5/4/2011
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Moxley Branch and Four Coves campgrounds, two of four campground areas at Beech Fork State Park, are being closed due to water conditions. “We’re anticipating higher waters and we’re being proactive in our park and campground management,” said Matt Yeager, park superintendent at Beech Fork State Park. The campgrounds are on the state park side of Beech Fork Lake. Beech Fork Marina is on the Lavalette side of the lake and under the management of the Army Corps of Engineers.
At 3 p.m. May 3, park officials issued a flood alert to campers and visitors at Beech Fork, Yeager said. “We ask our guests to be on alert to more rain and be ready to evacuate should lake levels begin to rise. While the threat of high water is in effect, we will only register camping visits for no longer than one day at a time for the next week,” he said.
Yeager said he will observe water conditions closely and notify campers that are present if conditions call for an evacuation. “Our first response is guest and camper safety,” he said. “We take Mother Nature’s weather conditions and the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision regarding lake levels and flood control, and adapt our park operations accordingly.”
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, water levels on the lower Ohio River are approaching historic levels. To support the efforts to reduce severe flooding impacts on the lower Ohio River, Huntington District will reduce discharges at its dams and reservoirs to minimum flows to retain as much water as possible without impacting public safety or the integrity of the dams. Dams within the Huntington District with safety concerns will not store any more water than has been determined to be safe. Huntington District dams will continue to hold back water for the next 30 days, to effectively use their storage capacity to reduce flooding impacts on the lower Ohio River.
The Corps will continually assess the situation and if determined necessary will begin controlled releases to reduce the level of water being stored behind our dams. As a result, many recreation areas will be temporarily impacted and may be closed for an extended period, and that would include Beech Fork State Park campgrounds. The Corps will monitor weather forecasts to prepare for future rain events and determine when to begin controlled releases if potential exists for a significant rain event in our region. The Corps coordinates with local, state and other emergency management agencies and officials to share information on current conditions at our reservoirs. Corps professionals continue to monitor the condition of our dams to ensure public safety.
For more information or to check the latest water levels and conditions at Beech Fork Lake, visit the Army Corps of Engineers water management website at
http://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/home.html.
Beech Fork State Park is operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation section. The park is located near Barboursville, W.Va., and features vacation cabins, the state’s largest campground, outdoor swimming pool, picnic shelter and areas and hiking. For information cabins, camping and activities at Beech Fork State Park, call 304-528-5794 or visit
www.beechforksp.com.
Contact Information
Matt Yeager, Superintendent, Beech Fork State Park
(304) 528-5794