Project News and Notes

Upcoming Events

January 23-26, 2013    Calhoun County Fox Hunt (East end of Grenada Lake)

For more information about special events at Grenada Lake, call the field office at 662.226.5911.

Life Jackets are Mandatory at MS Lakes

The following life jacket rules are being enforced at all four of the Vicksburg District - North Mississippi lakes - Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid and Grenada:

  • All persons must wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while swimming outside of designated swimming areas
  • All persons must wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while skiing or being pulled by a vessel, regardless of vessel length
  • All persons must wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket on powered vessels 16 to 26 feet in length whenever under power by the main propulsion unit
  • All persons must wear a US Coast Guard-approved lief jacket at all times on powered vessels less than 16 feet in length or on non-powered vessels regardless of length

For more information, contact the Grenada Lake Field Office at 662.226.5911 or the MS Project Management Office at 662-578.3873 or 662.712.1201.

Press Releases

  • UPDATE: Arkabutla Dam Emergency: Lake levels drop below 204 feet

    Vicksburg, Miss – Lake levels at Arkabutla Dam dropped below 204’ to 203.77 at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, 22 FEB. which greatly decreases the potential of a breach situation. Lake levels at Arkabutla Dam, located in DeSoto and Tate Counties in Northwest Mississippi, can fluctuate quickly especially during the rainy season. The target lake level is below 210’ and the district is proactively working to keep the level at approximately 204’ which provides leeway in the pool level during the wet season.
  • Public Meetings scheduled for Mississippi River study - (Update: Virtual Meetings added)

    NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host public scoping meetings for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMR Comp) at venues throughout the study area between Feb. 27 and March 11.
  • UPDATE: Arkabutla Dam Emergency: Lake levels drop below 210 feet

    Vicksburg, Miss – Lake levels at Arkabutla Dam have dropped below 210’ which greatly decreases the potential of a breach situation. Lake levels at Arkabutla Dam, located in DeSoto and Tate Counties in Northwest Mississippi, can fluctuate quickly especially during the rainy season. Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District increased the potential breach emergency status at Arkabutla Dam from ALERT to WATCH because reservoir levels rose to over 210’ due to precipitation and snow/ice melt in the Arkabutla Lake drainage basin. Because lake levels fluctuate quickly, the WATCH designation will continue through the rainy season.
  • Potential Breach Emergency Status increased to **WATCH** at Arkabutla Dam

    Vicksburg, Miss – Earlier today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a potential dam breach WATCH for Arkabutla Dam located in DeSoto and Tate Counties in Northwest Mississippi. The physical condition of the dam is unchanged, and a dam breach is NOT imminent. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District has increased the potential breach emergency status at Arkabutla Dam from ALERT to WATCH because of increasing reservoir levels due to the recent weeklong precipitation and snow/ice melt in the Arkabutla Lake drainage basin.
  • Temporary closure of shower buildings and comfort stations at Lake Ouachita

    VICKSBURG, Miss. – In advance of the upcoming inclement weather, Lake Ouachita is temporarily closing or partially closing shower buildings and comfort stations across the project beginning today. These facilities are not built to sustain prolonged extreme low temperatures. Facilities are expected to be reopened on 18 January 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience.
  • USACE Vicksburg District announces new Assistant in the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office

    VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District is pleased to announce the appointment of Timothy O. Haggarty as the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Assistant. The EEO office leads, manages, and monitors the EEO programs; develops and implements affirmative employment plans; and manages the EEO discrimination complaint programs in an effective, efficient and responsive manner.
  • USACE Vicksburg District Mat Sinking Unit forges ahead with revetment mission

    VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) kicked off revetment season on the Mississippi River, Wednesday, following a delay to make critical repairs to the mooring barge.
  • Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,850 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 15.
  • Narrows Dam/Lake Greeson to Halt Hydropower Production for Repairs

    Vicksburg, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, during recent maintenance activities on the trash racks at Narrows Dam at Lake Greeson, Arkansas, identified a need for repairs to the metal structure supporting the trash racks. Trash racks are metal grates preventing large debris from entering and damaging the turbans used for creating hydropower, and do not affect the integrity or effectiveness of Narrows Dam.
  • Arkabutla Lake Highlights Access Points during low water

    Vicksburg, Miss. – Arkabutla Lake has experienced low water conditions since the Emergency Action Plan for Arkabutla Dam was activated in early May due to issues identified on the dam. The lake will continue to see lower than normal water levels for the foreseeable future until repairs are completed. As the lake level was lowered, most of the traditional water access points became unusable and have remained that way. Currently the only consistent water access point is via a gravel ramp at Hwy. 51 Landing. Boaters, including non-powered vessel users such as kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards must continue to abide by mandatory Personal Flotation Device (lifejacket) wear rules.