THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY ANNOUNCES POTENTIAL FOR LOWER LAKE LEVEL FOR TANEYCOMO

[Phil Lilley]

JOPLIN, MO – July 16, 2015 – The Empire District Electric Company announced today that lower lake levels may be possible for Lake Taneycomo beginning in the next several days.

During the recent high water flows at Ozark Beach (Powersite) Dam, damage occurred to the air bladder system that holds the steel gates at the top of the dam in an upright position. This automated system helps maintain the lake level at elevations up to 701 feet. It also provides a safety mechanism to release larger flows when necessary to aid in flood control.

Releases from Table Rock Dam will be slowing over the next several days to allow the storage balance between Table Rock and Bull Shoals to return to normal. The reduced flow may result in Taneycomo levels dropping to approximately 697 feet. To allow Empire’s Ozark Beach personnel to investigate the damaged system and make plans for necessary repairs, Bull Shoals will have to drop to approximately 680 feet. This could result in low levels on Taneycomo for an extended period.

In making the announcement, Kyle Slagle, Director of Water Operations, stated, “We apologize for the inconvenience to Taneycomo area dock owners and recreationists. We are working with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Southwest Power Administration and the Missouri Department of Conservation to ensure fisheries are protected during this period.”

Slagle continued, “Once lake levels drop to a point where we can access the air system for the gates, we will work to complete the repairs as quickly as possible to allow the lake level to return to normal.”

[Phil Lilley]

All this means is that-

#1 - We will start to see less and less generation on Taney, trying to allow BS to drop.

#2 - It's going to take a long time (probably a month) for BS to drop to 680 feet so this draw down will not occur any time soon.

[Otis Roostertail]

Any ideas on how this will effect boating?

[Travis Swift]

Any ideas on how this will effect boating?

I'm curious how it will affect getting into the trophy area after your report talked of the rocks blown into the lake during the high water at fall creek.

[Phil Lilley]

When the water is down and there is no generation: you'll have to be super careful to boat past Trout Hollow. If you're careful, you can get above Fall Creek (small motor, may be have to raise the motor). If you have a jet, you may get above the Narrows.

When the water is down and they're running water to keep the upper end watered: you should be able to go where ever as long as you're in the channel. The level will vary depending on where you are... the higher up you are (above Fall Creek) the higher the water level will be BUT it will be very fast.

Disclaimer: The bottom has changed since the last draw down (2011) so all bets are off on my description.

[Phil Lilley]

The rocks only blew out of the creek may be 70 feet. The lake is more than 400 feet wide there (all approximate).

[Terrierman]

Upper Taneycomo dropped a good two feet between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM yesterday. I was very surprised, to say the least.

[JestersHK]

Wow, although I never like to hear of problems or potential impact to businesses downstream, I am assuming we will have some nice wadeable fishing up in the trophy area this weekend?

[Gatorjet]

What was the level of Taneycomo when they had a draw down a couple years ago to install the bladders? Will 697 have any ill effect on your dock or the ramp at Cooper Creek?

[Phil Lilley]

Hate to tell you guys who want to wade this but...

Got word that Southwest Power Admin has given the ok to a MDC request that they run at least 25 mw (half unit) at all times.

Starting next week (or before that time) they will run no more than 2 units of water. This will let Bull Shoals drop to that 680 mark.

So the new flows will be between a half unit and 2 units for the foreseeable future.

At 25 mw, you can wade the tailwater as well as at Pointe Royale.