News and Notices:
Public Access Notice (9/30/2024): As of 9/29/2024, the Cheat Lake elevation increased above 868 feet NGVD. Lake Lynn Generation will endeavor to keep the elevation at 868 feet this week (9/30-10/5), while we have sufficient inflow. Lake Lynn Generation cannot guarantee the lake elevation will be maintained at or above 868 feet beyond this week because we expect inflow to decrease, and the extended forecast is not predicting rain. We strongly encourage folks to take this opportunity to remove their boats from Cheat Lake if they have not done so already.
Public Access Notice (9/24/2024): The public boat ramp at Sunset Beach is currently nonoperational since the lake elevation is below 866 feet. Please check the home page for the current lake level. The winter boat ramp at Cheat Lake Park is open and available for boat removal.
Lake Level Notice (9/14/2024): West Virginia and the Cheat River watershed have been experiencing drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor is currently reporting the drought severity level of Monongalia County as a “Severe Drought (D2).” In West Virginia, examples of historically observed impacts during Severe Drought D2 include the following: fish kills; wildlife move to farms for food; golf courses conserve water; poor water quality; groundwater is declining; irrigation ponds are dry; outdoor water restrictions are implemented.
Cheat Lake is currently experiencing extremely low inflows as measured at USGS Gage 03069500. Per Lake Lynn Generation’s FERC license, a 100 cfs minimum flow is required through the spillway gates when there is no generation. When inflow into the lake is less than the required outflow, the lake level will decrease. We are currently estimating that Cheat Lake elevation will decrease at a rate of approximately 2 inches per day, assuming no withdrawals from adjacent land users and no significant precipitation. Two 2 inches may appear to be more in shallower areas.
Current lake elevation information is available at Cheat Lake Today and at the USGS Gage 03071590 (use NGVD 1929 as the datum). You can sign up for lake level alerts from the USGS gage here.
Updates will be provided here as conditions materially change.
The Cheat Lake shoreline is part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-licensed Lake Lynn Project boundary, owned and operated by Lake Lynn Generation LLC. Shoreline uses and activities require a permit from Lake Lynn Generation.
For questions about shoreline permitting (e.g., boat docks, shoreline stabilization, etc.) at Cheat Lake, please contact:
Joey Kimmet
Email: joseph.kimmet@eaglecreekre.com or SMP@eaglecreekre.com
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