Flood gates

[LD Fisher]

I know the COE is trying to do a good job (I think) managing the levels, but after 5 months of frustration, I just had to get the rant out of my system! ?

[Nitroman]

Now I understand. Government controlled = " NO COMMON SENSE & NO LOGICAL THINKING " = another  " FUBAR " !!!!!!!

[mixermarkb]

I do think the corps has subtly changed their water management plan in order to hold a little more water in the lakes for power, even though they say they haven't.

We have always had big spring rains, and yet Bull going to full pool just wasn't a thing, now it seems like a regular deal. I don't doubt that climate change is having an impact, the scientists all say that weather events will get more and more extreme, so even though this tracks with what they say is happening, my gut still says lake level management has changed a little bit as well. 

I'm just glad the lakes were a little low this winter, wether by design or by Mother Nature. Had we been at full pools like in some winters in recent history, we would already be in a serious flood situation, without the extra rain that's forecast for this week.

[Guest]

It looks like they backed off the forecasted rain totals. 3-6" is more likely than 10" armageddon

[jcioni]

According to local weather forecast, another 6-9" by this weekend.  Bummer.

[vernon]

13 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

Couple of things...

I don't know who KY3 talked to (I doubt anyone at the Corps) but there's 3 units running and to make up for the 4th unit they are running 5 flood gates equaling 4 units - 13,400 cfs.  They are not running water in anticipation of rain coming.

OK... you say you want the Corps to release lots of water because of the coming rain.  How much?  My ramps are within 18 inches of going under.  Close my dock?  Other docks?  There's houses that flood in Branson if they run too much more water.  Flood those houses in anticipation of rain coming?  And if it doesn't rain, Corps gets racked over the coals, this time by the higher ups because they flooded someone's home for nothing.

My dock?  I'm willing to make the sacrifice.  But wash my dock away?  

It's a no win situation but I understand and agree with the present policy.  And right now I'm saying that even though my heart is in my stomach, seeing the forecast.  

 

Well stated Phil. When people's property, homes and even their very lives are on the line "common sense" is not a very reliable mechanism. 

Whether or not someone can conveniently access their dock upstream isn't much of a reason to flood someone out downstream. 

Balancing act is putting it mildly for sure. 

The best of luck to you as this plays out. You are in a most unenviable position. 

[Phil Lilley]

The bulk of the rain is tracking south and east of our watershed right now.  NW Ark is getting rain but it's not as bad as it could be.

I'm hoping with the rain events being 3 days apart, the Corp will start moving water through the system as the lakes rise and avert another 2016 flood. 

All it takes is the main line of rain to move 10-20 miles to the east to miss the White River watershed, although someone else (south and east of us) is going to get it.

[Flysmallie]

14 hours ago, LD Fisher said:

We would all benefit if they could find a way to anticipate events like this. 

If trained meteorologist can't do it I don't think the COE is going to be able to do it. If they started dropping the lake in anticipation and it didn't rain everybody would be all upset about that.

[vernon]

35 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

If trained meteorologist can't do it I don't think the COE is going to be able to do it. If they started dropping the lake in anticipation and it didn't rain everybody would be all upset about that.

Bingo. It's pretty much a "lose, lose" proposition from the COE's perspective. 

Especially when you factor in the hand tying, bureaucratic meddling of congressional legislation that is entirely driven by lobbyists and political agendas.