Vicksburg, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District will temporarily pause Phase II of interim risk reduction measures (IRRMs) at Arkabutla Dam this week to safely release water and lower the lake level.
The ongoing construction work includes grouting the outlet works conduit foundation (the tunnel through the dam) to fill voids and help prevent further loss of material beneath the structure. Since grouting operations began in June 2026, crews have injected nearly 4,000 gallons of grout to strengthen the outlet works foundation and enhance stability.
Beginning Thursday, we will begin controlled water releases from Arkabutla Dam with approximately 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) increments. It will take 2-3 days to reach the maximum release of 4,000 cfs. This strategy will keep water within the riverbanks through this controlled release process and minimize any impacts to farmland and downstream communities like Marks, MS.
"Arkabutla Dam plays a critical role in our flood risk reduction mission by helping protect downstream communities, and this temporary pause allows us to balance the safe execution of these repairs with our responsibility to manage flood risks," said Vicksburg District Commander, COL Jeremiah Gipson. "We are committed to completing this work while maintaining the protection and reliability that communities downstream depend on."
Work will resume when the lake level returns to 204 feet in approximately mid-August.
Safety remains a top priority for the USACE Vicksburg District, and staff continue to closely monitor the situation at Arkabutla Dam for any changes. Updates on Arkabutla Dam can be found at: https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/Projects/Arkabutla-Project-Page/.
For current lake levels, visit the Vicksburg District Water Management Website Reservoir Page: https://water.usace.army.mil/office/mvk/reports/reservoirs and click on the lake name to view reservoir levels.
Highway 51 Landing provides boating access into the Coldwater River upstream from Arkabutla Dam. Camping and other recreational use of Arkabutla Lake area remain open, except for day use and fee use areas directly downstream of the dam.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation's toughest challenges while advancing its commitment to building infrastructure, not paperwork. The district delivers vital missions across a 68,000-square-mile area spanning portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Its area of responsibility includes nine major river basins and approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees, supporting flood risk reduction, navigation, environmental stewardship, and resilient infrastructure for the region.