USACE Louisville District prepares for potential flooding impacts across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is actively monitoring this week’s forecasted heavy rainfall and preparing for potential wide-spread moderate to major flooding throughout portions of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.

Cumulative rainfalls totals for this event may range from 2-15+ inches resulting in elevated lake levels at the district’s Flood Risk Management (FRM) reservoirs and wide-spread moderate to major flooding on most of the rivers within the district’s footprint.

Due to recent rainfall, many of the district’s reservoirs are already storing water at elevated levels. With additional heavy precipitation expected, USACE anticipates that high downstream river levels may prevent significant water releases through next week. In response, the district’s water management and operations teams are closely monitoring conditions to manage potential flooding and minimize impacts on navigation.

All USACE-operated FRM projects currently have available flood storage capacity to help capture runoff and mitigate downstream flooding risks, but record pool levels could be reached or exceeded at multiple lake projects. All of the dams at these projects are operating as intended and have been releasing water at high rates in preparation for this event.

“Our teams are actively monitoring the forecasted heavy rainfall and doing everything we can to mitigate and communicate risk. Our Operations, Engineering and Emergency Management teams are proactively making adjustments to reservoir operations to prepare,” said Col. L. Reyn Mann, USACE Louisville District commander. “We remain in close coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as navigation industry partners, to reduce flood risks, protect our communities, and minimize impacts to the navigation industry.”

Potential Reservoir Impacts:
These are forecasted elevations and are subject to change based on timing and location of the rainfall.

Navigation Impacts
There are currently no impacts to Navigation. The lock and dam facilities on the Ohio and Green Rivers are operating for industry traffic.

The Louisville District manages eight reservoirs in Kentucky, five reservoirs in Indiana, and four in Ohio, which play a critical role in reducing flood impacts for downstream communities. These reservoirs are part of a broader system managed by USACE, designed to temporarily store excess water from heavy rainfall until river and stream levels recede, preventing further downstream flooding.

USACE reminds the public to stay vigilant and prepared, as weather conditions can change rapidly. Resources for flood preparedness can be found at www.ready.gov/floods.

To view current lake levels, visit: http://www.lrl-wc.usace.army.mil/reports/lkreport.html.

USACE is committed to keeping the public informed as conditions change. For updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleUSACE.