Tunnel Dam generating schedule?

[Conor]

I did down to Lake Niangua/Tunnel Dam yesterday from Leadmine and really liked this section, even with several miles of slackwater paddling leading into and on to the lake. This whole area is super cool and I was wanting to do it from below the dam to Lake of the Ozarks/Ha Ha Tonka. I understand that is about 12-13 miles but that if they are generating power at the dam, the 6-7 miles below the dam will be too low to float since that section is being bypassed by the powerhouse.

Water was spilling over the dam yesterday and the section below would have been easily floatable. I drove in this way and it looks like a super nice section of river that people likely don't float. This is a rugged and remote location for sure and you have to want to get there.

Is there a standard power generating schedule or site that tells you when they will be generating or not? I understand little to no water will be spilling over the dam when they are generating.

 

Conor

 

[Conor]

I just found this.  https://ruralmissouri.org/tunnel-dam/

Maybe they are no longer generating???

Conor

[fishinwrench]

As I understand it there is no operational "gate", so water flow through the tunnel is constant regardless of power generation.    

Flow over the spillway, and water level at Lake Niangua is unhampered by the generators. They are either online or not.

[Conor]

Interesting...  I guess enough water flows over the spillway most of the time but I saw mention of it being a "dry channel" between the dam and powerhouse at certain times.  Maybe only during seriously low flows which I would think might apply right now?

Conor

[fishinwrench]

It's low, but not "seriously low". 

 

[Al Agnew]

9 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

It's low, but not "seriously low". 

 

Point of fact, Wrench...it actually IS rather seriously low.  If you used the USGS graph for flow, at that gage it's flowing 193 cfs right now, and the normal for this time of year, which is about the time of the year when the river is lowest, is 278 cfs.  And by the way, 278 cfs equals about 4.57 feet on the gage, and right now it's at 4.28 feet.  So it's about 4 inches lower than it normally would be this time of year. On the low end of the scale, 4 inches makes a significant difference.

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, Al Agnew said:

4 inches makes a significant difference.

Oh @fishinwrench is well aware of that    Just ask Sugarbritches.   😂

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Al Agnew said:

Point of fact, Wrench...it actually IS rather seriously low.

What's serious about it ?  🤷‍♂️

It gets lower than that every year, for short periods of time, usually not exceeding a month.   

I actually prefer to fish it when it's on the lower side of its typical pulse.   Median flow has meaning to "floaters" who are unfamiliar with the river and prefer to not get their feet wet, but for fishing purposes I pay that lil'tidbit of "data" no mind at all.  

[fishinwrench]

53 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Oh @fishinwrench is well aware of that    Just ask Sugarbritches.   😂

Listen, I've learned that the further away from her cervix I can stay.....the better!  

[snagged in outlet 3]

7 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Listen, I've learned that the further away from her cervix I can stay.....the better!  

Better learned late than never😂