LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District is preparing to bring all district‑operated hydropower plants online to help meet expected peak energy demand as a winter storm moves into the region this weekend.
In keeping with USACE’s commitment to maximizing the ability to deliver national infrastructure and focusing on efficiency, the district is coordinating closely with regional power partners to ensure hydropower resources are used effectively to support the reliability of the electric grid.
As temperatures drop, electricity demand increases. To support grid stability, USACE‑operated hydropower facilities will increase generation to supplement the regional power supply and help reduce the risk of rolling blackouts during power emergencies or periods of extreme demand.
Hydropower plants that may be brought online include Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Greers Ferry in the White River Basin, as well as the Ozark and Dardanelle powerhouses on the Arkansas River.
Based on current projections from Friday evening through Monday evening, the district expects to run one unit at Beaver Lake full time, resulting in an estimated 1‑foot drawdown. Three to four units at Table Rock Lake are expected to operate as needed with an estimated 1‑foot drawdown. At Bull Shoals Lake, six units are projected to run full time, resulting in an estimated 1.3‑foot drawdown. One unit at Norfork Lake is expected to operate full time, with an estimated 0.8‑foot drawdown. Limited generation is expected at Greers Ferry Lake due to already low lake levels.
The Ozark and Dardanelle powerhouses will increase generation as upstream reservoir releases allow, while downstream pools will continue to be managed within their normal operating limits.
Increased hydropower generation may cause rapid drops in water surface elevations across reservoirs in the White River Basin. Lake levels could fall up to half a foot per day and may decline faster if a formal power emergency is declared. As snowmelt begins, inflows are expected to increase gradually over a longer period than typical rainfall events.
USACE strongly encourages residents, marina operators and dock owners to closely monitor reservoir levels and adjust equipment as water elevations change. Taking early action can help prevent damage to docks, walkways and shoreline infrastructure.
Recreation information can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace and on the USACE Little Rock water level mobile app at www.swl.usace.army.mil/Home/water-control-app/.