When does Lewis Smith Dam usually run?
Over the last 7 days the powerhouse was turning in 15 of 167 hourly readings, peaking at 4,725 cfs. It ran most often 6 PM–8 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 498.16 to 499.05 ft.
- This year (solid)
- Same dates last year (dashed)
- Guide curve (target) (dotted)
Reading the water on Lewis Smith Lake
If you fish below Lewis Smith Dam or up the Black Warrior 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).
Full lake guide: Lewis Smith Lake fishing, structure and seasons. Launching? Find a boat ramp. Every lake on one board: Alabama lake levels.
Other Black Warrior River lakes: Bankhead Lake · Holt Reservoir
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, 5:23 PM CST.