skeeter

Perhaps if the Corp wouldn't shut down three generators at night ( see latest outflow report ) they could hold the lake level without resorting to the floodgates again. And while I'm thinking of it, I sure hope all the electricity generation caused by the high waters is being used in the grid and not just run into the ground. It sure would save a lot of CO2 emissions from the coal fired gen plants. As for beer prices and rice growing on the Arkansas Grand Prarie region.....the last three years the rice growers have been screaming about lack of water in their "tanks" for paddy flooding due to the ongoing drought and the decline of the aquifer they pump out of . So they were building a pumping station on the White to remedy that situation. Then some guy swore he saw an Ivory Billed woodpecker right in the region where the pumping station was going in. Guess what happened....all construction was stopped by the Feds due to the noise from the electric powered water pumps might disturbed the "phantom" woodpecker.....that has never been seen again. Beer and food costs in general are rising and will become a major concern due to increased costs of oil/diesel and the Ethanol scam. Less land planted in barley in the grain belt up North due to high corn prices has resulted in doubling and tripling the per bushel cost of barley, the world hops supply is at an all time low vs. demand and now rice is going through the roof. MO State legislature is considering repealing the law requiring 10% Ethanol in all gas sold in the State. Seems like some of the legislators raise livestock and have seen their feed bills increase drastically because of their "mandate".

Nice Fish ! Even more nice, he released it. Must have been a pretty good fight for a man of 84 ! I'm wondering if the taxidermists do a better job with the "Silver Kings" these days ? I've yet to see a mount that does justice to the beauty of these fish. Understandably, they just cannot seem to capture the reflectivity of their scales and when you get one alongside the boat they are almost mirror-like they are so bright. The 150 I had done in 1983 was a huge disappointment when it was uncrated. Thanks for posting.

Mr. Babler, with utmost respect, you sir, have hit the nail squarely on the head and this problem needs to be addressed in the worst possible way. This is ruining sport fish populations all over the Country and not just here. How utterly asinine to pull a spawning female off a bed and transport for miles to the "weigh in " to be supposedly released alive. There is big money involved here and anytime you encounter that it seems to always go their way. Only when the fishery is ruined or seriously depleted will the pressure ease up. Stupid, stupid greedy people. Measure the length and girth of the fish, if you must pull them off their beds, at the boat, record it and let them go right there and require a digital picture be taken, those cameras are inexpensive enough now, to control cheaters. And a hearty thank you for speaking out on this issue.

Strongest quake since the 5.2 in 1968. If memory serves that one was epicentered in S. Illinois also. The rumbling noise was pretty strong too. Reminded me of when the military used to break the sound barrier over STL in the 1950's and the resounding BOOOM that shook everything, this one just lasted longer and was a lot deeper. Odd this should come from the Wabash fault zone when all you hear and read about is New Madrid.

Just Wondering.....any relation to Charlie ??

It appears the lake " MAY HAVE " crested at 0400 hrs today at 933.25 which is a new all time record. Beaver is finally dropping slightly too so maybe the worst is over. MAYBE!!! _________________________________________________________________________ Table Rock Lake Top Flood Pool: 931.0 White River Top Power Pool: 915.0 (TRZM7) Bottom Power Pool: 881.0 Turbine Time Elevation Tailwater Release Generation Date CS/CDT (ft-msl) (ft-msl) (cfs) (mwh) __________________________________________________________________________ 10APR2008 1800 929.08 718.13 14576 227 10APR2008 1900 929.25 718.17 14591 230 10APR2008 2000 929.40 718.14 14599 229 10APR2008 2100 929.49 719.31 14572 229 10APR2008 2200 929.49 720.83 14627 229 10APR2008 2300 929.50 721.55 14717 228 10APR2008 2400 930.02 721.84 14716 231 11APR2008 0100 930.23 721.92 14716 227 11APR2008 0200 930.48 721.95 14725 230 11APR2008 0300 930.72 722.08 14717 228 11APR2008 0400 930.92 722.08 14752 230 11APR2008 0500 931.11 722.14 14707 230 11APR2008 0600 931.38 722.17 14718 228 11APR2008 0700 931.60 722.16 14713 ---- 11APR2008 0800 931.75 722.17 14730 ---- 11APR2008 0900 931.94 722.16 14605 ---- 11APR2008 1000 932.03 722.19 14581 ---- 11APR2008 1100 932.27 722.23 14599 ---- 11APR2008 1200 932.48 722.30 14600 ---- 11APR2008 1300 932.61 722.28 14560 ---- 11APR2008 1400 932.73 722.34 14588 ---- 11APR2008 1500 932.88 722.33 14572 ---- 11APR2008 1600 932.92 722.36 14599 ---- 11APR2008 1700 932.95 722.42 14597 ---- 11APR2008 1800 932.98 722.36 14577 ---- 11APR2008 1900 933.05 722.36 14587 ---- 11APR2008 2000 933.09 722.39 14601 ---- 11APR2008 2100 933.13 722.39 14582 ---- 11APR2008 2200 933.14 722.31 14583 ---- 11APR2008 2300 933.17 722.45 14587 ---- 11APR2008 2400 933.19 722.41 14587 ---- 12APR2008 0100 933.20 722.33 14575 229 12APR2008 0200 933.22 722.41 14582 ---- 12APR2008 0300 933.23 722.36 14599 ---- 12APR2008 0400 933.25 722.33 14614 ---- 12APR2008 0500 933.23 722.31 14588 ---- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nope, I saw it too. For a split second I was thinking the worst.

The last hourly level recorded by their automated recording and reporting system was at 0100 hours 4-11-08 and it showed 930.23 msl. Can only assume their equipment broke or got jammed up with driftwood or something similar. I'll bet they have it repaired later today so their hydrology guys can do their much needed calculations. On a good note I see where they have successfully begun to lower Beaver, not much, but any amount helps.

Anyone know if the other Public Marina's on Table Rock are closed and inaccessible like Baxter is ? Been over two weeks now and gonna' be a lot longer. Thanks.

The reason for the "ominous music " on the National Geo program is these Snakehead fish are nothing but bad news. If you think the Asian or Bighead Carp is a problem in our major rivers the snakehead is about 1000 times worse. All the Asian Carp eats ( we think ) is plankton and algae, the snakehead is a carnivore that is voracious for anything else that swims. They can breathe or gulp air like certain gar species and have this nasty ability to be able to cross short distances of dry land by using their pectoral fins to sort of "walk" or "slither" across the ground. If they get into our waters you can kiss your fishery good-bye as they will out-compete and out-eat anything else. The morons who released them should be prosecuted and locked up.

OK Phil, having let the cat out of the bag about a problem at Beaver how about sharing with us what that problem is ? I've heard many stories about the "leaks" at BS coming out of the bedrock downstream but never heard anything about Beaver. You would think that would be the most researched and safest dam on the River chain as it was the last one built. Thanks.

NWS Springfield office is warning that a dangerous flooding event is setting up. Saturated ground, creeks full to banks and more heavy precip. coming. Look's like Capt. Don's long range weather info. is coming true with heavy rain Thurs/Fri and more Sun/Mon. It all depends on where it falls and for how long. Makes you appreciate why the Govt. built the White River chain of Lakes back in the day.

Patfish, Well, that would be OK except the water running on the top of the shelf rock under the yard hasn't quit yet and if you try and walk in the yard we're sinking over our shoe tops, it's that soggy. Can't recall the last time I saw this and I think a lot of it is from previous owners importing topsoil. We're just hoping that with the continuing rainfall the topsoil doesn't slide right off the underlying shelf rock and do a mudslide down the hill. We need some of those sunny, warm windy days with winds out of the SW to help in drying out and warming up the lake. More rain coming today and tonight and Wed. into Thurs. but it looks like results of frontal passage(s) and not a stalled out front with overrunning moisture aloft like the big one(s).

Patfish, I was riding my ATV through Baxter Campground last Saturday and the Park gatekeepers had just arrived for the season. The lake was almost three feet higher then and the lower sites on the West end of the point, and the sites on the North edge of Hwy. "H" were under water. The metal poles the Corps installed for campers to hang their Coleman lanterns on on the North side of "H" had about one foot visible above the water level and all roads leading to the water's edge were blocked with narrow orange plastic sawhorse barriers with signs on them stating " keep out " signed by the Corps of Engineers. It didn't matter whether the roads were in the campground, Hwy "H" itself, or leading to the dock or steep launch ramp, all were blocked with those barriers. The road to the launch ramp was about four feet deep and completely impassable, the road to the boat dock was about two feet deep and only the very last row of parking in front of the dock's gasoline storage tanks was out of the water. The public dock was inaccessible with the end of the access ramp about 70 to 80 feet from the shore. While I was there, two local fishermen with an 18' jon boat set up for fishing drove in and kicked the boat off their trailer at the end of "H" and went out fishing. That's a very gradual slope to the water there and even though they had a flat bottomed aluminum boat had to submerge the rear axle of their pickup to get into deep enough water to float the boat. I rode back down about three hours later and noticed those guys had a citation from the Corps under their windshield wiper ! Why the entire campground would be closed is beyond me as the sites with electric are well up the hill and should never be affected by high water. I'd keep checking with the Corps before giving up hope for the middle of May. I read Capt. Don's post about a long range prediction of 6- 10 inches more by next weekend and can only hope that forecast is incorrect but short term we are supposed to get several inches more Sunday and Monday with light rain coming down as I type this.

Good luck at finding a useable ramp. Everything at Baxter is under many feet of water and the Corps has orange sawhorses at all the roads leading to the water with signs on them saying to keep out. Saw some guys launch an aluminum john boat with fishing seats in it at the end of Hwy. "H" and about three hours later the Corps had a citation stuck under their windshield wipers. Don't make the mistake of submerging your rear axle under the water trying to launch as most have breathers on them and will suck in cold water. Just saw two boats go past the house wide open ( must be a small tournament) despite all the debris floating in and on the water.

--------------------------------------------------- Just a heads-up that if anyone you know of is plannning travel on I-44 between Springfield and St Louis from now through the Easter weekend I would suggest they check with MoDOT first. Driving West yesterday at 4:30 P. M. I just did get across the Gasconade River at the 131 mile marker previous to the Interstate being shut down in both directions because the River was coming over the road with strong current on the flats East of the River bridge. The Eastbound lanes were already shut down and the left lane of Westbound was underwater and then it came up some more. That may have been the flood crest but I kind of doubt it, probably too early on a river that size. In addition I almost guarantee I-44 will close at highway 141 in St. Louis County sometime Friday at the 272 mile marker as the crest on the Meramec River at Valley Park is projected to come within 1/10 of a foot of the record crest of 1982 and the Interstate went under about three feet of water back then. Since '82 the Fed's built a new $49 million levee around Valley Park that is going to push all the flood water over to the Interstate side of the Valley. There is one sure way to get around this closure and that is to exit at Grey Summit on Hwy. 100 which avoids the River crossings completely. Watching Table Rock come up I wonder just how high it's gonna' get ? Forecast is 931 MSL and that put's it at the top of the flood gates which I hear are all now all wide open. Sure glad I'm not a dock owner. There are trees floating in Big Indian and the White that are the size of large cars. Be careful out there and remember some of these snags are sub surface and you can't see them and you DON'T want to be in the water at these temps.

SKMO, got in late in the afternoon. Baxter Dock is closed and inaccessible with the water up (last night ) to the top row of parking in their lot. The Corps has a sign posted at the access road to the dock off "H" closing the area. Hear the crest isn't due until Sat. so it's gonna' get higher !!! Saw your pics of the 86 bridge, awesome, thanks for posting. Read my post about the drive down from STL on the " General Angling Discussion" . Gotta' get out, if I can find a useable ramp and flip a jig into the junk floating at the backs of coves.

It's going to be critical that if there is a fast warm-up while the water is still high and if the fish go on their beds that the Corps maintain the lake levels and not expose the nests. Since they have all 10 flood gates open I'd say that right now the last thing on their minds is the spawn but it should still be weeks off. Brownies and the Kentuckies go first followed a few degrees later by the largemouth. Early next week's forecast is for below normal temps as another Canadian high pressure moves in so who knows, at this time of the year, just what will happen.

SKMO. Gotchya' on which side of "H" you launch on. If what Phil is reporting about 10 flood gates being open at the dam, there ought to be a VERY noticeable current for your lee side of the points stategy. That's an excellent strategy. With all the visible and sub surface debris coming in it ought to be hard to get the boat on plane for safety's sake. 921.76 and rising is the latest this A.M. Might run across you if you're out tomorrow. Same boat ( a little older ) as yours if you recall the morning of the foggy Ranger tournament off the campground point.

Like I posted over in another thread, what happens to the hatchery if it goes over the new spillway ? Not aware of the MSL reading where it does go over the spillway but that would seem like it would be disaster for the hatchery down below. Latest lake level on the National Weather Service is 921 and rising so it can go up another 10 feet and then lookout.

Sure hope for all you trout anglers that the new spillway at TR dam doesn't get a tryout. It lools like that could spell disaster for the SOH Hatchery if it happens. Pretty dumb design IMHO but they claim it was necessary. It's gotta' stop sometime!!!

Thanks for your reply. Not sure this rain is going to help all THAT much but I experienced kinda' the same situation after the much colder Winter of '77-'78 when most of the lakes along the AR-MO border froze almost bank to bank except on the main channel and then it got close in places. Had a huge threadfin shad die off and then a 3-4 " rainfall at 65-70 degrees the last weekend in March '78 when a large warmfront blew in. When the warm water runoff hit the area lakes all the crawdads came out and everything in the lake was up on the banks eating them as there wasn't much else left. This year's situation isn't as extreme as that Winter but somewhat similar and should make some difference...... Maybe ! Guess we're all going to find out since once the rain is gone the weather forecast looks pretty decent.

Hey SKMO, good to hear from you again. Did they fix the courtesy dock at the Baxter launch ramp yet ? My daughter is bugging the heck out of me to take her fishing and I'm wondering if the rain you're getting in the area is a warm or a cold rain ? This time of year after a cold winter a warmer vs. a cold run-off can make all the difference ( maybe ). Anybody else local care to chime in I'd appreciate it. Thanks much.

No, not "finally" ! This is the third 8 inch plus storm since December and more to come tomorrow. Plus two ice events and one sleet event. Table Rock is possibly going to get it tonight and tomorrow and then it's coming our way. The nice thing here is it melts between storms unlike Chicago.

Come on up to St. Louis. We got 12 inches yesterday where I work and where I live. Wife and I spent three hours digging my truck INTO the driveway so I could get off the street and park. 25 miles West as the crow flies they got less than an inch. Go figure ! Time for winter to be over. Al Gore, what the hell happened to your Global Warming ?