Table Rock Is Turning Over

[Phil Lilley]

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1891" title="table-rock-lake-in-december" src="http://www.ozarkanglers.com.php5-24.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/lake-taneycomo/files/2011/12/table-rock-lake-in-december.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="271" />

What in the world does that mean?  And why is it a story posted on the Lake Taneycomo page???  Because, Taneycomo gets its water from Table Rock and when something happens on Table Rock, it affects Taneycomo!!

Every year Taneycomo goes through a period when the water it gets from Table Rock is low in dissolved oxygen.  It's not from pollution or anything man has done.  It's a natural occurrence in all deep lakes when the water separates into layers of different temperature and density.  It's called stratification.

Taneycomo gets its water from 130 feet below Table Rock's surface at the dam which stays relatively cool most of the year.  In the winter, the water is Table Rock throughout its depths, is the same temperature and density but as spring approaches and summer sets in, the water on top warms up and the colder water gets compressed down.  Cold water is heavier than warm water--you should have learned that in 8th grade biology.

The colder water towards the bottom starts to lose it's ability to hold oxygen and by the time fall hits, the water from about 150 feet down is almost void of dissolved oxygen.  This line creeps upward till late October when it reaches about 60 feet.  This of course encompasses the intake at the dam feeding Taneycomo.

Then how do the fish in Taneycomo survive?  The Corp injects liquid oxygen into the water they run into Taneycomo and keeps the oxygen levels high enough to sustain life.

So, now to the big change we've all been waiting for.  Table Rock Lake's turning.

With cooler temperatures invade our region, it slowly cools Table Rock's water.  Once the surface water drops below the water temperature of the bottom of the lake, the colder, surface water, which is colder. . . heavier. . . starts to sink pushing the water on the bottom upwards.  This causes a mixing affect and depending on how fast the surface water cools, this process could be a slow one, or a fast one.  Say, if the surface and bottom temperatures were the same and we got a huge cold front with lots of wind, the lake could violently flip in a matter of hours.  But generally it takes a week or more to totally turn.

What this means to Taneycomo?  Very high oxygen levels and cooler water.  This makes our fish very happy and they will show it by eating more, biting more.  it's a win for everyone!

[Danoinark]

Excellent explanation!!!

[Aaron J Scott]

I can't remember if I've asked this before--are all of the water intakes/releases for the four generators at the bottom of the dam? I assume they are, but I've never known for sure.

[Phil Lilley]

Yes- only one intake.

[D.T.]

Does Table Rock turning over cause a shad kill on the big lake and consequently dumping them into Taney? If so why? Why not other species of fish on Table Rock? I thought in the past that it was said that these two occurences were linked together. Sorry I know I asked this earlier but I did not see a reply.

Thanks, Dave

[scifi]

thanks, interesting read

[Jack Jones]

Excellent information. You really should write your own book on this area Phil.

[Phil Lilley]

Does Table Rock turning over cause a shad kill on the big lake and consequently dumping them into Taney? If so why? Why not other species of fish on Table Rock? I thought in the past that it was said that these two occurences were linked together. Sorry I know I asked this earlier but I did not see a reply.

Thanks, Dave

I don't think it does. I've never seen it. Shad kills are caused by cold water temperatures usually. We see them mainly in late December through April and sometimes May.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Stole my thunder.

[D.T.]

Thanks guys I wasnt sure. Since they have have happened within a months time of each other (turn over and shad kill) I guess I just thought for some reason they were related.

Dave