City Of Branson News Release

[Phil Lilley]

With more rain soaking northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri the past two days, the Army Corps of Engineers has again opened the gates of Table Rock Dam to release water downstream into Lake Taneycomo, but the amount is much less than two weeks ago when high water flooded homes along Taneycomo. Branson Emergency Management Director Carl Sparks was notified early this morning by the Corps that up to 28,000 cfs of water would be released through Table Rock Dam starting at 3:30 a.m. Two weeks ago, the Corps’ peak release reached 46,500 cfs.

Sparks said his department actually began notifying residents Wednesday evening along Shore and Sunset streets to be alert to news and weather reports throughout the evening concerning water release from Table Rock.

“I was contacted Wednesday afternoon by the Corps that additional rain throughout the night could cause the gates to open early Thursday morning,” said Sparks. “We felt it important to do a precautionary notification to those 28 residents along the lake, campers in the city’s RV Park and Branson Landing that the possibility exists for high water.”

When Sparks received word from the Corps early Thursday that the release was coming, he and his firefighters retraced their steps along the lakefront advising residents to voluntarily evacuate.

Of the 28 homes, about 10 are vacant due to restoration from the flood two weeks ago or out-of-town ownership. Sparks said of the remaining residents along the lake, only two evacuated while the rest stayed.

At the city-owned Lakeside RV Park, the first two rows of campsites have been evacuated and utilities shut off. The rest of the RV Park remains open.

All businesses and restaurants at Branson Landing remain open as the water is flowing more than 18 inches below the lakeside boardwalk.

“The water this time has not risen to the levels of two weeks ago” said Sparks. “No homes or businesses are flooded, and in fact, the water levels have not reached the back yards of the homes along Taneycomo. “The only structures underwater are the ramps leading to two public fishing docks at the RV Park.”

All businesses, theaters, attractions and restaurants that make Branson a popular vacation destination are not impacted by the increased water flow and are open their normal hours for the fun, recreation and enjoyment of visitors, according to Sparks.

Right now the Corps has kept the release at 28,000 cfs, and it will notify emergency management directors downstream of any additional releases.

“As always, we will monitor the weather and Corps releases throughout the day and take the appropriate actions to protect our citizens should the situations deteriorate,” said Sparks.