COVINGTON, Va. - Federal and commonwealth officials have canceled Gathright Dam's pulse release scheduled for Tuesday.
The Norfolk District, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, determined that June's higher-than-average flows in the Jackson River eliminated the need for the first planned pulse release.
"The higher flows, which occurred as a result of recent storms, accomplished what the scheduled pulse was intended for," said Owen Reece, Norfolk District hydraulic engineer.
The pulse, the first of six scheduled through October, supported the Gathright Dam Low Flow Augmentation Project. The project will document the water quality and environmental benefits of an alternative water control plan - that includes scheduled pulses - for the dam.
The project's adaptive management plan allows for changes, such as cancelations, to the scheduled pulses.
The remaining five 2013 pulse dates are still scheduled for the following Tuesdays:
July 23
Aug. 13
Sept. 3
Sept. 24
Oct. 15
An Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact documents were prepared to assess the potential impacts of the Gathright Dam Low Flow Augmentation Project on the Jackson River. The project and development of the preferred alternative were a cooperative effort between the Norfolk District and the commonwealth of Virginia.