MWCD lake drawdowns

The Muskingum Watershed Conservanc District began drawing Seneca Lake down for the winter on Nov, 1. Drawdowns at five other lakes begin Nov. 15 and the last two begin Dec. 1.
a few lakes will be drawn down further than normal to allow for work over the winter. Atwood, Seneca and Tappan will be lowered 8 feet to allow for shoreline stabilization projects to take place. An ongoing shoreline stabilization project is being addressed at Pleasant Hill, which is als coming down 8 feet.
Shoreline work was also planned at Piedmont, but it has been delayed for this winter budget availability, I was told by Darrin Lautenschleger, Public Affairs Administrator for MWCD. Because of the delay, it is possible toe drawdown at Piedmont will not reach 8 feet.
The drawdown is partb of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers flood risk management operation of the system of reservoirs and dams in the Muskingum River Watershed.
The drawdowns will range from 3 to 8 feet, said Boris E. Slogar, MWCD chief engineer. A gradual return to normal summer pools will begin in February 2011 in time for the recreation season.
The depth reductions by reservoir, the amount of the reduction and the date the drawdown is expected to begin follows:

* Atwood Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
* Charles Mill Lake – 3 feet – Dec. 1
* Clendening Lake – 5 feet – Nov. 15
* Leesville Lake – 5 feet – Nov. 15
* Piedmont Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
* Pleasant Hill Lake – 6 feet – Dec. 1
* Seneca Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 1
* Tappan Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15

The USACE owns and operates the dams and handles management of the reservoir depth levels for flood risk management. The MWCD manages 54,000 acres of the water and land located behind the dams. The USACE and MWCD work together through a partnering agreement for management of the system of reservoirs and dams for flood risk management and water conservation.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Basin, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving more than $8 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government.
For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org.
When the lakes are down for the inter is a great time to visit and see what is actualy in those areas you were fishing this summer. The extra drawdown at some of the lakes makes it an even better opportunity to learn more about what's in there.
The lakes may be too far down, in some cases, to launch a boat, so you may not be able to see some of your favorite areas, but there's stll a lot to see and learn. Take a camera to recoprd what you can.