USACE Vicksburg District Lake Ouachita low water conditions advisory

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Due to warm temperatures over the last several months and low rainfall totals, Lake Ouachita water levels are low. Visitors are advised to exercise caution during all water based recreational activities.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reminds visitors of the importance of practicing safe, sensible, and thoughtful activities in and around the water. On Sept. 23, 2021, the lake level is 568.69 feet above mean sea level and falling. Boaters should  use extra caution while navigating near shorelines, islands, points, and any unfamiliar areas.  Standing timber, tree stumps, and gravel bars may emerge where they were previously undetected due to higher water levels. 

Boats can travel from a depth of 50 feet to three feet of water in seconds.  Most shallow water locations are marked with navigational buoys, but some locations can go unnoticed. In some cases, a navigational buoy may break loose from its hazardous location. 

Boaters are urged to exercise extreme caution while launching and retrieving vessels at the boat ramps.  Due to the low water conditions and the potential for propeller wash at the end of the boat ramps, a drop off can be created where water is nearing the end of the ramp.  Backing off the end of the ramp into a drop off can cause damage to boat trailers.

For more information concerning low water conditions at Lake Ouachita, please contact the Corps of Engineers at 501.767.2101. Safety is our upmost concern.

Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid and Grenada lakes, the four Mississippi flood control reservoirs in the Vicksburg District’s area of responsibility, were authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1936, which provided a plan designed to address flooding that originated in the Yazoo Basin. The four reservoirs are used to hold runoff, or excess rainwater, as a flood-prevention measure. With approximately 3 million visitors each year, the north Mississippi lakes also contribute approximately $82 million into the local economy.