Dangerous Conditions

[vincel]

That is just scarry....it seems to me with peoples lives at stake they would have some sort of interlock where the gates couldn't open unless the horn was sounding. That couldn't be too hard to install. You would also think the horn would have to sound for a given period of time before the gates were opened????

[Hogs on the Fly]

sadly this situation is a reflection of the "creatures of habit" syndrome. I often wonder what type of dramatic casuality it would take to stimulate changes... although some have already happened...

Best,

LB

[Thom]

I almost went under at the same spot one late morning. I heard the horn but chose a spot ot walk out with a deep hole between the shore and my location. I was up to my armpits before i got to shore with a little help from a taller guy that helped me. If you are wading parallel with the shore that is easy to do. When the fishing is good it is easy to get distracted.

[BFTMASTER]

I don't get why the horn is not automatic when the gates open? How are would that be?

[gotmuddy]

I don't get why the horn is not automatic when the gates open? How are would that be?

the horn should sound before the turbines start

[jdmidwest]

Where do we draw the line on how much the government has to protect us from endangering ourselves. If I recall, there are signs at all accesses that the river may rise suddenly due to generation. All who fish tailwaters know, the river rises suddenly and gets dangerous.

If you saw the water rising and felt that it may be dangerous to cross, why did you attempt it? Why not wait till the boats start running and get a ride across the river? If you were fishing Rim Shoals, would you have heard the horn?

Bottom line is, you are responsible for your own safety. You can not blame it on a SW Power employee, faulty equipment, or the guy across the stream failing to let you know the water was coming up. The horn is a courtesy, we all know what will happen when they turn the water on. I always used a marker stone and kept a watch on it.

[Thom]

QUOTE "Bottom line is, you are responsible for your own safety. You can not blame it on a SW Power employee, faulty equipment, or the guy across the stream failing to let you know the water was coming up. The horn is a courtesy, we all know what will happen when they turn the water on. I always used a marker stone and kept a watch on it."

Good point JD! I always look for some rock or marker and keep an eye on it. Even then not a good idea to wade out too far at the BS dam tailwater on the White ...it comes up really fast sometimes

[rhondafish]

Agree with Thom...you gotta pay attention. I have an old article an=bout White River...from Field and Stream I believe that points out the White River is one of the Ten most dangerous in the United States.

You gotta know what you're doing and always pay attention to what's going on around you.

I've picked up many a wader at Wildcat Shoals in my boat that "Thought he could wade across" when the water was coming.

No horn down there...and these folks didn't some how "feel" the water or th"see" debris floating down.

To a person they all remarked when we got them to the landing, "How surprised they were at how fast the water came up."

And just 'cause you got a boat..don't think you can relax either.

[jdmidwest]

And there is always the path up the other side, over the dam, then down to the parking lot. It is a hike, but alot safer than trying to cross a raging river.

[MattTucker]

I was out yesterday on the White River with a client. The fishing was great until the wind really started to howl at over 20 mph, which was approximately 1pm. We all know, "Water conditions are subject to change". As we were throwing Anna Ks down stream, about 300 or 400 yards from the dam, someone yelled out, get out, they are running water. Due to the wind, it was impossible to here the generators turn on. NO HORN!!! We managed to walk out supporting each other, my client was shorter than I, the water went over her waders.

Not trying to be as harsh as this sounds, but I am a little surpirsed by your suprise. I assume you are a guide, based upon your "client" comment. If you are a guide, then you should have known better than to simply wait for a horn and you should know to never trust a horn, a whistle, or a phone call when it comes to river levels on a tailwater in Arkansas. Always trust your surroundings and your own senses (there is also a pretty reliable phone network of guides on the river when the water comes up). I am glad you got out ok, but you got to keep your eyes, ears, and senses open for the protection and safety of your client when on stream. If something would have happened to your client, it would have been on your hands and not the corp.

All that being said, it happened to me but luky for me it happened to me on my first trip to the White almost a decade ago, and I was out at Wildcat when the water came up. I managed to "river float/hop" back to the access and back my truck out of the river before it came up much further. Since then, i always have an eye on the water conditions.

--Matt Tucker