Local lake protects against flooding

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. –It’s a place we’ve visited a couple of times this year…Barren River Lake.

A prime place for fishing, swimming, boating…nearly all things nature.

But what you may not know is the main purpose of the lake isn’t recreation.

Deryck Rodgers, the Army Corp of Engineer’s project manager of Barren River Lake, says all those recreational activities are part of the lake, just not the purpose. The main purpose of the lake is for flood control to areas along Barren River downstream from the lake.

But when it comes to flood control, the Army Corp of Engineers knows how and when to anticipate flooding.

Rodgers says the water level of the lake is drawn down every winter since the area receives more rain and runoff from melting snow during the winter and early spring periods. This allows the lake to hold the extra water instead of allowing it to flow on downstream to areas that may be vulnerable to flooding.

And if flooding rains hit later in the season? Rodgers told me more water can be held back even when the lake is higher than winter pool.

It’s part of keeping folks around Barren River safe from flooding.