Water Management Situation Report for Cumberland River Basin Reservoir System and Associated Waterways

Cordell Hull

Water quality in Cordell Hull is determined almost exclusively by the amount of water flowing down the Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam and releases from Dale Hollow Dam on the Obey River. Flows from Wolf Creek were much restricted this summer and fall and the formation of stagnant conditions and resulting low DO levels in the deeper portions of Cordell Hull Lake was pronounced and persistent. Without more water flow available there was little Corps water managers could do to improve lake conditions. With the extreme heat and dryness of the drought, the stressful conditions that became established in Cordell Hull Lake, particularly downstream from Gainesboro, persisted. As the intense summer heat waned and fall approached, some gradual improvement in conditions in Cordell occurred, however not enough to allow the resumption of hydropower generation. Frequent checks on water quality conditions were made, and finally by November 8 the forebay area just upstream of the dam destratified to a point where power generation could resume and the spillway release was suspended.