HIGHER RELEASES FROM NORFORK DAM _ USACE New Release

Midday April 30 Norfork releases raised to 6,600 cfs. Read the full release after the jump.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 30 – The Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that releases from Norfork Dam are increasing at noon today because of continued high inflows.

The lake has captured a huge amount of runoff from intensive rains earlier in the week.  The lake is at elevation 579.36 this morning and continuing to rise slowly, with 97 percent of flood storage capacity  in use.  If increased releases are not begun today, Norfork will exceed its  flood storage capacity by Monday night and still be rising with no more  rainfall.

The hydropower units are being repaired at the power house, so the Corps is making releases from the dam’s spillway gates instead. The gates will begin releasing about 6,600 cubic feet per second, which is slightly more than using two units (because the gates are being used instead of turbines) and is a routine release from the dam.

With the rain that has fallen, the Corps does not anticipate having to open the gates any more, but more rain is forecasted. Therefore, larger releases could become necessary.

With more rain forecast, people should decide beforehand whether to move belongings to higher ground.  Flows downstream can increase quickly, with perhaps no more than an hour or two notice, and rapidly changing
conditions could create even shorter notice.

The closer to the dam you are, the faster river stages can rise.  Large releases can occur during heavy rain with no more than an hour or two notice, and rapidly changing conditions could create even shorter
notice.

People in at-risk areas should stay in contact with local emergency officials.  If larger than normal releases are required from the dam, warnings will go out through local emergency channels.  Local officials may not
know you require notification unless you have told them so.

Army Corps of Engineers personnel are monitoring lake levels and maintaining 24-hour surveillance, and the dam is sound.  Personnel from the Corps’ Mountain Home Project Office are staying in contact with state
and local officials to coordinate public safety information.

Do not rely on rumors.  If you have questions, call the Mountain Home Project Office at 870-425-2700.  In addition, information is posted on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil.

Although the releases are being increased, the Corps lakes in the White River basin are all earning their keep reducing flood damages downstream along the White and Black rivers.  River stages remain high because
of heavy rainfall downstream of the dam, and the lakes are preventing flood levels from being even higher and possibly threatening peoples’ lives.

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