LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As Memorial Day weekend approaches and visitors prepare to head to area lakes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is encouraging the public to stay informed about current lake conditions, water safety and drought impacts across the region.
Visitors may encounter conditions different from what is typically seen during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and USACE encourages the public to plan ahead before traveling to area lakes.
Much of Kentucky is currently experiencing spring drought conditions, with significantly less rainfall than is typical for this time of year. As a result, several Louisville District flood risk management lakes are experiencing lower-than-normal water levels, particularly within the Green River and Upper Kentucky River basins.
To help visitors better understand current conditions at some of our district lakes in Kentucky, the Louisville District is providing several online tools and resources, including a Drought Viewer application and a daily lake level information webpage.
The Drought Viewer allows users to explore how drought conditions are impacting reservoirs across the region, and allows users to navigate to specific locations/ramps on the lake to see real-time impacts, while the district’s lake information webpage provides current lake elevations, forecasts, lake conditions and recreation updates.
View the Drought Viewer here: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/dda5bce430d84dcb987311ed337b87f1
Visitors can access current lake level information here: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7035f76be09b4fe3aff268ccdf472c8a
Despite the lower lake levels, Louisville District lake projects remain open and operational for recreation. Boating, camping, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities continue to be available across district lakes.
Lower water levels can create additional boating and swimming hazards, including shallow areas, submerged stumps, rocks, and debris that may be closer to the surface than normal.
The Louisville District encourages all visitors to practice safe recreation habits this holiday weekend, including:
- Wear a properly fitted life jacket while boating or swimming
- Use extra caution in unfamiliar or shallow areas
- Avoid diving into unknown water depths
- Keep a close eye on children near the water
- Plan ahead for boat launching and marina access conditions
USACE emphasizes the importance of checking current lake conditions before traveling, as conditions may continue changing depending on rainfall patterns throughout the region.
For more information and for the latest updates visit: https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleDistrict.
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