CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District is actively operating for the widespread flooding following a weekend of intense rainfall that drenched parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.
Rainfall totals across the region ranged from 2 to 7+ inches, resulting in elevated lake levels at the district’s Flood Risk Management (FRM) reservoirs and widespread moderate to major flooding on most of the rivers within the district’s footprint.
All district flood control dams are currently functioning as designed, officials said Monday.
The district’s water management and operations teams are closely monitoring river conditions to ensure the release of lake storage does not cause additional flooding. Releases have begun at the lakes in the Muskingum, Hocking, Little Kanawha, Twelvepole and Big Sandy basins. USACE anticipates increasing flows in the Scioto and Little Sandy basins later in the week.
Even with rainfall over the past weekend, all Huntington District-operated FRM projects have available flood storage capacity to help capture future runoff and mitigate downstream flooding risks, officials said.
Releases are underway from lakes in the Muskingum, Hocking, Little Kanawha, Twelvepole and Big Sandy basins. Additional releases are expected later this week in the Scioto and Little Sandy basins, according to a statement from the Corps.
Ongoing impacts
Scioto Basin
Paint Creek and Delaware reservoirs have exceeded “surveillance pool” levels, a designation requiring daily inspections.
Deer Creek and Alum Creek may also exceed surveillance thresholds.
Reservoirs are closed for downstream control and Ohio River management.
Muskingum Basin
Mohicanville and North Branch Kokosing are above surveillance pool levels.
Atwood Lake is projected to crest at the surveillance level.
All reservoirs are currently holding water based on downstream conditions.
Little Sandy Basin
Grayson Lake is expected to crest just below the surveillance threshold.
Gates remain closed to manage flow into the Ohio River, but releases are expected to begin early Tuesday morning.
Big Sandy Basin
Paintsville Lake has exceeded surveillance pool levels.
Paintsville, Flannagan, and Dewey lakes are currently releasing stored floodwaters.
The Corps explained that the term “surveillance pool” indicates a heightened level of oversight due to rising water levels, with daily inspections in place to monitor reservoir safety and integrity.
Public safety emphasis
Officials emphasized that unregulated or uncontrolled streams and tributaries can pose significant flood risks, especially during heavy rainfall and extreme weather events.
“Unlike regulated reservoirs, these waterways lack flood-control infrastructure to manage rising water levels,” officials said.
“Flash flooding is a major concern in these areas, as rainfall can quickly overwhelm creeks, small rivers and urban drainage systems, causing rapid water rises with little warning.”
The USACE Huntington District monitors conditions and provides technical expertise but advises that local officials and residents should be especially aware of high-risk zones that lack flood storage capacity.
Officials offer the following safety tips:
• Call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies.
• Report flooding impacts to your county emergency management agency.
• Avoid flooded roads – just 2 feet of water can sweep a vehicle away.
• For tips on flood preparedness and safety, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District on the district’s website at: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/About/Districts/Huntington-District/ or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/USACELRH/