BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Jan. 7, 2009 - Because of this week’s heavy rains, Alabama Power has opened spillway gates at most of its Coosa River dams to help manage swiftly rising lake levels.

Two storage reservoirs on the Coosa – Weiss Lake and Lake Logan Martin – are near summer pool levels and are expected to continue to rise in the coming days. Weiss is predicted to crest at about 566 feet late Thursday or Friday, about two feet above summer pool. Logan Martin is expected to crest at about 467 feet on Thursday, two feet above summer pool. Spillway gates are operating at Logan Martin and could be opened at Weiss later today.

Spillway gates are also operating today at Neely Henry, Lay, Mitchell and Jordan dams on the Coosa River.

Smith Lake, on the Black Warrior River, is also rising and could reach a peak near 516 feet later this week. That’s about six feet above normal summer elevation.

Alabama Power will continue to closely monitor conditions on the lakes and manage resources carefully. Individuals with boats and other water-related equipment and facilities should always be alert to changing conditions on Alabama Power reservoirs and be prepared to take the necessary steps to protect their property.

For more information about Alabama Power lakes, please visit  https://lakes.alabamapower.com or call 1-800-LAKES11 (1-800-525-3711).

Contact Michael Sznajderman (205) 257-4155 or msznajde@southernco.com.

 ###

Media Contact: Patrick Wylie, Alabama Power Media Relations, 205.257.4155, pjwylie@southernco.com