Army Corps of Engineers working to restore Cumberland River Basin flood storage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Nashville District announced Sunday evening it is using a phased approach to restore the Cumberland River Basin’s reservoir storage capacity while maintaining flood risk management.

The USACE said its water management team will continuously monitor river levels and dam operations using advanced hydrologic models and forecasting tools. This data-driven approach helps determine the optimal timing and locations for water releases, which minimizes potential downstream impacts.

“Recent extreme rainfall and runoff in the Cumberland River Basin have reinforced the importance of our ongoing efforts to manage water levels effectively,” said Lt. Col. Robert Green, USACE Nashville District commander, in a statement released on Sunday, Feb. 16. “Our team remains committed to restoring flood storage capacity while prioritizing public safety. We urge residents and visitors to stay aware of changing water conditions, especially near dams and other critical infrastructure.”

In order to manage flood risks and balance water levels, officials said they have made several operational/forecasted adjustments:

• Barkley Dam: Spillway releases increased to 190,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) in coordination in coordination with the Tennessee Valley Authorities (TVA) and USACE
• Old Hickory Dam: Spillway releases reduced to 80,000 CFS Sunday morning
• Cordell Hull Dam: Spillway releases increased to 61,000 CFS
• Cheatham Lock and Dam: Project currently in free flow (as is designed) releasing 118,000 CFS; navigation closed through at least Tuesday, Feb. 18
• Center Hill and Dale Hollow: Forecasted to begin releases Monday, Feb. 17
• Wolf Creek: Water releases began through hydropower generation Sunday
• J. Percy Priest Dams: Currently not releasing; scheduled to resume later this week

According to the USACE, Martins Fork, Wolf Creek, Dale Hollow, Center Hill, and J. Percy Priest are the flood control reservoirs that provide flood reduction benefits above Nashville. More than 500 billion gallons of water was stored in those reservoirs over the last week, so without the military’s ability to shut off releases from those dams, there could have been more severe flood damage along the entire reach of the Cumberland River. 

“With the mostly dry forecast for the upcoming week, it is important that we begin evacuating this stored water as soon as downstream conditions allow to reposition the reservoir system for future rainfall events,” said David Bogema, Nashville District Water Management section chief.
“We are carefully monitoring the river stages in communities below our storage dams so that when we begin emptying our flood storage, we don’t cause more flooding. The safety of the public and their property is our top priority when managing our reservoirs.”

The USACE provided the following current and estimated flood conditions shortly before 5:15 p.m. on Sunday:

• Cumberland River at Nashville: “Stage crested early Sunday morning at 35.85 ft and is expected to slowly recede over the next week. While below minor flood stage (40 ft), portions of Riverfront Park is flooded, and access points from Nissan Stadium are inaccessible. Low-lying areas near the I-24 and I-65 bridges will see waters diminish over the next day.”
• Red River at Port Royal: “Cresting now at 45.49 feet, which will be the third-highest flood crest on record since 1937 (compared to 49.5 ft in 2010 and 48.3 ft in 1975). Homes on Rivermont Dr, River Run, Idlewood Dr, and Wimbledon Ct may see floodwaters, and multiple roads could become impassable.”
• Cumberland River at Clarksville: “Expected to crest at 51.6 feet early Monday morning. Flooding will impact most agricultural and many commercial properties along the river, Riverfront Park, and roads including South Riverside Dr, North Riverside Dr, Quarry Rd, Kraft St, and Zinc Plant Rd.”
• Cumberland River at Dover: “Expected to crest just above minor flood stage at 67.6 feet by early Tuesday. Roads near the river will become impassable, and nearby farmland will flood.”
• Other areas of concern include the Upper Cumberland (Williamsburg, Barbourville, Pineville, and Baxter), where flood waves are beginning to crest, and the Harpeth River near Kingston Springs, where it’s crested in minor flood stage and is receding.
• Martins Fork Lake: “The lake elevation is currently at 1,331.8 feet, surpassing the previous all-time record of 1,331.6 feet set in April 1998. Martins Fork is expected to crest slightly above 1,332.0 feet overnight.”

Due to the current flood concerns, officials shared a reminder with the public about safety measures:

• Stay away from dam release areas. High flows create strong currents, sudden surges, and life-threatening conditions for boaters, anglers, and swimmers.
• Avoid tailwaters and floodgates where water is actively being released.
• Respect all warning signs and restricted areas near dams.
• Don’t try to navigate through high-flow areas. Those waters are extremely turbulent.