Lake Cumberland to Be Lowered More
02-15-2007, 08:16 AM
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Lake Cumberland to Be Lowered More
Does anyone boat around there? Does this efffect the boating?
Ky. Lake May Have to Be Lowered More
RUSSELL SPRINGS, Ky. (AP) -- Engineers may have to further lower a lake if some repairs to a leaky dam don't work, which could cause a crunch at lakeside power plants and threaten drinking water supplies, officials said Wednesday.
The Army Corps of Engineers said the water level on Lake Cumberland next year might have to be reduced to 650 feet above sea level to reduce the risk to Wolf Creek Dam, which holds back the giant lake in southeastern Kentucky.
That would leave water intakes serving 200,000 people too high, Gov. Ernie Fletcher said Wednesday. It might also mean East Kentucky Power Cooperative's coal-fired plant next to the lake would have to stop operations.
Sewer systems would also need to extend their discharge pipes to make sure their treated sewage doesn't spill on dry land, The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported.
Kevin Osbourn, spokesman for East Kentucky Power, said the Army Corps reported that the water level would be lowered only if grouting repairs don't work.
A phone call to Corps offices in Nashville went unanswered Wednesday night, and e-mails to a spokesman were not immediately returned.
Teresa J. Hill, secretary of the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, said officials are already starting to help water and sewer agencies in several counties to determine what they will need to do, how much it will cost and how they can pay for it.
Water systems in five counties draw water from the lake. Nicky Smith, the mayor of Albany, Ky., said building a new intake would cost his city alone an estimated $6.2 million.
"We (can) either move it and have water, or not have water," Smith told the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Lowering the water could force the Cooper Power Station, which depends on lake water to cool two generating units, to stop producing electricity, resulting in rolling brownouts across parts of Kentucky, said Mark David Goss, chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
"We're not going to let that happen," Goss said. Alternatives include building a cooling tower or extending the intake pipes, officials have said.
Lower water levels would also likely shutter the dam's hydropower plant, which provides power to the region during peak periods.
Goss said that would mean blackouts, although the Corps has said other dams in the region could fill the void.
The Corps said a decision on whether to lower the lake to 650 feet above sea level after Dec. 31 would be made by September or October.
The agency already announced last month that water levels this summer will be at 680 feet instead of 723 feet, an emergency move necessary to relieve pressure and reduce potential flooding along the Cumberland River in case the dam fails.
The Corps is keeping the water level low this summer to ease pressure on the structure while beginning a seven-year, $309 million repair plan.
Fletcher and some of his advisers said they would do everything they can to make sure communities are ready, including seeking $55 million from the General Assembly.
Ky. Lake May Have to Be Lowered More
RUSSELL SPRINGS, Ky. (AP) -- Engineers may have to further lower a lake if some repairs to a leaky dam don't work, which could cause a crunch at lakeside power plants and threaten drinking water supplies, officials said Wednesday.
The Army Corps of Engineers said the water level on Lake Cumberland next year might have to be reduced to 650 feet above sea level to reduce the risk to Wolf Creek Dam, which holds back the giant lake in southeastern Kentucky.
That would leave water intakes serving 200,000 people too high, Gov. Ernie Fletcher said Wednesday. It might also mean East Kentucky Power Cooperative's coal-fired plant next to the lake would have to stop operations.
Sewer systems would also need to extend their discharge pipes to make sure their treated sewage doesn't spill on dry land, The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported.
Kevin Osbourn, spokesman for East Kentucky Power, said the Army Corps reported that the water level would be lowered only if grouting repairs don't work.
A phone call to Corps offices in Nashville went unanswered Wednesday night, and e-mails to a spokesman were not immediately returned.
Teresa J. Hill, secretary of the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, said officials are already starting to help water and sewer agencies in several counties to determine what they will need to do, how much it will cost and how they can pay for it.
Water systems in five counties draw water from the lake. Nicky Smith, the mayor of Albany, Ky., said building a new intake would cost his city alone an estimated $6.2 million.
"We (can) either move it and have water, or not have water," Smith told the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Lowering the water could force the Cooper Power Station, which depends on lake water to cool two generating units, to stop producing electricity, resulting in rolling brownouts across parts of Kentucky, said Mark David Goss, chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
"We're not going to let that happen," Goss said. Alternatives include building a cooling tower or extending the intake pipes, officials have said.
Lower water levels would also likely shutter the dam's hydropower plant, which provides power to the region during peak periods.
Goss said that would mean blackouts, although the Corps has said other dams in the region could fill the void.
The Corps said a decision on whether to lower the lake to 650 feet above sea level after Dec. 31 would be made by September or October.
The agency already announced last month that water levels this summer will be at 680 feet instead of 723 feet, an emergency move necessary to relieve pressure and reduce potential flooding along the Cumberland River in case the dam fails.
The Corps is keeping the water level low this summer to ease pressure on the structure while beginning a seven-year, $309 million repair plan.
Fletcher and some of his advisers said they would do everything they can to make sure communities are ready, including seeking $55 million from the General Assembly.
02-15-2007, 01:40 PM
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It's at 680' right now and will stay there through end of next fall, unless something major happens. Still plenty of lake for us that call Lake Cumberland home whether we have a houseboat, go fast or pontoon. Alot of the launching ramps will have to be extended and they will be fixing those in the next couple months for the upcoming season. The 650' mark is being considered over the winter next year. Even if they keep it at that, it's still a big lake. You can find out what's happening at www.lakecumberland.com in either the News forum or in the Low Lake Levels Forum inside the Visiting Lake Cumberland forum.
There are several of us that frequent this forum and lakecumberland.com. I'm sure if something major happens it'll be posted here also.
There are several of us that frequent this forum and lakecumberland.com. I'm sure if something major happens it'll be posted here also.
02-15-2007, 02:17 PM
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One more thing about the level of Cumberland is that for those of you who just go for the poker run is that the lake is usually about 700 ft by that time of year so the 680 should not cause much of a problem. Like Donzigerl said some of the ramps are going to get extended before summer. The only big difference this summer will be that you wont be able to get back to 76 falls but that doesn't mean there wont be a party. There has been talk of going on down to 650 ft but that is not going to happen this year and is not likely to happen at all.
02-15-2007, 03:33 PM
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i have seen it and it will affect the boating mainly on getting into the lake
right now there are only about 8 ramps you can use and only one for a boat over 20 feet long, jamestown is the only ramp you could use now if you are over 20 feet
right now there are only about 8 ramps you can use and only one for a boat over 20 feet long, jamestown is the only ramp you could use now if you are over 20 feet
02-16-2007, 10:39 AM
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COE News Release, Feb 15 07...
The US Army Corps of Engineers is not lowering Lake Cumberland an additional 30 feet to Elevation 650 feet as has been reported by the media in the last 24 hours.
The commander of the Nashville District, Lt. Col. Steven J. Roemhildt, sent a letter, dated 9 Feb 2007, to eleven water supply users requesting them to lower their water intakes to elevation 650. An excerpt of that letter states:
“Based on conditions at the project, a possibility always exists that we may lower the pool even more. Because of this real possibility, you need to take necessary measures to allow for water intake with the lake at Elevation 650 feet NGVD29. We recommend that these measures be in place no later than 31 December 2007.”
(NGVD29 is National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, which the vertical datum reference used by the Corps of Engineers. “Elevation 650 feet above sea level” is another way of saying this.)
The recommendation to water supply users is based on contingency planning by the Corps of Engineers in the event that further lake level reductions are necessary.
The decision to lower Lake Cumberland to Elevation 680 feet and continue that lake level through the end of 2007 has not changed. If conditions changed at Wolf Creek Dam such as a sinkhole or an abnormal reading of instruments in the dam, the Corps of Engineers would further lower lake elevation to reduce risk. Currently no such condition exists and there are no plans to lower Lake Cumberland below Elevation 680.
The Corps of Engineers has started an expedited grouting program, where lean concrete is being pumped into the foundation of the dam at critical locations. The Corps of Engineers plans to complete this program around the September – October 2007 period. During the Fall of this year, the Corps of Engineers will make a decision on the elevation of Lake Cumberland for 2008. The elevation for 2008 may remain at 680, may be raised or may be lowered. The Corps of Engineers will base this decision upon the results of the grouting program and the conditions of Wolf Creek Dam at that time.
The Corps of Engineers constantly monitors Wolf Creek Dam and continually evaluates the appropriate lake level based on conditions at the dam and will adjust lake levels as necessary to operate the lake and to reduce risk.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is not lowering Lake Cumberland an additional 30 feet to Elevation 650 feet as has been reported by the media in the last 24 hours.
The commander of the Nashville District, Lt. Col. Steven J. Roemhildt, sent a letter, dated 9 Feb 2007, to eleven water supply users requesting them to lower their water intakes to elevation 650. An excerpt of that letter states:
“Based on conditions at the project, a possibility always exists that we may lower the pool even more. Because of this real possibility, you need to take necessary measures to allow for water intake with the lake at Elevation 650 feet NGVD29. We recommend that these measures be in place no later than 31 December 2007.”
(NGVD29 is National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, which the vertical datum reference used by the Corps of Engineers. “Elevation 650 feet above sea level” is another way of saying this.)
The recommendation to water supply users is based on contingency planning by the Corps of Engineers in the event that further lake level reductions are necessary.
The decision to lower Lake Cumberland to Elevation 680 feet and continue that lake level through the end of 2007 has not changed. If conditions changed at Wolf Creek Dam such as a sinkhole or an abnormal reading of instruments in the dam, the Corps of Engineers would further lower lake elevation to reduce risk. Currently no such condition exists and there are no plans to lower Lake Cumberland below Elevation 680.
The Corps of Engineers has started an expedited grouting program, where lean concrete is being pumped into the foundation of the dam at critical locations. The Corps of Engineers plans to complete this program around the September – October 2007 period. During the Fall of this year, the Corps of Engineers will make a decision on the elevation of Lake Cumberland for 2008. The elevation for 2008 may remain at 680, may be raised or may be lowered. The Corps of Engineers will base this decision upon the results of the grouting program and the conditions of Wolf Creek Dam at that time.
The Corps of Engineers constantly monitors Wolf Creek Dam and continually evaluates the appropriate lake level based on conditions at the dam and will adjust lake levels as necessary to operate the lake and to reduce risk.
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03-21-2007, 08:42 PM
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The grouting phase is already half done. The Engineers have been pleased by the core samples from the grouting. Assessment has led to a more favorable outlook. The corps. talk last week was more towards a possibility of raising to 700 vs. lowering to 650. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF WATER FOR THE POKER RUN! With that said, today access as far as ramps is an adventure.
