Corps raises Gathright Dam reservoir level

Posted January 27, 2010
By Norfolk District Public Affairs

01/27/10 NORFOLK, Va — After a thorough evaluation of the risks identified in the Dam Safety Action Classification II (DSAC) report of Gathright Dam in Covington, Va. and finding no unusual conditions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, began filling the reservoir (Lake Moomaw) back to its normal conservation pool elevation of +1582 feet.

During the four-month intensified surveillance/monitoring period, which began in mid-October 2009, the reservoir level was lowered while immediate and short-term risk reduction measures and studies were implemented. The lower reservoir increased available storage for rare flood events.

Significant items accomplished and documented by the Corps during the evaluation period included:

• Completion of the dam safety consultant's independent assessment of existing data and condition of the dam – It was determined there was no evidence of increasing seepage at the dam and the current pool elevation could be safely returned to the normal conservation pool elevation.
• Completion of internal review of the instrumentation data – It was determined there was no evidence of increasing seepage or unusual conditions at the dam.
• Completion of four months of increased monitoring/surveillance and data collection - No unusual or unexpected conditions were observed by the Norfolk District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Completion of additional remote monitoring equipment installation on project instrumentation - During the return to the normal conservation pool level, the Corps will continue the increased monitoring/surveillance and data collection.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (NAO) is executing the overall plan as briefed Oct. 2, 2009. The intensified surveillance/monitoring conducted to date indicate no unusual conditions and Gathright Dam is functioning as designed. NAO will issue the Jan. 2010 report on Feb. 5, 2010.

For more information about Gathright Dam and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, please visit our web site at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/