When does Martin Dam usually run?
Over the last 7 days the powerhouse was turning in 88 of 164 hourly readings, peaking at 7,861 cfs. It ran most often 10 AM–11 PM Central (on at least 4 of 7 days).
- ● Powerhouse generating (cfs)
- Empty gap = ○ not generating
That’s last week’s pattern, not a promise. Alabama Power posts tentative generation schedules on its lake pages at apcshorelines.com, and those can change with rain and power demand.
Last 30 days: this year vs. last year
Over the last 30 days the pool ranged from 484.20 to 486.65 ft.
- This year (solid)
- Same dates last year (dashed)
- Guide curve (target) (dotted)
Reading the water on Lake Martin
If you fish below Martin Dam or up the Tallapoosa River arms, the powerhousenumber is the one to watch. Moving water pulls bait and sets fish up on current breaks; slack water can make a tailrace go quiet. The pool level tells you the rest — how much water is over the shallow cover, and whether that ramp you like still has enough at the end of it.
Alabama Power runs its storage lakes on an operating guide: the highest level it may hold the lake at under normal conditions. Per Alabama Power, the guide starts the year at winter pool, rises through late winter into spring to summer pool, holds through summer, and drops in fall and early winter to make room for winter and spring flood flows (source).
A 2015 FERC environmental report endorsed Alabama Power’s plan to hold Lake Martin’s winter level up to 484 feet instead of the old 481, and to keep the 491-foot summer level up to six weeks longer into early fall when set criteria are met. (source)
Full lake guide: Lake Martin fishing, structure and seasons. Launching? Find a boat ramp. Every lake on one board: Alabama lake levels.
Other Tallapoosa River lakes: Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris) · Yates Lake · Thurlow Lake
Data source
Pool, guide-curve, powerhouse, spillway, release and tailwater numbers come straight from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District CWMS feed, where Alabama Power reports hourly readings.This page re-checks the feed every 15 minutes; readings usually land an hour or two after they are taken. A reading older than 3 hours is marked stale. Elevations are feet above mean sea level; flows are cubic feet per second (cfs). Page checked Nov 13, 8:42 AM CST.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District — CWMS Data API (Alabama Power hourly reports)
- USACE Access to Water — Mobile District overview
- Alabama Power Shorelines — Lake Martin, “About Lake Levels”
- Southern Company / Alabama Power news release, Apr. 2, 2015 — “FERC report recommends higher water levels for Lake Martin”