Huntington District, West Virginia -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District is actively monitoring this week’s forecasted heavy rainfall and preparing for potential wide-spread moderate to major flooding throughout portions of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Cumulative rainfall totals for this event may range from 2 to 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.
Even with recent rainfall, District reservoirs have room for flood storage. With additional heavy precipitation expected, USACE anticipates that high downstream river levels may prevent significant water releases resulting in District reservoirs storing flood water through next week. In response, the district’s water management and operations teams are closely monitoring conditions to manage potential flooding and storing water until it can be safely released after downstream river levels fall. All USACE-operated FRM projects currently have available flood storage capacity to help capture runoff and mitigate downstream flooding risks. All dams are operating as intended.
Potential Reservoir Impacts:
The following reservoirs in the Scioto basin are forecasted to reach their surveillance pool; Deer Creek on April 6, Delaware and Paint Creek on April 7.
The North Branch Kokosing and Mohicanville dams in the Muskingum basin are forecasted to reach elevations requiring daily inspections.
When the water level rises to surveillance pool the district increases inspections and monitoring of the dams until the lake level recedes.
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 Kanawha Rivers are operating for industry traffic.
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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District is actively monitoring this week’s forecasted heavy rainfall and preparing for potential wide-spread moderate to major flooding throughout portions of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio.
- 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.
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.