Gathright Dam pulse release scheduled for Wednesday

Norfolk District Public Affairs
Published Aug. 8, 2016
Gathright Dam located in Alleghany County, Va., impounds the water flowing down the Jackson River to create the 2,500 acre Lake Moomaw. The dam has prevented numerous floods over its 30 plus year existence saving countless dollars and lives.

Gathright Dam located in Alleghany County, Va., impounds the water flowing down the Jackson River to create the 2,500 acre Lake Moomaw. The dam has prevented numerous floods over its 30 plus year existence saving countless dollars and lives.

NORFOLK, Va. -- Operators at Gathright Dam near Covington, Virginia will conduct a pulse release Wednesday.  

The pulse, conducted by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 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 pulse release is the second of five that the Norfolk District scheduled from July through October 2016.  

 Remaining pulse dates are scheduled for the following Wednesdays:  

Aug. 31
Sept. 21
Oct. 12 

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