The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers monitoring the potential impact of Hurricane Isaias as the storm system approaches the Upper Cumberland.
Robert Dillingham manages the Upper Cumberland District for the the Corps of Engineers. Dale Hollow and Center Hill reservoirs have been drawn down toward winter pool levels, leaving additional storage capacity available if rainfall totals increase.
“Certainly that close has got us got us watching it closely and if it does come in heavier and we get more rain, we’re well-positioned to handle that,” Dillingham said. “But at this point, it really doesn’t appear it’s going to be very much of an issue for the Cumberland Basin.”
Dillingham said recent dry conditions also provide another buffer against rising water. Soil conditions and the amount of foliage still on trees allow the landscape to take in more moisture than it typically would during the winter. Dillingham estimated significant flooding concerns would likely require more than six inches of rain in a single day under the current conditions.
“I also have to put confidence and faith in the meteorologist and at this point everything is trending towards the system kind of tapering off from a moisture perspective by the time it hits us,” Dillingham said. “So it would it would have to surprise the experts in order for us to get an alarming amount of rainfall.”
Dillingham said localized flash flooding could still develop if heavier bands of rain fall over unregulated small streams and creeks. Dillingham said those concerns would be more localized than problems involving the Corps’ management of the Cumberland River system.
“There is the potential for some breezy winds, some heavy winds for on tomorrow, on Saturday, which could lead to downed trees and power lines and things like that,” Dillingham said. “But as far as my responsibility in the regulation of the Cumberland River dams and I really don’t have a very high degree of concern for this right now.”
Dillingham encouraged homeowners to clear gutters and drainage culverts ahead of the rainfall to reduce problems from runoff around their property.
Hydrographs and river-stage forecasts are available online for residents who want to monitor local stream levels as the system moves through the region.
