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News Release Archive
Lucky Peak Lake Drawdown To Accommodate Work Crews at Arrowrock Dam
Media Contact:
John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@usbr.gov
Brian Sauer, bsauer@usbr.gov
For Release: August 12, 2010
The Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin to reduce water elevations at Lucky Peak Lake beginning August 23 to accommodate work this fall to permanently close sluice gates at Arrowrock Dam.
Lucky Peak Lake levels should be approximately 20 feet from full throughout the Labor Day weekend. Water levels will then drop another 75 feet, by October 4. This would reduce the elevation level to normal winter levels at Lucky Peak (between 2950 and 2960) feet.
The changes in lake elevation will have impacts on boat ramps at the Macks Creek and Robie Creek recreation areas, making them inaccessible to boaters during the Labor Day weekend. However, boat ramps at Barclay Bay, Turner Gulch, and Spring Shores Marina will be open through the holiday, according to Corps officials.
Corps of Engineers staff at Lucky Peak Dam and Lake are advising boaters to be aware of changing water levels, particularly when considering long-term mooring locations. During the lake-lowering period, boaters should be aware of dropping water levels to avoid beaching their boats on the shoreline.
"A reduction of one foot of water depth can expose four to five feet of shoreline in some locations around the lake, depending upon the degree of slope under the water," said Joyce Dunning, project operations manager at Lucky Peak Dam and Lake. "When selecting a location to anchor your boat off shore, boaters can get a general idea of the type of slope under the water by looking at the topography on the shoreline. For example, if the land gradually slopes away from the edge of the water, that kind of slope is typically what's hidden under the surface."
The deep Lucky Peak Reservoir drawdown is necessary to provide access to the five Arrowrock Dam sluice gate portals located underwater. The sluice gates, which are part of the original 1915 construction, have not been used for a number of years and will be permanently closed due to environmental concerns pertaining to the release of silt affecting downstream water quality. The last time Lucky Peak Lake elevations were reduced prior to Labor Day was 2007. Drought conditions in 2007 caused Lucky Peak water levels to begin dropping in mid-August and were approximately 45 feet below full pool by Labor Day.
For more information about recreation opportunities at Lucky Peak Lake, call the Corps' ranger staff at (208) 343-0671.
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