Temperatures will oscillate greatly, which is characteristic of mid winter.

The latest weekly U.S. Drought Monitor can be accessed at: http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html　

Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa Basin

Allatoona Lake’s current elevation of 824.97 is above Zone 1. The reservoir is expected to be near 824.9 by the end of next week. The five-week forecast of reservoir levels for Allatoona can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/allafc.htm. Flows in this region of the basin are currently near the 39th-percentile value as indicated by the USGS Etowah River gage at Canton, GA (based on 14-day average stream flow). Inflows into the reservoir during December averaged 1264 cfs, which is 74-percent of the historical average. Over the next week, the average 7-day releases are expected to be near 400 cfs.

Carters Lake’s current elevation is 1074.7 and is expected to remain near 1072.5 by the end of next week. The five-week forecast of reservoir levels for Carters can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/cartfc.htm. Flows in this region of the basin are currently near the 49th-percentile as indicated by the USGS Coosawattee River gage near Ellijay, GA (based on 14-day average stream flow). Inflows into the reservoir during December averaged 625-cfs, which is 87-percent of the historical average. Releases from the rereg next week are expected to be near 300 cfs.

R. F. Henry’s current elevation is 124.56 and is expected to be near 125.2 by the end of next week.

Millers Ferry’s current elevation is 80.34 and is expected to be near 80.2 by the end of next week.

The Claiborne Dam tailwater is currently near 12.8 feet. The tailwater through forecast period is expected to be in the 10-15 ft range. The full 9-foot channel is available on the lower Alabama River at a 7.9 Claiborne lower gage reading.

*The official river forecast for the Alabama River is provided by the National Weather Service. For convenience the forecasts are listed on the Mobile District Water Management web page at http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/forecast_points.htm#bwt. It’s important to note that tailwater estimates provided by the Corps are daily averages, and fluctuations will occur.

Navigators should contact the Navigation Section at (251) 694-3708 for the latest update on dredging operations, controlling depths and river conditions. Entities wishing to move cargo on the Alabama River system should contact the Coosa-Alabama River Improvement Association (CARIA) to coordinate your shipping schedule during the low water conditions. The phone number is (334) 265-5744. 　

Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin

Currently there is 860,928 ac-ft of conservation storage remaining in the ACF. The basin is currently in Composite Zone 3 and the 7-day basin inflow is approximately 10,389-cfs. The ACF Composite Conservation Storage can be seen via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/ACFcomposite.htm

Lake Lanier’s current elevation is 1053.15 and is expected to be near elevation 1053.2 by the end of next week. The five-week forecast of reservoir levels for Lanier can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/lanfc.htm. Flows in this region of the basin are currently near the 45th-percentile as indicated by the USGS Chattahoochee River gage near Cornelia, GA (based on 14-d average stream flow). Buford remains in Zone 4 and the average inflow for the month of December was 1631-cfs, which is 83% of the historical average. Over the upcoming week we expect to release approximately 700-cfs (daily average) and the 7-day release pattern will continue. As of 15-Nov 2008, Buford will be operating to meet a reduced minimum flow requirement of 650-cfs in the Chattahoochee at Peachtree Creek through 30-April 2009. Year-to-date, Buford releases continue to meet only the metro-Atlanta water supply and state water quality requirements.

West Point Lake’s current elevation is 630.15. The reservoir is expected to be near elevation 629.8 by the end of next week. The five-week forecast of reservoir levels for West Point can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/westfc.htm. West Point is currently above Zone 1. Flows in this area are currently near the 6-th percentile value as evidenced by the Chattahoochee River gage near Whitesburg, GA (based on 14-day average stream flow). The average total inflow at West Point for December was 3,330-cfs, which is 75% of the historical average. For the upcoming week we expect to release approximately 7-day average 1,900 cfs from West Point.

Walter F. George Lake’s current elevation is 188.73 and is expected to be near elevation 188.7 by the end of next week. The five-week forecast of reservoir levels for George can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/georfc.htm. George is currently above zone 1. For the upcoming week we expect to release approximately 5,000-cfs.

Lake Seminole’s current elevation is 77.31 and is expected to be near 77.0 next week. The five-week forecast of reservoir levels for Lake Seminole can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/woodfc.htm. We are currently discharging approximately 15,300-cfs as measured at the USGS Chattahoochee gage. Discharges are expected to average 15,000-cfs during the upcoming week.

The Blountstown stage is currently near 6.76 feet. Blountstown is expected to be in the 6-8 ft range by the end of next week. The five-week forecast of stages for the Blountstown gage can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/blstfc.htm.

The official river forecast for the Apalachicola River is provided by the National Weather Service. For convenience the forecasts are listed on the Mobile District Water Management web page at http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/forecast_points.htm#bwt.

A 9.0-foot stage provides a 9-foot depth based on the latest information. Navigation interests should contact the Corps of Engineers’ Navigation Section at 251-694-3708 for the latest update on controlling depths and river conditions. 　

Pascagoula River Basin

Okatibbee Lake is currently near elevation 339.3, and the dam is currently releasing 300 cfs. The forecast of reservoir levels for Okatibbee can be accessed via this link: http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/oka-fc.jpg. 　

Black Warrior Tombigbee & Tenn-Tom Basins Locks and dams on the UPPER Black Warrior-Tombigbee (BWT) and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway river systems are below flood stage. The Coffeeville Dam tailwater elevation is at 17.34. A 0-foot tailwater at Coffeeville is required to maintain the full project depth of 9 feet.

Other Information and Links

All reservoir levels mentioned above are in feet above mean sea level (ft-msl) and flows are in cubic feet per second (cfs).

River stage forecasts and impact levels provided by the National Weather Service can be accessed at this link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc/ahps/default.html