WILMINGTON, N.C. -- WILMINGTON, N.C.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wilmington District hosts a weekly Water Management Stakeholder Call to provide a detailed briefing on current hydrology, weather forecasts, and project-specific operations.
- Date: every Tuesday.
- Time: 1000 (10am)
- Link/Dial-in:
- Call-in Number: 503-207-9433
- Access Code: 983 661 431#
- Attendee ID: None
USACE Wilmington District is closely monitoring a significant and expanding drought impacting the Southeastern United States. As conditions have steadily intensified since last fall, the District is adjusting reservoir operations to manage diminishing water supplies and maintain regional stability.
Current Drought Status
According to the latest data from the National Integrated Drought Information System (Drought.gov), as of late April 2026, 96.83% of the Southeast is experiencing Moderate to Exceptional Drought (D1-D4) conditions. Even more critical, 81.75% of the region is currently classified as being in a Severe to Exceptional Drought (D2-D4)—the largest area recorded in these categories since the U.S. Drought Monitor’s inception in 2000
(U.S. Drought Monitor for the Southeast: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?southeast
While the region typically sees recharge during the winter months, persistent rainfall deficits throughout the winter and early spring have prevented reservoirs from reaching their standard seasonal target elevations.
Wilmington District Reservoir Status
The Wilmington District’s Water Management team is actively managing five major reservoirs to balance downstream requirements, water quality, and municipal supply. As of May 4, 2026, the following conditions are reported:
|
Reservoir
|
04-May 0800 Elev
(ft-msl)
|
Guide Curve
(ft-msl)
|
11-May Forecast*
(ft-msl)
|
7-Day Avg Inflow
(cfs)
|
April Avg Inflow
(cfs)
|
April Rain (inches)
|
|
Falls
|
248.29
|
251.5
|
248.1
|
-4
|
6
|
0.86
|
|
Jordan
|
215.76
|
216.0
|
215.3
|
177
|
107
|
0.30
|
|
Scott
|
1029.57
|
1030.0
|
1028.6
|
300
|
333
|
1.45
|
|
Kerr
|
299.98
|
302.0
|
299.8
|
2198
|
2607
|
0.49
|
|
Philpott
|
973.84
|
973.5
|
973.5
|
79
|
100
|
0.99
|
*NOTE: Forecast elevations do not include future rainfall.
Drought Contingency Operations
In response to these conditions, the Wilmington District has transitioned to established Drought Contingency Operations. This includes:
- Reduced Outflows: Minimizing releases to the accepted minimum required to support downstream water quality and habitat.
- Hydropower Conservation: At facilities like John H. Kerr, hydropower generation is being limited to the minimum energy required to protect dependable capacity and water resource needs.
- Public Safety Advisories: Low water levels increase the risk of submerged hazards such as stumps and rocks. Boaters and recreationists are urged to use extreme caution.
Regional Conservation Efforts
The District continues to coordinate with local municipalities that rely on these water sources. Notably, the City of Raleigh has activated Stage 1 Water Restrictions effective mid-April. These mandatory measures for City of Raleigh customers include designated watering days (Tuesdays for odd addresses, Wednesdays for even addresses) and restricted hours for irrigation to preserve the long-term viability of the water supply.
For more information and real-time water data, and to request to be added to our weekly status report email, please visit the Wilmington District Water Management website at https://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/.
--30--
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS –WILMINGTON DISTRICT
69 DARLINGTON AVE, WILMINGTON, N.C. 28403
WWW.SAW.USACE.ARMY.MIL