USACE Vicksburg District issues temporary restriction on recreational boating at Sardis’s Lower Lake

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District has issued a temporary restriction for recreational boating on the Lower Lake below Sardis Dam due to routine maintenance and inspection of several key flood control structures that will take place until August 31.

Boating on the Lower Lake is temporarily limited to fishing only, and low-speed operation highly recommended. Operators should consider the ability of their boat to operate in shallow water prior to accessing the Lower Lake.  

No watersports will be allowed due to the current low water conditions in the Lower Lake and boaters are advised to operate with caution. Especially during low water conditions, underwater obstructions can damage boats or injure persons participating in watersports like waterskiing, tubing or wakeboarding. Obstructions that would not pose a hazard at normal water levels can do so under low water conditions, especially if operating at higher speeds.

Sardis Dam is undergoing routine inspection of some of its key flood control structures which requires the water level in the Lower Lake to be dropped to below normal levels. The inspections take place every five years and are vital to ensure the continued safe operation of the dam. The water levels will remain lower until inspections and repairs can be completed.

The restriction applies only to the 400-acre Lower Lake below Sardis Dam and does not affect boating operation on the upper lake above Sardis Dam.

For additional information, contact the Sardis Lake Field Office at 662-563-4531.

The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana, that holds nine major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The Vicksburg District is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel.