Gathright Dam to conduct a routine, controlled flood release

Norfolk District Public Affairs Office
Published Feb. 5, 2014

NORFOLK -- The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin a controlled flood release at Gathright Dam near Covington, Va., at 9:00 a.m., today.

The routine release, made necessary by recent rain and snowmelt, will increase the Jackson River’s flow from 1,180 cubic feet per second to 3,000 cubic feet per second over a five hour period.

People near the river should be aware of the changing conditions: the river height will increase by 1.6 feet near the dam and 1.4 feet at Covington over the next 6 to 10 hours.

In the absence of additional rainfall, the river is expected to remain within its natural banks between the dam and Covington during this release.

Routine flood releases maintain the water storage capacity of Lake Moomaw and occur most often during the spring, but can happen any time of the year.

Residents can monitor the Norfolk District’s, website, www.nao.usace.army.mil, and social media channels, www.facebook.com/NAOonFB and www.twitter.com/norfolkdistrict, for the latest information regarding the dam.