LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Although record releases are being made from Bull Shoals Dam this week, the Army Corps of Engineers emphasizes that Bull Shoals and the other White River system lakes have dramatically reduced flood damage.
Flows below Bull Shoals alone during the height of this spring's floods would have been 12 times greater than current releases.
A release of 58,600 cubic feet per second is being made from Bull Shoals, which is a record release for this 60-year-old structure. The lake level is elevation 696.16 feet with 104 percent of its flood storage capacity in use.
A record crest is expected Saturday at elevation 696.5 feet. All 17 spillway gates are opened 2.4 feet.
During the height of the flood a few weeks ago, Bull Shoals, aided by Table Rock and Beaver lakes upstream, cut what would have been a flow rate of more than 700,000 c.f.s. to the current release.
This would have overtopped all the levees from Newport to Clarendon, closing more highways, flooding more homes, and inundating more cropland.
Conditions at the other three Upper White River Basin lakes on Thursday afternoon were:
Table Rock Lake near Branson, Mo.: The lake elevation was 933.8 feet and falling, with more than 122 percent of the flood storage capacity in use. Releases from the spillway and powerhouse were 54,500 c.f.s.
Beaver Lake near Rogers, Ark.: The lake was at elevation 1,129 feet and falling. About 88 percent of the lake's flood storage capacity is in use.
The spillway gates were closed Thursday afternoon, though turbine releases of 8,800 c.f.s. continue.
Norfork Lake near Mountain Home, Ark.: The hydropower units are being repaired at the power house, so the Corps is making a 6,600 c.f.s. release from the dam's spillway gates instead. The lake is at elevation 579.36 ft and rising slowly, with about 97 percent of flood storage capacity in use.
The Corps is advising people in flood plains downstream of Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork dams to maintain awareness, monitor lake levels, and keep an eye on the weather. These lakes will remain high with very little storage capacity to hold additional rain.
People in at-risk areas should stay in contact with local emergency officials. If larger than normal releases are required from a dam, warnings will go out through local emergency channels. Local officials may not know you require notification unless you have told them so.