of 21.5’ Friday late-evening. Flood stage is 40’.
Nashville– stage is 18.59’ and slowly rising. NWS forecasting a crest of 28.5’ Saturday mid-morning (flood stage is 40’, action stage is 35’).
Clarksville– stage is 57.01’ and rising. 1.19” rainfall accumulation this morning. NWS forecasting a crest of 67.5’ Saturday late-evening (flood
stage is 77’, action stage is 71’).
As necessary, news and information on the current rain event will be made available on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.
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