This post will provide a description of the typical zones that are found in a reservoir. The zones can be further divided into sub-zones if needed.
The figure below was taken from the following source:
Canton Lake Status - Tulsa District Water Management
It should be noted that this was extracted on 08August2019 so the current figure will likely vary. The figure shows the zones and the current water surface elevation at Canton Lake. The location of Canton Lake is shown by the pin in the figure below.
The zone at the bottom of the reservoir is the Inactive Zone. The top of the inactive zone at Canton is at elevation 1,596.5 feet. To get water out of the Inactive Zone, it would need to be pumped since it is below the lowest outlet at the dam
Above the Inactive Zone is the Conservation Zone. The top of the Conservation Zone at Canton is at elevation 1,615.4 feet. In this zone, water is conserved for future use. These uses include water supply, hydropower, recreation, releases needed for downstream water quality, etc.
Above the Conservation Zone is the Flood Zone. The top of the Flood Zone at Canton is at elevation 1,638.0 feet. In this zone, water is temporarily stored to alleviate downstream impacts and released when downstream conditions allow. At the time the Canton figure was extracted (08August2019), the pool was in the flood zone. One misconception is that the highest that the pool can rise is the top of the flood pool. The pool can rise above the top of the flood pool in systems where the outlets are controlled or uncontrolled.
The zone above the top of the Flood Zone is referred to as the surcharge zone. In systems where there is a gated spillway, the top of the Flood Zone often corresponds to the top of the spillway gates in the closed position, but this is not always the case. As the pool rises to the top of the spillway gates, the gates are raised creating additional storage above the flood pool while also increasing releases. This is referred to as an induced surcharge operation. This topic is covered in further detail in other posts on this blog.
The figure below was taken from the following source:
Canton Lake Status - Tulsa District Water Management
It should be noted that this was extracted on 08August2019 so the current figure will likely vary. The figure shows the zones and the current water surface elevation at Canton Lake. The location of Canton Lake is shown by the pin in the figure below.
The zone at the bottom of the reservoir is the Inactive Zone. The top of the inactive zone at Canton is at elevation 1,596.5 feet. To get water out of the Inactive Zone, it would need to be pumped since it is below the lowest outlet at the dam
Above the Inactive Zone is the Conservation Zone. The top of the Conservation Zone at Canton is at elevation 1,615.4 feet. In this zone, water is conserved for future use. These uses include water supply, hydropower, recreation, releases needed for downstream water quality, etc.
Above the Conservation Zone is the Flood Zone. The top of the Flood Zone at Canton is at elevation 1,638.0 feet. In this zone, water is temporarily stored to alleviate downstream impacts and released when downstream conditions allow. At the time the Canton figure was extracted (08August2019), the pool was in the flood zone. One misconception is that the highest that the pool can rise is the top of the flood pool. The pool can rise above the top of the flood pool in systems where the outlets are controlled or uncontrolled.
The zone above the top of the Flood Zone is referred to as the surcharge zone. In systems where there is a gated spillway, the top of the Flood Zone often corresponds to the top of the spillway gates in the closed position, but this is not always the case. As the pool rises to the top of the spillway gates, the gates are raised creating additional storage above the flood pool while also increasing releases. This is referred to as an induced surcharge operation. This topic is covered in further detail in other posts on this blog.
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