Water Management

[LWW]

Can anyone tell me the method of operation they use to control the waters for Table Rock, Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals. Who drains into who and what water bodies are the main contributors to the water levels?

Thanks.

LWW

[Phil Lilley]

They are all part of the White River Basin Watershed. the White River was dammed first at Powersite in 1907-8. Then Table Rock Dam in 1958, Bull Shoals and Beaver Dam followed soon after.

Beaver is the first in the chain- located in NW Ark near Fayetteville. Then Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals respectively. Norfork Lake is also in the watershed and enters the White River at Norfork, Ar.

Operation - 3 primary elements in this order -

1. Power Demand

2. Flood Control

3. Recreation

To be honest, #1 and #2 may be reversed but both are far above recreation consideration (fishing, boating).

The Corp and SW Power Admin. has to manage each lake in the chain to provide safe conditions for people living in flood plains below as well as providing power to customers/cities/regions. We can predict generation on present conditions and past performances but it's not an exact science by no means. We just take our best guess most of the time.

[LWW]

Thanks Lilley. That's what I needed to know.

LWW

[Wayne SW/MO]

Not to be picky, but Bull Shoals was next behind Taney.