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Plug Day

The rule curve at Martin Dam changed at midnight on March 1, and after winter’s cold, overcast days, the time has come to turn our attention toward spring. In 50 days, Lake Martin’s rule curve will hit 491 mean sea level feet – 33 billion more gallons of water after three long months of maintaining the lake at winter’s 484 feet msl.

Barring a need to suspend the rule curve for flood control, the water level on Lake Martin can be expected to rise 1 foot every week between March 1 and April 19. Significant rain could require that water be held in the reservoir to prevent downstream flooding. In that case, the level would return to the rule curve measurement as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so, said a spokesperson for Alabama Power, the utility company that operates the dam.