Danger at Table Rock Dam

[Old Stumbler]

Saturday morning Knee Deep and I were fishing below the Table Rock Dam enjoying a beautiful day. We observed a young couple and a small boy maybe 8 or 10 years old coming down the bank on the South side of the lake. Not your easiest stroll climbing over huge rocks and trees that have fallen over. The little boy kept getting further and further ahead of the adults maybe 75-100 yards. The adults didn't seem to be too alarmed only an occasional wait up I presume. We were very disturbed watching this scene develop in front of us. The gap got wider and wider. When the little boy got to the cable he just kept on going, going and going. He reached the gravel bar in front of the Dam and he kept on moving. Now he was on the concrete in the center of the Dam. Still they acted like they were on a tour of the place. The adults finally reached the gravel bar in front of the Dam. They too took there place gazing up toward the top of this rather large pile of concrete. I guess they were looking for cracks. Well no one including ourselves even bothered to hollar at them. Just wondering how secure our infra structure really is in this country when wondering soles can get that close to a very important land mark with absolutely no difficulty. After about 30 minutes of standing around under the Dam they finally leasurely begain moving back down the south side of the lake . We weren't alone as we observed this development and no Corp officials spotted them. Amazing to us. Must not be much security on the place. Is there a fine for fishing above the cable but no violation for sight seeing? Keep the lines tight and enjoy the fishing. Old Stumbler and Knee Deep's Saturday Observations.

[SilverMallard]

Well, if they weren't carrying large, heavy backpacks full of explosives, they weren't much threat to anyone but themselves. Do you know what it would take to breech that dam from an external explosion? A LOT!

[Rusty]

I don't think I would care to find out.

[KATroutman13]

A buddy of mine said that when he was fishing with a cousin, the cousin went to go up and touch the dam on Bull Shoals. He was quickly stopped and promptly written a $400 citation.

[Thom]

I was on the other side of the darn two summers ago and a group of scuba divers entered the water and proceded to dive up next to the darn just off of the steps by the highway. I really was concerned so I went into the office and the lady there told me there that anyone can get permission to enter the water there and scuba dive. I asked the group and an apparent instrutor came up and began to make fun of me saying do you think we are going to blow up the dam? They were all laughing that I was concerned. I later discovered that there is no background check made and no one really knows if all of the divers that are seen there are really with that group. I was also told that no one has ever checked if they had a permit which the lady at the CORP office told me they probally had.

So much for security. Yes a well organized group could just wait until one of these classes with permission entered and systematically place plastic explosives in strategic places near the shore anchors and breach the dam from miles away anytime they wanted later. Remind you of anything that happened in our recent history. I wonder how many dollars and lives could be lost?

[PowersiteProwler]

Intersting that I'm not the only one who had this concern run through their mind before.

I agree with all of you, (except Silver Mallard) it is a huge security issue. Take a dam, like powersite that was built I presume back in the teens or early 20's? You can take 1 look at it and see the kind of shape it is in, but it does still serve it's purpose. When you go up to the rock hole on the river run side, you can get right to the dam. There is a sign at the end of the road that is maybe 30 yards from the dam that says, "due to recent world events, no one is permitted beyond this point." What amazes me, that if someone was serious about taking advantage of an older dam like that, do they really beleive a sign will stop them? It too is easily accesible from both sides of the lake. I have a fishing buddy, and we've often discussed the shape of Powersite and how quickly a flood would be to River Run and the campers there if the dam ever breeched. (Lord willing we will never know) I guess we looked at it from more of a structal failure, then a violent act. But I have to say, this day in time nothing should surprise us, if people can hi-jack planes and fly them into buildings, they can do almost anything including the unthinkable!

It is shocking that something that could have such an impact on a large number of people is so accessible and vulnerable.

[Phil Lilley]

Powersite Dam- the top 4 feet is nothing more than plywood. One small charge on one 6x6 support and the whole wall goes or a big section of it.

Spooky stuff. Not sure it would really flood much downstream but it would give a boater a ride of his life!

[Knee Deep]

Has anyone not even thought what might have happened to the child or family if the horn had gone off? That was also one of our concerns.

[troutchaser]

Has anyone not even thought what might have happened to the child or family if the horn had gone off? That was also one of our concerns.

I rarely agree with Darwinian theory, but in this case it may have merit.

[Thom]

kneedeep:

I was at the grocery store just yesterday and observed a car with the windows rolled down. Inside were two children both A Baby and another that appeared to be younger that 7. No adult anywhere in sight. Don't young parent read the papers? It would been very easy to take the baby and been far away before anyone would know. There are literly thousands of missing children in this country.

Children raising children!