Reservoirs approaching winter levels; Lakes expected to continue falling in coming weeks

Because of the record-setting drought, Alabama Power’s six storage reservoirs are approaching their winter pool levels – a level normally not seen until early December. Those reservoirs are expected to continue dropping in the coming weeks as dry conditions persist.

Lakes Neely Henry and Logan Martin on the Coosa River and Lake Harris on the Tallapoosa River are expected to hit winter pool in the next few days. Weiss Lake on the Coosa, Lake Martin on the Tallapoosa and Smith Lake on the Black Warrior River are expected to hit winter levels in about two weeks.

“We are already at record low levels for this time of year,” said Willard Bowers, Alabama Power’s vice president of Environmental Affairs. “Without relief, our storage reservoirs will soon be lower than we’ve ever seen before.”

With the drought continuing, levels at the six storage reservoirs will continue to fall after winter levels are reached. By September, levels at Weiss, Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes are expected to reach all-time lows.

Early this year, Alabama Power cut flows from its dams to the minimum required under government regulations. Despite the extreme drought conditions, Alabama Power must continue to release some water from its dams to meet requirements for navigation, fisheries, water supply and water quality. Recent record temperatures have also required releases in order to provide cooling for steam electric plants on the Coosa and Black Warrior rivers.

Individuals with boats and other water-related equipment and facilities should always be alert to changing conditions on Alabama Power reservoirs and be prepared to take the necessary steps to protect their property.