Reservoir forecasts for Red Rock Dam outflows are expected to be increased to 50,000 cubic feet per second by Saturday, June 1st. The Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds located below the Red Rock Dam, including Howell Station and Ivans, will be closed to the public on Friday, May 31st until further notice. It has yet to be determined when Howell Station and Ivans Campgrounds will be reopened. Corps of Engineers campgrounds on the upstream/lake side of the dam are still accepting camping reservations – contact the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) online at www.recreation.gov or by calling toll free 877-444-6777.
The South Tailwater Recreation Area and Howell Station Landing will remain open at this time. Boat ramps that are currently usable for lake access include those at the Whitebreast Recreation Area, Marina Cove and Elk Rock State Park (just off of Highway 14). Please note that parking areas at the Marina Cove ramp are very limited during times of high water. All other boat ramps on the lake are closed due to high water levels. The North Tailwater Recreation Area continues to be closed due to construction on the hydropower project.
Area rivers are rising after several rounds of rainfall have impacted the region. Several streams locally, including Whitebreast, English Creek, the Middle River, and South River, rose several feet Monday after widespread one-to-two inches of rain fell in the area. Lake Red Rock stands at 772 feet above sea level, or nearly 30 feet above normal pool, with another four feet of rise in the forecast, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Several area rain gauges have seen between 6-9 inches of rain since May 16th.
Rainfall Monday to Tuesday (through 7 am)
Knoxville (KNIA/KRLS) – 1.69″ (3.05” since Saturday; 8.43″ since May 1st)
Pella (KNIA/KRLS) – 1.68″ (2.9″ since Saturday; 8.78″ since May 1st)
Lake Red Rock – 1.97″ (4.15″ since Saturday, 8.54 since May 16th)
Whitebreast Creek near Melcher-Dallas – 1.83″ (3.77 since Saturday; 8.76 since May 16th)
English Creek near Knoxville – 1.43″ (4.19 since Saturday; 9.44 since May 16th)
Middle River near Indianola – 1.25″ (2.22″ since Saturday; 8.82 since May 16th)
South River near Ackworth – 1.53″ (2.91″ since Saturday; 9.27 since May 16th)
Des Moines River near Swan – 1.6″ (3.56″ since Saturday; 8.2 since May 18th)