Lake Wappapello Record Flood.

[jdmidwest]

Over here in my neck of the world, our lakes reached record flooding shortly after Easter Weekend. Lake Wappapello and Clearwater Lake came up fast and flooded out most campgrounds and ramps. Water is going down, but areas are still closed. Here is an article for those planning the weekend there over Memorial Day.

New bypass near Wappapello spillway to open this week

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 ~ Updated 10:56 AM

By Donna Farley ~ Daily American Republic

WAPPAPELLO LAKE, Mo. -- A new Route T bypass road is expected to open late this week below the emergency spillway at Wappapello Lake.

The road will not have a weight limit, but will have a reduced speed of 20 miles per hour, said Park Ranger John Daves.

It will be located along the Southside Spillway Access Road, which runs through the Blue Hole area. The road will be maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation, which is also conducting safety inspections prior to the opening, Daves said.

The road took about two weeks to construct and will be used at least until decisions are made regarding permanent repair of Route T, he said.

MoDOT officials have said it could take two years or more before the road is open again.

Traffic is routed now along Iron Bridge Road.

An approximately 400 foot section of Route T was destroyed when water overflowed the emergency spillway at Wappapello Lake earlier this month. The lake reached a record crest of 400.03 feet and saw discharges at more than 30,000 cubic feet per second.

The lake level had fallen to 386.68 feet by 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Water is dropping at about 1 foot per day, Daves said. A 10,000 cfs. release will be maintained until Wappapello Lake reaches a level of 380 feet.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to reopen recreation areas and campgrounds as water falls, and repairs can be completed, Daves said. All predicted opening dates and activities are dependent on whether or not the area receives a significant rainfall in the coming weeks, he added.

"This is going to be a slow recovery process," Daves said.

One campground, People's Creek Upper, is open at this time, on a first come, first served basis. People are also able to launch boats from the Sundowner parking lot, but parking is limited.

Access to the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center is open on the north side, where Route T crosses the dam. The area below the dam is also open. Both areas are only open during daylight hours.

The visitor center parking lot is open, but the center itself is closed. The space is being used as a temporary office for the corps, while sewer and phone/Internet service are restored at the main building.

The visitor center is expected to be open for Memorial Day weekend, Daves said. Redman Creek Recreation Area should also be open at that time, with access from a road which joins to the visitor center parking lot.

Redman Creek Campground East and West should reopen June 1, Daves continued, with business as usual, including reservations. He again warned this could change if a significant rainfall occurs.

Flood water had also receded past the white line on Route D by Thursday night, he said.