Flood Gates, June 16

[Phil Lilley]

This affects Table Rock's level too.

From the Corp:

16 June 2015 Update:

We will be opening our spillway gates at Table Rock this afternoon (approximately 2:00 PM). Our total release will be approximately 14.4k CFS (8 gates open @ 1' and 2 generators max power). Table Rock Lake's surface pool elevation is approximately 917.4 and rising. As long as Table Rock Lake's elevation is between 917 and 920 this operation will continue.

We are using spillway gates to evacuate flood storage because 2 generators are out of service due to storm related damages.

Table Lake Dam's current spillway/generator release is (8 gates @ 1' for a spillway release of 8.1k CFS and two generators max power releasing 6.4k CFS). Combined with hydropower, the total release will be approximately 14.5 CFS.

FYI - Beaver Lake is only 1' from the top of their flood pool and will likely start spilling into Table Rock Lake later today and/or tomorrow depending on the rain they receive there.

It is very likely that we will see 20.0k releases from Table Rock Dam later this week. I would ask each of you to monitor the lake levels and conditions at Beaver, Table Rock and Bull Shoals lakes to be fully aware of the Corps operations on this part of the White River System.

Jim Sandberg
Operations Project Manager
Table Rock Lake

[Champ188]

Heavy rains predicted throughout the watershed for both lakes the next couple of days. Prayers that no one suffers property damage or injury.

[dtrs5kprs]

Not to be the grump, but did it strike anyone else as odd that they shut the gates at Beaver after just barely getting it pulled down a week or so ago? Seemed like it was bound to cause a problem, and here we are. At least they made a little room in TR.

[Jason Essary]

I wondered the exact same thing.

[dtrs5kprs]

I wondered the exact same thing.

Glad it wasn't just me. It was like they managed to move a foot of water, had cake, and called it good.

[Ham]

Feeling kinda grumpy down here on the big flooded pond. I'm gonna have to fish Norfork today.

[Quillback]

Not to be the grump, but did it strike anyone else as odd that they shut the gates at Beaver after just barely getting it pulled down a week or so ago? Seemed like it was bound to cause a problem, and here we are. At least they made a little room in TR.

Yeah, hard to figure. I credit them with knowing what they are doing (I hope), but sure would like to hear the reasoning.

[Feathers and Fins]

I was wondering the same thing, they dropped it to 1128. 5ish and were happy, top of pool is 1120 seems they could have at least started dumping more 4 days ago when the track on all the forecast maps showed it to come over us. Got it down in preparation for this storm. After all isn't flood control their primary duty with these lakes?

[Phil Lilley]

That's been the pattern in recent years. They hold the lakes at certain levels and Beaver is 1128 or 29, Table Rock is 917. BS is whatever...

I would say they're holding that water for power... they don't want to waste it.

Some might say they're taking a big chance... and if we do get flooded, they'll be to blame. I don't hold that opinion. If you pick to live below a dam or on a river, you take the chance for high water. That includes me.

[Terrierman]

I think it has more to do with the Arkansas River than anything else.