Water Release Past 30 Hours

[Phil Lilley]

The people who call the "shots" aren't at Beaver, Table Rock or Bull Shoals Dams but probably in Tulsa at the Southwest Power Administration's offices. This is how I assume they make their decisions on who and when to generate.

They estimate power consumption and then decide what the cheapest way to get it. Factor in varied facility conditions... fossil burning plants and nuclear plants both have down time for maintenance. Hydro has restrictions in the fall because of low DO periods. Then lake levels are factored in. They set a plan, weekly, monthly- whatever. But in the middle of a plan, factors change and generation schedules change- sometimes at a moment's notice. The operators have some knowledge but only so far out. But they do what they're told.

Hope this helps... hope it's fairly accurate. Doesn't help estimating for your trip, unfortunately. But again, that's the nature of tailwaters.

[flyman]

Just wanted to let those of who don't already know or for those people planning trips. There is a website and toll free number to get predicted generation. It's not always totally accurate and sometimes the data is old on the website, so look at the date carefully. Over the last few weeks it has pretty much been right for me.

Website: http://www.swpa.gov/generationschedules.aspx

Toll free number: 866-494-1993

[flyman]

Sorry to double post. Since we are on the subject. I have always wondered. Does anyone know if public recreational activities have any effect on generation? Do "the powers that be" at the Southwest Power Administration work with conservation departments or other organizations to accommodate the needs of the public to give so much alloted time for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing swimming, etc.? Or do they just generate randomly when power is needed? I always wondered if they had some sort of alloted time they try to shut them off for public use. I highly doubt that they do, but quite frequently they are off on weekends.

[Phil Lilley]

No. No way. They've made that very clear.

[snagged in outlet 3]

It was maybe 8 or 10 years ago and my buddy and I are at a convenience store near Norfork one very early morning. We were asking each other how they could keep generating since the water level was so low, the docks on Norfork were sitting on gravel? The girl behing the counter heard us and said "My dad works at the dam and he says if they can sell the power they'll run the generators. It doesn't matter how low the lake is or anything else"

Since then I quit trying to figure out what the heck they are up to. They are in the business to sell power, period.

SIO3

[Micheal Kyle]

I used to have a freind that worked at the southwest power admin office here in Springfeild. He retired this year and we would talk a little about water generation and he would say yes it will be off then 20 min latter he would call me back and tell they were going to run all night. They get a chance to sell the power they will.

[ekl-stl]

As of 9pm.... the water was still way up... makes for tough night fishing... only saw three other fisherman

[Phil Lilley]

My educated guess is it will shut down Friday sometime- before Saturday and the weekend. I'd be very surprised if they ran it Saturday.

[vanven]

The Southwest Power Administration website schedule shows limited production for the weekend. Hopefully that holds true. Tuesday of next week they may start running 24 hours again. It looks like they shut down last night around 4am and are still off. Hopefully that means a good weekend of fishing.

-Jerod

[Phil Lilley]

Water is off this morning.