Lake Red Rock Water Releases Increase; Localized Downstream Flooding to Occur

Published June 22, 2010

Knoxville, Iowa -- Increased inflow into Lake Red Rock from its 12,323 square-mile watershed on the Des Moines River is causing pool levels to rise as flood waters are stored.  In response to the increased inflow and National Weather Service forecast for rainfall over the Des Moines River watershed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will increase outflows from Lake Red Rock over the next several days.

Lake Red Rock releases have increased from 25,000 to 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and will be increased to 35,000 cfs on Thursday, June 24.  Releases are forecast to be increased to 40,000 cfs on Friday, June 25.  Depending on additional rainfall and increased inflow into the lake, releases may need to be increased beyond 40,000 cfs.

Lake discharges, combined with flows from tributaries below the reservoir may result in localized downstream flooding.  Residents in flood-prone areas along the Des Moines River watershed should be alert to rising water levels.  Currently, the Des Moines River watershed is above flood stage in Iowa at the confluence of the Raccoon River; Swan, Eddyville, and Ottumwa; and in Missouri at St. Francisville, Mo.

Today, the Lake Red Rock pool level is at 775.56 feet and will rise over the next several days.  Inflow into the lake is forecast to raise the pool level to approximately 778 feet on or around Tuesday, June 29.  The lake is currently storing 1,321,241 acre feet of water (approximately 430.5 billion gallons) and is using 80.8 percent of its available flood storage.  At 778 feet, Lake Red Rock stores approximately 1,498,679 acre feet of water (488.3 billion gallons) and uses 91 percent of its available flood storage.  The record high stage at Lake Red Rock is 782.67 feet occurring on July 13, 1993.

The Lake Red Rock forecast can be found at http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/Districts/MVR/Forecast/pelforecast.html.

Updated information about Lake Red Rock is available on the web by visiting the Corps’ website at www.rivergages.com.  This web site includes links to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Weather Service websites that track Lake Red Rock elevations, Des Moines River flow and projected rainfall amounts.



Release no. 10-06-27