Drought impacts water levels at West Virginia lakes, waterfalls

FAYETTE/BRAXTON COUNTIES, WV (WOWK) – The ongoing drought is taking a toll on water levels in the Mountain State.

On Tuesday, WOWK 13 News told you that the ongoing drought had cut the boating season short at Summersville Lake due to lowering water levels. On Wednesday, WOWK 13 News crews stopped by Sutton Lake where the drought is also taking a toll on the water levels.

Right now, Sutton Lake is below pool by about five feet, which is not good for boating. That drop usually doesn’t happen until after Labor Day.

It’s not just the lakes being impacted. Rivers and waterfalls are also seeing a drop in water levels. Cathedral Falls in Fayette County is still a beautiful sight, but nothing like the rushing waterfall visitors are used to seeing.

The waterfall is a must-see for tourists and for people trying to capture the perfect picture. But on Wednesday, the waterfall is more of a water trickle.

“I’ve been here a handful of times,” said Ryan Haupt, who was visiting Cathedral Falls on Wednesday. “I like to stop every time I’m driving past just to see how it’s doing, and we’ve been so dry that I couldn’t help but pull over and see how dry it was going to be today. And, this is certainly the driest I’ve ever seen it.”

Cathedral Falls drops 60 feet, making it one of West Virginia’s highest waterfalls.

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