VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces that the biannual planned pool raise at Felsenthal Lock and Dam, located on the Ouachita River in south central Arkansas, will not take place this year. The purpose of the pool raise is to expand acreage for waterfowl hunts within the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge.
The difference in water levels between the upstream and downstream sides of the dam, also known as head differential, affects the pressure on the structure. The planned pool raise at Felsenthal Lock and Dam scheduled to begin on December 15, 2024, has been suspended because raising the pool would put excessive pressure on the dam’s gates, which are in a deteriorated condition, potentially compromising the integrity of the infrastructure.
Additionally, an adjustment to lower the pool downstream for repairs and evaluation of the Columbia Lock and Dam is also a contributing factor in the decision to not raise the pool levels at Felsenthal this waterfowl season.
This change will not impact current navigation on the Ouachita River.
As river flows increase and water levels naturally rise due to rainfall, the situation will be reassessed, and it may become possible to raise the pools above and below Felsenthal Lock and Dam together.
The Corps of Engineers is committed to maintaining the safety of its operations and will continue to monitor conditions closely. Further updates will be provided as needed regarding any future pool raises.
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. The Vicksburg District is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel.