US Army Corps of Engineers
Norfolk District Website

Gathright Dam to conduct final pulse release tomorrow

Norfolk District Public Affairs
Published Oct. 11, 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 tomorrow.  

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.  

 Officials from the agencies advise people who use the river to be aware of the river fluctuations caused by the pulse.  

 The pulse release is the final of five that the Norfolk District scheduled from July through October 2016.  

The releases allow Norfolk District hydrologist to gather a full season of monitoring data. The data will help to document the water quality in the Jackson River and the environmental benefits of an alternate water control plan for the dam.