Dam Release

[navery]

does anyone know how to find out if and when thye are running water at powersite dam?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Are you talking about generation or the flow over the dam?

[Phil Lilley]

There's no way to know when they run water thru the turbines - no posted schedule like SPA and the Corp dams.

But you can watch what they run and when they run at Table Rock -- that water has to pass thru Powersite.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't know if it will help you or not, but Powersite is a 1 megawatt dam and can't take more than one Table Rock unit running. What the often appear to do is come to the dam when TR starts running, but before the water reaches the dam. when they do that they can run longer than what one would expect before water comes over the dam. I don't believe there is any demand on Powersite and they just use what TR runs to add to the grid.

I think the best fishing is often when they are running water through the turbine and none is topping the dam. I don't know what effect the high water will have this year, but given the length of time it was up I doubt there will be many trout below this year. That is based on a pure guess though.

[navery]

so if i understand you guys correctly, if they are running at table rock they will be running at powersite and even a little before? the reason i ask is because i am wanting to try to find some stripers after catching one in august when the water was high. i have talked to some others who think they might still be around just need to find them and most likely to find them at the dam when they are generating/running water through the turbines. being from north of springfield and fuel being so high i would like to do a little more than guess before driving down.

thanks again for all the info. i really aprreciate it.

[Phil Lilley]

Table Rock has been running water non stop for a couple of weeks. Unless they stop, water release over or under Powersite will continue. Watch the SPA site for Table Rock's schedule.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The striper bonanza generally happens in high water. I suppose if the population is changing so might the fishing, but i haven't heard of any being caught during normal years. If they are they're avoiding the rumor mill.