Corp Decision

[Wayne SW/MO]

Its becoming obvious, at least to me, that the auxiliary gates are probably useless. They have nowhere to run the water too, and wouldn't have unless the abnormal rain was confined to the Table Rock and Beaver watersheds. Raising the dam, which I understand was the other option, and increasing the flood pool would have given them some options.

It seems that their backs are to the wall now, and if this isn't the 500 year flood, well?????

[Trav]

I was understanding that the AUX Spillway is for catastophic Dam failures only.

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[Phil Lilley]

Good point. When people REALLY understand what the aux spillway is about, the obvious question is why??? Can you guess how much MORE rain we'd have to get for there to be the possibility of using them? Although our gates have been opened to record levels, the percentage would surprise most people. I bet it's less than 5%. They let a 4 inch rain in the whole region thru with 5% of the gates open at Table Rock. - Alright, 10%, 20%... I concede I may be wrong on the % but I've made my point.

I'll try to find out what % and let you know.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I was understanding that the AUX Spillway is for catastophic Dam failures only.

?

I don't know if thats true or not, but I don't see how they could alleviate that much pressure, given the height.

So basically Phil, you're saying they haven't used much of the flood gates capacity? With that in mind the auxiliary gates become even more questionable. It would seem that opening them could seriously jeopardize the Bull Shoals dam, not to mention the downstream destruction from Branson to the Mississippi.

It seems to me, after watching the events the last few weeks, that they have no realistic purpose.

[Trav]

In effect, it is a "fleecing" of tax dollars, but if under non-flood situations there was a failure in Beaver Dam, it will serve as insurance for Table Rock Dams integrity. I am not saying I understand the philosophy behind its practicality for Table Rock can release enough water to put the Landing under 3 feet of water but IF there was a massive failure to Beaver the AUX will release a hypothetical water surge that might compromise Table Rock.

Im with you Wayne, it all does sound like building a Baseball Feild for Ghosts.

[tippet7]

I heard on the radio the other day that the floodgates open to something like 35 feet. The most they have been open is around 4 feet. So that is well below what the flow amount could be. I bet Table Rock lake would drop quick if those gates opened all the way.

[taxidermist]

The erosion the aux gates woould cause will be dramatic. for those who can remember the floods of 93, Milford Res. in Kansas cut canyones over 100 feet deep thru hard limestone exposing many fossils, same for Tuttle Creek.

The gates will open 35 or 37 feet at Table Rock.

Taneycomo is no where near the flood of the early 1970's we saw water in the Yacht Club in Hollister the trailers were all flooded and the buildings in Hollister south of the Yacht club, those buildings are where the wax museum started and an auto museum once were. We went down thru the south side of the lake where the new 65 bridge is, my wifes other grandfather had a home there in the 1970's she showed me where the water got up to, to the basement garage door.

Yea, I understand that resort have to have docks and be close to the water but why build a home you could loose?

So there could be another 10 feet or more water dumped thru Table Rock.

I dont know how much the gates were opened back then but it certainly was more than the past few weeks. Someone certainly has fouled the records on water release.

Raising the dam was a no-go due to the fact that to many people had built expensive homes next to corp property lines and the buy out was to much, to many people with money.

To bad they dont treat the people there like they treated the people along Buffalo River. i.e take what we offer or loose out totally. In the 1950's the government wanted the Buffalo for a lake and hydro dam, but were fought off.

Now with all the lakes full and nowhere to put the water, what next? People down around Mt View who built inthe flood plain are scared to death. Anytime the lakes are mentioned and the gates are threatened to be opened the wild rumors abound.

I have to wonder why would you build a home in a flood plain? Yea I have friends that did it and they claim its worth the risk, but now they worry. One friends place is still flooded and his flood insurance adjuster is stalling. Luckly he was able to get flood insurance just last summer, Izard County not Stone but his address in Mt View.

I guess I will get reemded over this post and maybe if we have that huge earthquake I too will be living in a flood plain when the house slides down hill. But still building in the flood plain and yea so it has not flooded like this since the 1970's or 1980's.

Must be something to the idea of the flood as the resort just above the bridge at Nrofork built on stilts and I have seen a nice home on rainbow drive out of Cotter on stilts, stilits make sense I see them in other flood prone regions.

John

[crappiefisherman]

With all this talk of problems with beaver dam, how bout this scenario.What if the defect in the dam was much closer to us, say Table Rock Dam.Im in the opinion that the auxillary gates wouldnt be opened unless the flood gates where open all the way.But what if they didnt open?What if we had the rain fall all in one week instead of two week spread?How fast would the lake fill then?I dont think powersite would have a failure as it is a glorified waterfall anyway.But if a defect in the eathen part of the dam would cause them to have to dump water fast.And that would be an event of catastrphic proportions in my opinion.Also building on the flood plain is a gamble that some take, kind of like those guys that keep getting houses blown away by hurricanes.Its not called a flood plain for no reason.I feel sorry for these folks for the loss but dont go griping to the corp because the house is full of water.Have a wonderful day..........

[Trav]

As an owner of a dock on lower taney, I dont think I would want to see the water much higher than it was last week. Another 3 feet and I very likely would see some serious damage since my dock sits right in the channel.

I am aware of the risks to owning structures on the water, guess thats why I never miss an insurance payment. I hope everyone else made the same steps as I and make sure your well covered for all acts off nature. Makes it alot easier to replace.