Alabama Power this morning opened spillway gates and postponed its scheduled water level drawdown at Lay Lake in an effort to combat recent heavy rainfalls throughout Central Alabama.

The company opened the gates at the Lay Lake Dam on the Coosa River in eastern Shelby County along with several other dams along the Tallapoosa River.

“Alabama Power is working to maintain lake elevations at or below summer pool,” company spokesman Michael Sznajderman wrote in a press release. “People on or near these reservoirs should take necessary precaution and action to protect their interests.”

Alabama Power typically draws down water levels at Lay Lake every two years as a preventative measure to combat heavy fall and winter rains. Though the company originally was scheduled to begin the drawdown this week, it has postponed the water level decrease “until conditions allow rescheduling.”

“People with boats and other water equipment or facilities should always be alert to changing conditions on Alabama Power reservoirs, and be prepared to take the necessary steps to protect their property,” Sznajderman wrote.

Anyone with questions should contact Alabama Power at 1-800-LAKES11, or visit Lakes.alabamapower.com.