Officials announce Gathright Dam pulse release dates

Norfolk District Public Affairs
Published June 1, 2015
COVINGTON, Va. -- Gathright Dam's intake tower rises out of Lake Moomaw Dec. 12, 2012. The earthen and rolled rock-fill dam impounds the flow of the Jackson River and creates Lake Moomaw, serving both flood control and recreational purposes. (U.S. Army photo/Kerry Solan)

COVINGTON, Va. -- Gathright Dam's intake tower rises out of Lake Moomaw Dec. 12, 2012. The earthen and rolled rock-fill dam impounds the flow of the Jackson River and creates Lake Moomaw, serving both flood control and recreational purposes. (U.S. Army photo/Kerry Solan)

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will deviate from Gathright Dam's existing water control plan in order to conduct six pulse releases near Covington, Virginia from June through October 2015.

The pulses, conducted by the Norfolk District in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, will begin at approximately 6 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m. and will increase levels 3 to 4.5 feet in the Jackson River.

The agencies advise people who use the river to be aware of the river fluctuations caused by the pulses.

"The pulses will allow us to gather another full season of monitoring data," said Owen Reece, Norfolk District hydraulic engineer. "The data will help to document the water quality and environmental benefits of an alternate water control plan for the dam."

The 2015 pulse dates are scheduled for the flowing Wednesdays:

June 24
July 22
Aug. 12
Sept. 2
Sept. 23
Oct. 14

All dates subject to change based on weather conditions and rainfall.

In 2014, officials canceled the scheduled October pulse release after increased rainfall eliminated the need for the surge.

"We use the new data and information to adapt and manage the releases," Reece said. "We want to get the best results."

The deviation from the water control plan will also slightly reduce river flow by an average of 10 percent from the dam, resulting in a 1-inch drop in the Jackson River. 

The releases will not have negative effects on the water levels at Lake Moomaw; levels are expected to remain slightly above where they would have been under the existing water control plan. The water reserved in the lake from the reduced flow will be used for the pulse releases, similar to how the Corps conducted the pulses in 2014.

Results obtained from the 2014 pulses indicated a continuing improvement to the water quality and habitat in the Jackson River.