New COE water release layout

[netboy]

Just looked at the COE water release website and noticed they added 2 new columns. One shows the real time spillway release and the other shows real time total release.  I guess they are getting ready for some big time releases.  Much easier to see the whole picture now.

https://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/data/tabular/htm/bulsdam.htm

[mojorig]

They have been having trouble with their turbines at several of the dams, so they have been using the spillway to release water. I suspect they updated their site to capture those releases in an effort to better describe the overall release rate occuring at each dam.

The picture below shows how they had been handle the spillway releases. See the red message "ATTENTION: The project spillway is currently being used to supplement turbine releases. The spillway release is approximately 1,800 cfs (2 gates @ 1.0 ft). [Total Release = Turbine Release + Spillway Release]"

 

[Phil Lilley]

Problem is they don't keep that updated very well, esp on Beaver.  They've been running 11,000 cfs over the top but the app shows 0 release.  You can't tell unless you know how to read the tailwater level.

I got this email yesterday-

As you are aware, the lakes are high.  The four-lake system is above 80% full and rising, with less than four feet of flood storage remaining for Beaver, Bull Shoals and Norfork.  Downstream regulating stages are 10 feet above normal and rising as well.  We currently have no plans to increase releases from the lakes.  Doing so would require a deviation from the WCP and would be detrimental to our Flood Risk Management mission.  This is the reason we have a surcharge pool.  When rainfall occurs in the basin the runoff is estimated by the forecaster.  When enough runoff is forecasted to fill the flood pool, the surcharge may begin.   To get to a surcharge situation we would need around 1.5" above Beaver, 2" above Table Rock, 3" above Bull Shoals and 1" above Norfork. 

The current QPF estimate for Thursday - Tuesday is around 1.5"  widespread.  This would be enough to require Beaver and Norfork to spill somewhere around 10,000 cfs each depending on the timing and rate.  This amount could also drive Table Rock within 0.5 foot of surcharge and Bull Shoals within 2 feet.

I will send out another update after my call with NWS on Thursday.  By then we should have a better idea of total precip and timing of the storms.  Feel free to call if you have any questions.

[Phil Lilley]

I see they added it to the app - that's awesome.

[Travis Swift]

Good updates above Phil, thanks for posting.  

[mojorig]

Phil,

Are you receiving that update from Gabe?

[Phil Lilley]

I will shortly.... I bet.

[Travis Swift]

The pictures i've seen on facebook this week from powersite dam show that the level there isn't very far below taneycomo, what will happen if they open the flood gates on taney, will the two lakes basically become one?  

[Phil Lilley]

4 hours ago, Travis Swift said:

The pictures i've seen on facebook this week from powersite dam show that the level there isn't very far below taneycomo, what will happen if they open the flood gates on taney, will the two lakes basically become one?  

There's just a slight bump.

[Travis Swift]

didn't look like it would take much for the fish to swim back and forth if the levels come up much more?