Dam repairs halt hydropower production at Lake Greeson

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified a need for repairs to Narrows Dam at Lake Greeson. Corps officials made the discovery during recent maintenance activities on the dam’s trash racks, which are metal grates that prevent large debris from entering and damaging the turbines used for creating hydropower. The trash racks do not affect the integrity or effectiveness of Narrows Dam, the Corps said.

As a precautionary measure, Narrows Dam halted hydropower generation in mid-December 2023 until repairs are completed. This cessation will not impact the ability to carry out Flood Control or other missions of the Narrows Dam/Lake Greeson Project. Water releases will be executed through the flood control structure to maintain adequate flood control capability.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is developing a scope of work and schedule for the necessary repairs. Meanwhile, a schedule of planned releases through the flood control structure is being coordinated and will be distributed. The generation schedules for Narrows Dam posted on the SWEPCO website will not accurately depict actual water releases during this period of no generation. Seasonal rains may necessitate additional unplanned releases through the flood control structure.

Further notices will be distributed once a repair schedule is determined. These repairs are essential to ensuring the uninterrupted and safe production of hydropower in the future.

The optimal lake level for the required repairs has not yet been determined. Every effort will be made to minimize disruptions to the use of Lake Greeson and downstream Little Missouri River by visitors, partners, and stakeholders.

The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana, that holds nine major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees.