Ongoing dry conditions have resulted in unusually low lake levels on Alabama Power reservoirs on the Coosa, Tallapoosa and Black Warrior rivers.  With lake levels expected to continue dropping, people with boats and other water-related equipment and facilities should take the necessary steps to protect their property.

For weeks this summer, drought conditions resulted in lower-than-normal flows into Alabama Power lakes on all three river systems. Recent scattered rains have not been sufficient to make up for the dry conditions, and with the normally dry fall months ahead, lake levels are expected to continue dropping through the end of the year.

On most large storage lakes, levels are already 1 to 2 feet below the typical levels for this time of year, and between 2 and 5 feet below full summer pool.   In the next 30 days, Smith Lake and Lake Martin may drop up to an additional 4 feet, Weiss Lake up to an additional 2 feet, and Lakes Harris and Logan Martin up to an additional foot.

Drought operations were anticipated in mid-May and all hydrogeneration was reduced to conserve water for use later in the year, should it be needed.  Over the past four months, the water released from Alabama Power reservoirs has been reduced to the minimum amounts required by the company’s federal hydroelectric project licenses.   Additionally, in late June, because of continuing dry conditions, the company indefinitely suspended weekend recreational releases of water from Jordan Dam.   

Alabama Power must make certain releases from the lakes to meet requirements for navigation, fisheries, water supply, water quality and boating.  Depending on rainfall, lake levels can be impacted by these requirements.  Alabama Power attempts to balance all the various requirements for water releases and lake levels to meet the multiple uses of the hydroelectric projects. 

As of Sept. 6, here are the lake levels on the reservoirs that are most affected by the drought conditions:

Weiss Lake – 560.75 feet or 3.3 feet below summer pool

Neely Henry Lake – 506.0 feet or 2.0 feet below summer pool

Lake Logan Martin – 461.9 feet or 3.1 feet below summer pool

Lake Harris – 787.8 feet or 5.2 feet below summer pool

Lake Martin – 486.1 feet or 3.4 feet below summer pool

Smith Lake – 495.3 feet or 14.7 feet below summer pool

Summer pool is the maximum lake level under normal inflow conditions.  Normally, lakes reach summer pool around May 1 and begin to drop in mid to late summer.

People 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 updated information about specific lake levels, call Alabama Power's automated Reservoir Information System at 1-800-LAKES11 (1-800-525-3711).