Possible evacuations near Rough River Lake

Published: Apr. 28, 2011 at 12:38 AM EDT|Updated: Apr. 28, 2011 at 3:06 AM EDT
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Chris Brown
Chris Brown
David Dale
David Dale
Rough River Lake
Rough River Lake
The cabins at Green Farm Resort
The cabins at Green Farm Resort

By Marisela Burgos - bio | email

GRAYSON COUNTY, KY (WAVE) - People who live in Grayson, Ohio, and Breckenridge counties are being advised to stay in contact with their local emergency management as water from the Rough River Lake is released downstream.

On April 27, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a news conference at Rough River Lake to brief everyone, adding authorities are considering evacuations for people who live in Dundee and Hartford.

David Dale, deputy district engineer for the Corps of Engineers, said this is the first time in Rough River Lake's history that water will be released through its emergency spillway. The dam has been in operation since 1961. According to officials, its normal level is 495 feet. Once it reaches 524 feet, Dale said water exits through the emergency spillway. That process started around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Dale said it is unclear how much water will be released because it has not stopped raining long enough. He stressed this is a serious matter and added the dam is doing exactly what it was built to do. According to Dale, it will be hard to tell immediately the impact it will have to the communities located downstream.

Chris Brown, the general manager of Green Farm Resort, said the water released from the dam will affect the resort. After getting a call the Corps of Engineers that the release was going to begin, Brown decided to clear out newly built cabins.

"I just hope they stay in place and don't float way," Brown said.

According to Brown, water near the cabins was already elevated. He said Friday would have been the first night guests would have arrived. But not anymore.

"Our bed and breakfast was full with golfers," said Brown. "Our golf course is shut down, our bed and breakfast is shut down. I hope our log cabins are here not going to be open."

Late Wednesday, officials warned if the lake reaches 534 feet - 10 feet above flood level - folks living upstream could also see some problems. They ask residents take measures to protect their property and check lake levels and information on these two websites: http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/opto.

To monitor real time lake level information, visit the USGS web site at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=03318005&agency_cd=USGS

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