Apalachicola River at Woodruff Dam (in NGVD29)

The past week

What floods at each level

• 85 ft

  Water overtops the emergency spillway on the Gadsden County side of the jim Woodruff Dam, flooding portions of Jim Woodruff Powerdam Road.

• 84 ft

  Approach road surface to the interstate 10 bridge in Jackson County begin to flood.

• 80 ft

  Water reaches the base of the interstate 10 bridge on the Jackson County side of the river.

• 79 ft

  Auxiliary concrete spillway is overtopped on the Jackson County side of the Jim Woodruff Dam.

• 78 ft

  In Gadsden County, flooding continues along Mosquito Creek near Main Street. Water reaches the access road to the overpass on the south side of the railroad. Numerous homes are subject to flooding above this level.

• 77 ft

  Water reaches the base of the US-90 bridge on the Jackson County side of the river.

• 74 ft

  In Gadsden County, a few homes near Main Street along Mosquito Creek are prone to flooding. Water approaches the walking surface of the old US-90 Bridge.

• 73 ft

  Water reaches the base of the railroad bridge between Gadsden and Jackson Counties.

• 72 ft

  Access to a dock and boat ramp on Gadsden Trail in Jackson County is cutoff near the coal plant. Extensive flooding continues at Ocheesee Landing in Calhoun County. Water approaches residences along Mosquito Creek near the Main Street bridge in Gadsden County.

• 69 ft

  The Ocheesee Landing area is completely submerged in Calhoun County.

• 67 ft

  Access to River Landing Road in Gadsden County beyond the old US-90 foot bridge access is impossible at or above this level. Access to Ocheesee Landing in Calhoun County becomes impossible as Landshore and Ocheesee landing roads flood extensively at this level.

• 65 ft

  Water begins to flood landshore Road and Ocheesee Landing Road near the boat landing in Calhoun County.

• 64 ft

  South River Landing road in River Junction in Gadsden County floods at this level. Minor lowland flooding along Mosquito Creek continues between the Mainstreet Bridge and the Apalachicola River.

• 63 ft

  Water is over the bank at Ocheesee Boat Landing in Calhoun County causing minor flooding in the area. North River Landing Road in Gadsden County is impassible at and above this level.

• 62 ft

  North River Landing Road begins to flood just below the dam near the parking area.

• 60 ft

  In Gadsden County, water covers the top of the boat ramp in River Junction. Water spreads through wooded areas near the confluence of Mosquito Creek with the Apalachicola River. In Calhoun County, water begins to flood wooded areas near Ocheesee Landing.

• 56 ft

  Water is over the bank in River Junction in Gadsden County. Only the boat ramp area is affected.

Highest crests on record

When the water runs low

• 30 kcfs

  Flow needed to inundate designated Gulf Sturgeon critical habitat below Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam.

• 29 kcfs

  Flow needed to inundate upper river floodplain (Chattahoochee to Blountstown stretch) to allow host fish to access the main channel and floodplain to assist with Purple Bankclimber and Fat Threeridge reproduction.

• 20.4 kcfs

  Successful Gulf Sturgeon spawning occurred in 2005 in flow range between 20.4 kcfs and 37.4 kcfs. All rock shoal habitat at NM 105 is inundated in this range and most (>73 %) inundated with >4.59 ft (the min. reported depth of Gulf Sturgeon spawning in any river). Roughly 87 % of the rock ledge habitat and access for spawning (> 4.59 ft depth) available to approx. 60 % of the rock ledge habitat at NM 105.

• 16 kcfs

  Minimum release in support of protected mussels, host fish for mussels, and young Sturgeon. Flow level allows connectivity between the main channel of the Apalachicola River and back channels used by host fish for listed mussels and young Sturgeon. Roughly 7,000 acres of floodplain habitat connected to the river channel.

• 10 kcfs

  Threatened Purple Bankclimber and endangered Fat Threeridge mussels mostly inundated with most mussels inundated at 8,000 cfs.

• 8 kcfs

  Most threatened Purple Bankclimber and endangered Fat Threeridge mussels inundated. Minimum flow needed to assure successful reproduction of listed mussels by maintaining host fish access to important spawning, rearing, and feeding habitats in the off channel and adjacent floodplain areas. Just several hundred acres of floodplain available for host fish.

• 6.5 kcfs

  Desired minimum flow from Jim Woodruff Dam (rather than the minimum flow of just 5,000 cfs)

• 6.3 kcfs

  Level needed to maintain a healthy Swift Slough mussel population. Higher flows are needed when the floodplain has dried out or there are other changes in the vicinity of the controlling sill.

• 5.6 kcfs

  Level needed for the Swift Slough to remain minimally connected to the river. Dissolved oxygen declines to lethal levels.

• 5.0 kcfs

  Minimum flow release from Woodruff Dam. Salinity of Apalachicola Bay changes due to extended flows at this level. Areas of increased water temperature localized dissolved oxygen changes. Minimum water level for operation of Scholz Power Plant, located just downstream of Woodruff Dam. Can function temporarily at 4,200 cfs or 37.5 ft.

• 4.2 kcfs

  Temporary (not sustainable) operating level for of Scholz Power Plant located just downstream of Woodruff Dam. Equivalent to 37.5 ft msl.

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