Annual drawdowns and periodic inspections in progress at UACE Vicksburg District’s north Mississippi lakes

Visitors to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District’s Grenada, Enid and Sardis lakes in north Mississippi may notice changes with water releases through each dam.

Grenada and Sardis lakes have begun their normal drawdown process that begins each August. This has meant increased water releases through each of these dams. The purpose of the drawdown is to lower the water levels throughout the late summer and fall months to a winter pool level of 193.0 feet at Grenada and 236.0 feet at Sardis.

At the beginning of August, Enid Lake temporarily ceased releasing water in preparation for routine maintenance and inspection of several key flood control structures. Approximately every five years, periodic inspections require the outlet channel to be closed so that water can be removed from the basin and these necessary inspections can be completed. During the inspections, the parking areas directly adjacent to the outlet channel will remain closed. This work is expected to be completed by late August. Once the inspections have been completed, Enid Lake will also begin its normal drawdown.

Arkabutla Lake continues to have lower than normal water levels as teams inspect, study, and plan repairs to the dam. Since May, USACE personnel have been working to identify potential issues with the dam. The lake will continue to see lower than normal water levels for the foreseeable future until the repairs can be completed.  

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.