Flood Gates Open And The Buffalo Is Closed

[Danoinark]

From the Mountain Home paper...Baxter Bulletin.

FLOODING UPDATE: Water rushing from Norfork Dam spillways

By Bruce Roberts

"We're in reactive mode."

That was the comment from Tracy Fancher, operations project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Mountain Home office shortly before 11 a.m. this morning.

All 12 flood gates at Norfork Dam are still open 3.5 feet, as the Corps is trying to stabilize the lake level which soared to 581.32 at 10 a.m. this morning. Top flood pool is 580 feet. Before the flood gates were opened at 3 a.m. today, the Corps was running both generators, releasing approximately 5,500 cubic feet of water per second into the North Fork River. Now, with the two units still running and all 12 flood gates open 3.5 feet, water is rushing away from the dam at about 43,000 cubic feet per second. That's the equivalent to 18-20 generators running, Corps officials said, adding the worst may be yet to come.

Fancher said Bull Shoals Lake is rising very quickly, too. He said the "possibility exists" that both Bull Shoals and Norfork dams may have flood gates open at the same time in the next day or two. What that would mean for residents downstream is "there is the potential to see water in places we've never seen water before," Fancher said. The Corps also is watching Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River, which is expected to rise well above flood stage this afternoon to about 35 feet. Both streams feed into the White River.

While there are no official evacuations in place, Baxter County Sheriff's officials are recommending people along the White River to get to higher ground. Fancher said he would certainly advise people along the river to consider taking what belongings they can and get to higher ground.

Mountain Home received just over 4.5 inches of rain last night and this morning, according to the National Weather Service. The chance of rain throughout today has been reduced to 50%, a small silver lining at least.

Portion of the Buffalo River closed

HARRISON -- Supt. Kevin G. Cheri has closed the Buffalo River from Boxley Valley at the State Highway 21 bridge to the confluence with the White River to any vessel use or recreational activity, effective at 9 a.m. today, until further notice to ensure public safety during this current period of extremely high water.

"The river is in flood stage, moving very rapidly, with lots of large floating debris, and therefore is extremely dangerous for anyone to be on the river at this time," Cheri said. "This closure concerns only the river and area impacted by the hight water, and does not close the rest of the park."

"The river level and condition will be monitored by the National Park Service, and we will open the river just as soon as conditions will allow for its safe use," he said.

[taxidermist]

There was a 22ft rise at hwy 65 bridge but it did not reach the level by 12:00pm that it did in the last flood it fell about 12 -15 ft short.

Norfork this afternoon was dumping enough water to fill the Empire state building every 7 minutes and tabler every 11 minutes

At Norfork where you turn left into the parking lot by the launch area is where the water starts. Yep about fifty feet below the railroad tracks.

I have some pics I wll try to post later. At Ranchette the water was almost to the top of the ramp in the parking lot. it looked as if it would have been hiring eithe r earlier or last flood.

Water was muddy from Cotter up to Wildcat.

Crooked was nasty and up flwoing hard, maybe thei will wash out the lower end a bit.