What Will This Winter Hold?

The seasons are changing which is not a happy time for most boaters. We are winterizing and storing our boats for the winter months. You might be wondering about the lake, what is happening to the lake this winter and when will lake drawdown be happening this year. We will answer those questions for you.


This winter will be a very busy time in the area. There is an estimated $1.25 million worth of shoreline stabilization projects happening throughout the area this winter. That is the total for 13 projects that will be completed over the off season. On our very own Atwood Lake, there are two projects that will be completed over the winter.


Every year there are sites that are chosen to receive the shoreline rejuvenation and at the end of this winters projects, there will have been a total of more than 80 individual shoreline projects in four years that have been completed.


These off season projects happen once lake drawdown is completed. As part of the flood-risk management operation of the reservoirs and dams, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conduct annually a temporary reduction in the lake water levels. Doing this allows the lakes to have the storage capacity of floodwaters from rain and melting snow.


This year's drawdown on Atwood Lake will begin on November 1 and the waters will drawdown to an 8 foot depth. Not to worry, starting in February 2014 they will start to pump up the lake to its summer level for all of us to enjoy. Do you want to learn more about the shoreline rejuvenation projects? Click here.