Corps Projects Reduced Nashville-Area Flood Impacts By $180 Million
A preliminary analysis of data from the early May high-water event in middle Tennessee has revealed that Corps of Engineers projects reduced flood damage by an estimated $180 million, the Nashville Engineer District reported May 21.
During a period of peak inflow to Corps of Engineers dams and reservoirs due to heavy rain on May 8-10, Nashville District flood storage projects including J. Percy Priest, Wolf Creek, Dale Hollow and Center Hill dams directly prevented the Cumberland River communities of Celina, Carthage and metropolitan Nashville from reaching flood stage, the study found.
“These locks and dams performed as designed throughout this event, safeguarding lives and property across the Cumberland River basin,” said Lt. Col. Robert Green, Nashville District commander. “Many of these projects are over 75 years old, and it’s critical that we continue to invest in our inland waterway infrastructure and build upon the trust with the communities we serve.”
The Corps of Engineers manages 10 dams and four locks in the Cumberland River Basin that serve as a unified system, intended to stabilize the river, ensure navigation and reduce flood risk. Nashville District reservoirs in the Cumberland River Basin stored approximately 965,000 acre-feet of water during the high-water event, or about enough to flood an area the size of Nashville to a depth of three feet.
This stored water allowed the Corps to lower Cumberland River flood levels by about 22 feet at Celina, 17 feet at Carthage and 8 feet at Nashville. The reservoir system prevented all three cities from reaching moderate flood stage. Even at Clarksville, well downstream of the storage reservoirs, water levels were lowered by almost 1.5 feet.
“Due to this storage capability and reduction in flood stages downstream, we estimate that USACE projects prevented about $180 million in flood damages,” said Clint Neel, acting chief of the Water Management Section at the Nashville District. “We will continue to monitor weather reports, reservoir levels and operational data from our dams and locks to ensure the system keeps operating as intended.”
Though rainfall and inflow have subsided, water levels along the Cumberland River remain elevated and are moving with strong, fast currents, the district said. The public is strongly encouraged to postpone recreation along the river and be cautious when visiting Corps of Engineers lakes. As always, local residents are encouraged to monitor emergency channels in local communities for information about current and expected risk conditions.
Caption for photo: This map shows the difference between the reduced flood impacts experienced in the vicinity of Nashville, Tenn., on the Cumberland River in early May 2024 with estimated impacts (shown in red) if USACE dam storage projects were not in operation. (Corps of Engineers graphic)
