Officials Hear Complaints About Lake Levels

[Zack Hoyt]

By DAVID HOLSTED davidh@harrisondaily.com

DIAMOND CITY — For the past couple of years, people in Diamond City have watched as flooding on Bull Shoals Lake has threatened their businesses and community. On July 5, the Diamond City Community Center was flooded — with questions and complaints.

Representatives from the Little Rock District Army Corps of Engineers, as well as U.S. Congressman John Boozman, were in town to conduct a public meeting about the White River system and how it affects those who live and work alongside Bull Shoals Lake.

Many of the frustrations vented by the 50 or so in attendance centered around the perceived notion that Table Rock Lake received favored treatment from the Corps when it came to flood control.

“Almighty God’s hand is on Table Rock Lake,” said a disgruntled audience member. “It never loses its park. We just took it all (spring flooding). We shut down for Memorial Day and Table Rock Lake is doing fine. We feel like second class citizens to Table Rock Lake, because they don’t lose their campgrounds.”

Henry Himstedt, chief of hydraulics and technical services for the Corps, gave a quick “Water Management 101” for the audience, explaining the White River system and its series of dams, which consist of Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork. He described it as a “complex balancing system.”

Himstedt went on to say that, as approved by Congress in the 1930s, Newport, further down in the delta region, is the regulating station for the White River. Bull Shoals and Norfork are regulated by the conditions found at Newport.

When asked why the Corps doesn’t lower Bull Shoals Lake during the winter in anticipation of spring rains, Himstedt explained that there is never a guarantee that spring rains will come. The Corps knows, he said, that the area will get about 46 inches of rain a year, but in 2008, the year of the big flood, a third of that total fell in a six-week period.

However, in January of 2008, all the lakes on the system were down and officials thought the area was going into a drought, according to Himstedt.

He went on to say that Corps officials use 60 years of hydrologic records in determining how best to manage the lakes. The flood storage capacity of Bull Shoals Lake is greater than that of Beaver Lake and Table Rock Lake combined.

Deputy district engineer Randy Hathaway said the lakes were originally designed for flood control and hydroelectric power. Recreation, which is the livelihood of so many, was not intended.

“We didn’t design this town around recreation, but it’s here,” said Adrian DeSilva, owner of Diamond City Lakeside Resort. “Our little town is dwindling.”

Regarding the claim that Table Rock Lake escaped the 2008 flood unscathed, Hathaway said, “I assure you that Table Rock did sustain damage.”

In fact, he went on to say, 50 percent of Table Rock’s facilities were damaged in the flood.

Still, many were not convinced that Bull Shoals got a fair shake. To Himstedt’s explanation that the Corps balanced the water levels of the lakes, someone said, “I tracked it last year. Table Rock was not impacted. We didn’t get our park back until almost November.”

Hathaway told the audience that the White River system is operated according to a plan, which was last updated in 1998. Later, after the meeting, Jim Sandberg, the operations manager for Table Rock Lake, was speaking with Shawn Egan, the government affairs chairman of the Norfork Lake Chamber of Commerce. Sandberg explained that the plan was made by a committee of citizens that live along the system.

“I happen to know that Branson Landing was well represented on that committee,” Egan said.

During the meeting, Egan disputed what was being said.

“When you’re dumping water out of Table Rock to keep it at zero (flooding) and we’re flooded,” he said, “your operation is wrong.”

Egan’s statement drew applause. He then addressed Boozman.

“Congressman, this is b.s.,” Egan said. “This is the typical bureaucratic red tape.”

Boozman admonished Egan, saying that participants could disagree, but they would also be respectful.

“When I said b.s.,” Egan said, “I meant ‘bureaucratic shuffle.’”

Egan later asked what incentive the Corps of Engineers had to work with Diamond City. Citing a meeting his organization had with the Corps several months ago, Egan said the Corps had no intention of working with them on a local level. He was told that if an issue affected only Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes, that was a regional issue. The Corps would deal only with issues of national importance, Egan said.

Regarding the Lead Hill Camp Ground at Diamond City, which is maintained by the Corps of Engineers, Egan asked Boozman why the state couldn’t take it over. According to Boozman, money concerns prohibited that solution.

“The state of Arkansas can’t take care of what it’s got,” Boozman replied.

Egan continued.

“You say the state of Arkansas couldn’t do a better job than the Corps of Engineers?” he asked.

“I don’t think so,” Boozman said.

Hathaway said the Corps of Engineers has offered its parks to states, but only one, South Dakota, has accepted the offer. Boozman was very much in favor of public/private cooperation in running the parks.

Hathaway also informed the audience of increased minimum flows being planned for Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is working with the Corps. The AGFC has studied the impact that raised water level will have on Norfork and has provided more than $400,000 to modify or replace lakeside facilities. An agreement will be signed in Mountain Home next week. Hathaway said the lake level will be raised about 1.75 feet. The plan won’t go into effect until September, after the tourist season, Hathaway said, and will end by March.

A similar study will be done on Bull Shoals Lake by the AGFC, but Hathaway didn’t expect any increase in minimum flow for three or more years.

Egan did not fault any of the Corps representatives present at the meeting. He considered them good soldiers, just carrying out orders. He said the Corps in 2004 did not want to implement any minimum flow increases, but were told to do so by Congress.

Boozman and the Corps representatives were told that any rise in the lake level without raising the facilities at the park would kill Diamond City. Hathaway informed the audience that currently the Corps is limited in the land it owns around the lake.

Boozman encouraged Diamond City residents to work with Arkansas governor Mike Beebe, the state’s two senators and its representatives in coming up with a solution.

Hathaway thought the meeting was a productive one. He appreciated the chance to inform Diamond City residents on what the Corps was doing, and in turn, to hear some of their complaints and questions. He said he had gotten a number of ideas which he will take back with him.

“What I’m hearing is that you don’t like the White River management plan,” Hathaway said at the end of the meeting.

http://harrisondaily.com/news/article_c4869466-896d-11df-b11c-001cc4c002e0.html

[Wayne SW/MO]

I happen to know that Branson Landing was well represented on that committee,” Egan said.

It appears that a lot of people are misinformed. The landing isn't on a flood control lake and in fact Taneycomo has very little room for high water.

Bull Shoals has the highest capacity of the three flood control lakes on the White and Beaver the least. They have very little capacity to work with on Beaver so the bulk of the storage is on TR and BS, but all of the upper watershed in Mo and AR has to come through TR and it doesn't have the capacity of BS.

There have been times when even the three lakes haven't been enough and the White floods. There wouldn't be lakes if not for flood control, and no amount of complaining is going to change was is physically impossible. If there was no longer a need for flood control the dam busters would insist they be removed, and then what? Could they justify their reason to exist on power produced alone?

I don't like it, Forsyth community center and Shadow Rock Park flood quite often also, but the no amount of complaining is going to change what is, short of building another lake below BS and Norfolk on the White. Imagine the howl that would bring.

[Phil Lilley]

The Corp's in a no-win situation. When they do something right, they don't get much credit. When their guesses are wrong, they catch it. Who can predict the weather?

Flood 08 was something special. None of us will ever see anything like that again. When all the lakes fill up and it's spilling over the top, there's little control. Can't help anyone at that point.

As for resorts and parks- they were mostly built after the lake was flooded. They knew the risks. Nothing has changed since the dams were built. Lakes are managed about the same.

I do feel for the people that have businesses on BS but there's a reason I didn't look at buying anything down there. I didn't want to gamble.

[Zack Hoyt]

I can elaborate alot on the thought process of water management. I work with it on an everyday basis doing civil engineering. The diff is my mistake might cause excess water on the side of the road or a non-functioning drainage basin......theres affects alot more. The last few years have been a big fluke in the equations used.

The COE on more than one occasion has said they are not there for recreation purposes. Anyone who has tried to get a dock recertified or anything knows that.

Diamond City has had many meetings on this same subject many times. If you run your business on the basis of a natural resource......you are gambling. Floods, low water, etc are all added affects.

[catman70]

Perhaps the concerned citizens could build a levy wall with a gate around the sensitive areas whereby the gate could be closed and the water level maintained at a desired level during flood events.

Another problem solved!

[flytyer57]

When will humans ever learn that they cannot control mother nature?

Dams along the rivers to help prevent flooding downstream.

Levies along the rivers to keep back flood waters.

If you build in a flood prone area, expect to get flooded out and all of the money spent (wasted) by the USACOE isn't going to make a bit difference.