Water Release Article - Taneycomo

[Phil Lilley]

This has been a very wet spring for us and most of the Midwest. We have been spared the deluge that areas like south-central Oklahoma, north and south Texas and other isolated parts have seen, but we've had our share of water.

A series of rains have dumped up to 12 inches of rain in the White River Basin over the past month. That has left our lakes, starting with the upper lake, Beaver Lake, high to the point of having to release water through flood gates to maintain safe lake levels.

Beaver Lake crested at about 1,130 feet, which is considered the top of its flood pool. The U.S. Corps of Army Engineers (operator of the dam) will release whatever is needed to keep the level of that lake below 1,130 feet, which is what operators have been doing. Beaver is dropping at a rate of four inches per day and releasing about 11,000 cfs of water.

Table Rock Lake is at 919.5 feet and rising. The Corps is releasing a little less than 16,000 cfs through two turbines and 10 flood gates presently. The tailwater lake level is 711 feet, which is 10 feet higher than when they're not running any water. This is about a foot higher than if all four turbines were running.

The unofficial forecast (my best guess) is that Beaver Lake will run water for another three to five days, then shut down. This will give Table Rock a chance to catch up. Table Rock will run the present flow until its lake level drops to about 917 feet which may take up to 10 days to two weeks, assuming there's no additional rainfall.

Water temperature is a big concern for us here on Lake Taneycomo because trout are a coldwater species. Rainbows are known to survive in temperatures up to and exceeding 77 degrees, but they stop growing at 73 degrees. Low oxygen content in warmer water also contributes to stress, but I don't think it's an issue here. From what I've read, brown trout can take the heat better than rainbows so they should fair better.

The water coming over the flood gates from Table Rock is about 70 degrees and the water flowing through the turbines is about 44 degrees. Because of the location of the gates versus the turbines at the dam, the warmer water flows down the south side of the lake, and the cold water the north side. At first, this water doesn't mix well because of the density of each but as it flows down lake, it does mix. For example, at our dock the water temperature is 57 degrees.

It might go without saying, but I'll say it anyhow -- we've been finding most of our fish hanging from the cold side to the middle, with very few on the warm side.

One thing we're seeing run through our lake with this warmer water is the bug population absolutely loves it!! We're finding rainbows all the way to the Branson Landing with scuds (freshwater shrimp) in their bellies. And our midge hatches in the evening are massive!! I've never seen anything like it, except maybe on the tundra in Alaska during a big noseeum hatch (which is no fun at all!!).

Higher, faster water isn't something that should be taken lightly. We emphasis boating safety when checking out boats and are requiring renters to wear life jackets, at least when they leave our dock. The law does not require you to wear a jacket if you are over seven years old -- only to have it accessible -- but it would be smart to keep it on if you're the least concerned about being in such water conditions.

We are also demonstrating how to dock a boat in current. It's actually pretty easy if you take your time and let the engine on the boat do all the work. If you try to "shoot" the stall, you will crash and do damage to the dock, the boat and possibly your passengers. We have a Youtube video online showing the safe and proper way to dock a boat in current.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcz08fjsDJQ

Watch Your Wake!!! Most people who boat rarely look behind their boat them to see what kind of wake they're throwing. Did you know you are RESPONSIBLE for your wake and the damage it might do? Bigger boats, deep V hull boats can throw huge wakes when coming out of the hole or when running at slow speeds. These wakes could swamp a smaller boat or flip a kayak well after you're gone up lake, leaving people in the water. It happens. It's happened twice this past week! Thank the Lord, no one was seriously hurt.

Last but not least, don't forget your boating safety license. In Missouri, any person born after January 1, 1984 is required to have a boating license to operate a boat. If you're planning on renting a boat in Missouri, get a license! The state of Missouri recognizes other states official boating license so if you have one, you're good. There is a one-time day license we can issue for a non-Missouri resident.

**Official Email today (6/1/15) from USCE - Little Rock. WHITE RIVER SYSTEM. All lakes remain in their respective flood pools and are rising after the weekend rain. Downstream stages continue to restrict releases to firm power from Bull Shoals and Norfork. The two most critical projects are BV and TR with less than 0.5" and 3.0" of runoff storage remaining in their flood pools. No rain Sunday night. Beaver is releasing 11.2k cfs, the pool has crested and we will shut back to two units at nameplate sometime today. Table Rock is releasing 15k cfs; Table Rock may not exceed 920' since inflows are not rising, however if we reach 920' we will increase released to 20k cfs.

[rainbow]

Phil, for my last trip I bought a tournament auto inflate and never took it off while on the boat. Couldn't even tell I had it on. So listen to Phil boaters that fast water can be dangerous and only takes a nano second for an accident to happen.

[Gatorjet]

Phil, for my last trip I bought a tournament auto inflate and never took it off while on the boat. Couldn't even tell I had it on. So listen to Phil boaters that fast water can be dangerous and only takes a nano second for an accident to happen.

I have an auto inflate from Bass Pro. Very comfortable, and you forget you have it on. More than once I've left the boat, and walked up to the room, or office still wearing it.

The only down side is the price of the recharge kit. About thirty bucks. I learned early on, after a replacement or two, to not store it in the boat. Under the boat cover the humidity and heat can be enough to trigger it. So I have a "boat bag" I keep it in when not in use, and bring it in the garage instead of leaving it in the boat when put in storage.

[Dylan Cluver]

The wife and I took a drive and ended up at beaver dam. I was really surprised to see no generation going on at all.

[rainbow]

I have an auto inflate from Bass Pro. Very comfortable, and you forget you have it on. More than once I've left the boat, and walked up to the room, or office still wearing it.

The only down side is the price of the recharge kit. About thirty bucks. I learned early on, after a replacement or two, to not store it in the boat. Under the boat cover the humidity and heat can be enough to trigger it. So I have a "boat bag" I keep it in when not in use, and bring it in the garage instead of leaving it in the boat when put in storage.

Thanks for the tip Gator. Mine is still in the boat in the shed and it does get hot in there. I'll bring it up to the house today. I kept mine in our cabin and put it on when I went down to the dock and took it off when I came back to the cabin. It was hot that week and it did not bother at all to have it on. I have never set mine off so have not had to rearm. I hope mine never gets set off and that I only wear it and don't use it.

[Phil Lilley]

The wife and I took a drive and ended up at beaver dam. I was really surprised to see no generation going on at all.

Corp said they'd shut it down when it hit 1129.