Huntington District, West Virginia -- HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District is monitoring water from Kentucky, Southern West Virginia and Virginia because of the band of storms which passed through our area. We have increased our operational response to manage water releases and minimize flood risks through the Little Sandy, Big Sandy, Kanawha, New and Guyandotte River basins.
The Water Management Center has activated to closely monitor conditions and adjust dam operations as needed.
“We are closely monitoring the effects of the recent rainfall and the forecasted river crests,” said Col. Jayson Putnam, commander of the Huntington District. “We prioritize public safety by actively monitoring water levels around the clock to ensure systems are operating efficiently and optimally. We are working closely with our state and local partners, taking proactive steps to reduce the impact of rising water levels and balancing capacity across the system.”
Current Water Levels & Impacts
Bluestone Lake is currently at elevation 1480 feet and will steadily increase over the next 2 days. Bluestone Dam will be cresting at an elevation of about 1485.7 feet on the evening of Feb 18.
We are experiencing typical inflow of debris and ask boaters to stay back from the dam and the debris field. The lake will be at an elevated position from its winter pool (1406 feet) for several weeks. Bluestone Dam is stable and safe, controlling water releases to the New River. Currently, sluice gates are flowing water out at about 24,000 cfs as per the current water control plan and we do not anticipate opening the crest gates.”
North Fork Pound Lake is currently at elevation 1621 feet and is expected to crest at 1623 feet on Feb. 19. Current outflow is 42 cfs.
Fishtrap Lake is currently at elevation 717 feet and is expected to crest at 796 feet on Feb. 19. Current outflow is 99 cfs.
Paintsville Lake is currently at elevation 717 feet and is expected to crest at 720 feet on Feb. 19. Current outflow is 664 cfs.
R.D. Bailey Lake is currently at elevation 1100 feet and is expected to crest at 1102 0n Feb. 18. Current outflow is 4742 cfs.
North Branch Kokosing is currently at elevation1127 feet and crested at 1127 on Feb. 16. Current outflow is 461 cfs.
Our dams are releasing water to minimize flooding downstream to the maximum extent possible and are all functioning as designed.
What is CFS & Why Does It Matter?
CFS (Cubic Feet per Second) measures the volume of water flowing per second. One CFS = 7.5 gallons per second. 100,000 CFS can fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in just 3 seconds.
Public Safety Reminder
Unregulated or uncontrolled streams and tributaries can pose significant flood risks, especially during heavy rainfall and extreme weather events. Unlike regulated reservoirs, these waterways lack flood-control infrastructure to manage rising water levels.
Flash flooding is a major concern in these areas, as rainfall can quickly overwhelm creeks, small rivers, and urban drainage systems, causing rapid water rises with little warning.
The USACE Huntington District monitors conditions and provides technical expertise, but local officials and residents should be especially aware of high-risk zones that lack flood storage capacity.
•Call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies.
•Report flooding impacts to your county emergency management agency.
•Avoid flooded roads – just two feet of water can sweep a vehicle away.
•For tips on flood preparedness and safety, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District manages 311 miles along the Ohio River and its tributaries, balancing the demands for water releases to flood risk management, commercial navigation, production of hydropower, recreation, fish and wildlife, water supply and water quality.
We manage 35 multi-purpose reservoirs projects to reduce the risk of flooding, ensure water supply, and balance competing needs across the system.
We also manage 6 Locks and Dams on the Ohio River and 3 on the Kanawha River that ensure commercial and recreational navigation. It is important to note that these locks and dams do not impact the flood risk reduction mission.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District on the district’s website at: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/About/Districts/Huntington-District/ or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/USACELRH/
For more information, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 304-654-9051.