Press enter or select the go button to submit request. As climate change worsens water quality and threatens ecosystems, the famous dams of beavers may help lessen the damage. Yet in spite of this, the high lake levels and the irregular release schedule at Beaver Dam regularly become a points of contention. For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. The first two units were ready for generation of power in June 1959, and installation of units three and four was complete in August 1961. For example, we're 15 miles down from the dam. Knowing as much as possible about the water conditions and how to read the information released by the US Army Corps of Engineers will keep you safe, and make your White River experience much more enjoyable. Beaver Dams two generating units annually produce more than $8 million in revenue through Southwest Power Administration sales. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and The auxiliary spillway was completed in 2005 at a cost of apx $65,000,000. Beaver, as the first lake in the chain, provides supplemental flood storage for Table Rock and Bull Shoals, says Keen. It can hold up to 28,945,000 acre-feet of water at one time, and is formed by the legendary Hoover Dam. Fv 27, 2023 . If the area did not have an absolute need for a dam to assure economic prosperity, there was no question about the need for a dam to protect property in the downstream reaches from the ravages of the White River. Power generation for Bull Shoals Dam is shown in Megawatt Hours. The White River (origin to Bull Shoals Lake) meanders in direction from its headwaters near Fayetteville and up through southern Missouri to its reentry in Arkansas as it heads southeast past Cotter and Batesville. An Army Corps of Engineers plan hopes to result in more lower water at Beaver Lake and less high water through releases at Beaver Dam, seen on Friday Jan. 7 2022. Recent Crests Currently none available. AGFC Trout Program 870-424-5924, For current generation conditions: Hogscald Hollow is a beautiful cove located on Beaver Lake outside of Eureka Springs. While this balancing act can be complex, computer simulations of 78 years of river data show that maintaining proper balance of available flood storage between these lakes ensures the best flood damage reduction to the lower White River Valley. beaver dam lake swimming. In 1954, the Master Manual for Reservoir Regulation of the White River Basin was first developed. One walk-in access and handicap access is available at Parker Bend. For example, the very lowest water conditions are around 250 -- 500 CFS (cubic feet of water per second), versus all 8 generators at Bull Shoals Dam running at full capacity, which puts out approximately 26,400 CFS of water. [16] A number of trout fishing resorts lie on the tailwaters of Bull Shoals Lake and the North Fork River. Table Rock Dams spillway capacity was evaluated as a result of a dam safety program in the 1990s. Natural or scented baits are not allowed. The water flowing from the base of the dam was too cold to support the native smallmouth bass and sunfish population, so trout were introduced to restore the fishery. In fact, releases from Beaver are significantly limited when either Bull Shoals or Table Rock are more than 2 feet into their flood pool. is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates About the White River. Overall construction cost was approximately $65.42 million. Keep in mind, is it not necessarily about how many generators are running, but how much water is coming down the river! Hydropower benefits from high pool levels in the lakes, but when the lake is high, it can stymie recreation and thats hard on businesses that prosper from lower pool levels. This kicked off a massive civil works initiative that was intended to reduce the severity of floods, provide hydropower, and support clean drinking water. Today, the combined gross metropolitan product of NWA has grown to $23.5 billion, an increase that the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas says makes NWA the 14th fastest growing metro area in the nation. In its entire 720-mile journey, the river's flow is interrupted by at least eight dams, six in Arkansas and two more in Missouri. Official websites use .gov Choose Your Adventure. While only 13 miles in length from below Beaver Dam to Beaver Town, this river flows a total of 722 miles before joining the mighty Mississippi river nears Batesville, Arkansas. Return to Area Map Upstream Gauge Flood Categories (in feet) Not Available Historic Crests Currently none available. Hydropower benefits from high pool levels in the lakes, but when the lake is high, it can stymie recreation and thats hard on businesses that prosper from lower pool levels. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and PRECIPITATION are available. State Highway 302 north of Clarendon may be affected. Along with flood control, the lakes are also responsible for hydropower generation, drinking water, and a recreation mission that according to a 2016 study of the economic impact of USACE operations, sees more than 15 million visitors a year and is worth more than $650 million to local economies. Similar flood contions to flood of record, which occurred prior to the constuction of the flood control reservoirs, was 43.3 feet in April 1927. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 417-336-5083 An event of this magnitude would overtop the earthen embankment and destroy Table Rock Dam with catastrophic losses in downstream areas including Branson. To prevent the potential loss of life and property damages, congress approved and authorized construction of the Dam Safety Project. Channel), Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Driving at night is especially dangerous due to flooded roads. 5 to 6 generators - approx speed = 3.25 - 3.5 miles per hour. As the White River begins to rise, home owners and dock owners are all impacted as the increased flow can wash away docks that . Lake Taneycomo had been created shortly after World War I as a result of impounded waters restrained by a privately developed power dam (Powersite), and Rockaway Beach was probably the first resort to be built in the State of Missouri. Bull Shoals Dam near Mountain Home, Arkansas was constructed from 1947 to 1951 at a cost of $86 million[12] and is the 5th largest concrete dam in the United States. This is all in accordance with the water control plan, which has been carefully thought out and reviewed multiple times over the years. Most of the time, the releases are fairly limited, but when conditions at Table Rock and Bull Shoals allow, Beaver Dam will begin to aggressively evacuate water from Beavers flood pool to bring the lake level down. As they watch the river get faster, and grow closer, they start wondering when the Corp is going to finally turn off the tap. So while its easy to worry about hundreds of thousands of thirsty Arkansans doing their best to drain Beaver Lake, the demands on the lake are further complicated by its hydropower generation mission. The water districts that surround the region each have an allocation of space within the lakes conservation pool. To manage these lakes and ensure that there is always enough (but not too much) water in each lakes flood pools, the Corps of Engineers utilize a water control plan. Beaver Lake Top Flood Pool: 1130.00 White River (BVGA4) Current Power Pool: 1120.43 Top Power Pool: Jan 01 to Apr 30 1120.43 Apr 30 to May 01 1120.43 to 1121.43 May 01 to Sep 30 1121.43 Sep. Lake levels near or at the top of its conservation pool make for a sort of goldilocks-zone for those wishing to fish, boat, or use personal watercraft. Recreation is a wonderful way to use the lake, says Little Rock District Chief of Water Management, Nathaniel Keen, but our water management decisions are made to reduce flood and drought risks.. The conservation pool of the lake is dedicated to providing drinking water and hydropower, it also makes up the most enjoyable and usable body for recreating. 7 to 8 generators - approx speed = 3.5 - 5.0+ miles per hour. Likewise, if the water level was somewhere in the Power Pool, SWPA would not run water that would promote flooding. River crested at 33 feet in March 2008, 33.8 feet in April 2008, 35 feet in May 1973. Its an agreed upon set of rules and instructions that the Corp is compelled - by law - to follow. This was revised in 1966. Recreation on Taneycomo drew tourism to Rockaway Beach and Branson. This averages out to 3300 CFS max for each generator. An official website of the United States government, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website, About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website, Deactivated Nuclear Power Plant Program (DNPPP), Regional Environmental and Energy Offices REEOs, Industry Information Re: COVID-19 Support, Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity, G-1 Reserve Component Augmentation, Office of Human Resources Directorate, http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/docs/White_River_Master_Manual.pdf, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map Beaver Lake is a clear, deep lake located 15 minutes from Eureka Springs and is a great place to swim and hang out for the day. These recreation centric dollars and the ongoing growth opportunities that it creates brings with it a new challenge: the desire for stable lake-levels. [13] It confines Bull Shoals Lake, the largest[13] of the lakes on the White River and the most downstream. Fishing for trout is popular in the upper portions of the river from the Beaver Lake tailwaters in northwestern Arkansas, through its course through southwest Missouri (including all of Lake Taneycomo), and back down through Arkansas to the Highway 58 bridge in Guion. Yet in spite of this, the high lake levels and the irregular release schedule at Beaver Dam regularly become a points of contention. Recreation is important, but its not why the lake was built. (Image credit: Getty Images) While the Corps' primary concern is flood control, they will work with SWPA, Southwest Power Association, to release flood pool water so it is most advantageous to them. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Ultimately, the Corps water control plan has to acknowledge all these needs, and the end result is a compromise across all of them. Many downstream areas are accessable by boat only. Lock In 1963, the Reservoir Regulation Manual for Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Norfork Reservoirs was developed. Large portions of these sections are grouped by counties in Utah or other regional classifications . Major sections of the collection include materials on oil, gas, and mineral leases, agreements, and reports; coal; uranium; and water. If additional rain falls in the Table Rock and Bull Shoals drainage basins, they will fill even more, while Beaver Lakes flood pool sits empty and unable to help. The dam rises 252 feet above the riverbed, contains 1,230,000 cubic yards of concrete and 3,320,000 cubic yards of embankment. Homes and cabins from Clarendon to Saint Charles will be impacted by the high water. The area was already recognized for its fishing; and during normal times, the community had a rather stable and moderately secure economy based on fishing and recreation, reinforced by agriculture. NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the White River at Bull Shoals Dam. It runs through this mountainous region of the Ozarks before tumbling into the Delta. The involved communities were well represented by civic minded leaders who were eager to devote their time labor and expenses in promoting such a project. The conservation pool of the lake is dedicated to providing drinking water and hydropower, it also makes up the most enjoyable and usable body for recreating. This article is about the river in Arkansas and Missouri. The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. This ensures that there is enough remaining storage to allow for unexpected spikes in rainfall or runoff in each lakes watershed. As they watch the river get faster, and grow closer, they start wondering when the Corp is going to finally turn off the tap. The White River (origin to Bull Shoals Lake) meanders in direction from its headwaters near Fayetteville and up through southern Missouri to its reentry in Arkansas as it heads southeast past Cotter and Batesville. River flows in many side channels and creates islands between the river and sloughs and creeks. The depression deferred their immediate ambitions, leaving only the hope of Federal participation for the local communities. Some of this area may include the Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMABenson Creek Natural Area WMA and the Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA. Remember, once the water leaves Beaver Lake, we cant put it back. The Corp of Engineers, entrusted with maintaining the lake as a viable and functional means of flood control, often interacts with stakeholders that are at odds with each other, since each have their own specific issues with how the flood control mission is managed. If additional rain falls in the Table Rock and Bull Shoals drainage basins, they will fill even more, while Beaver Lakes flood pool sits empty and unable to help. The final 10 miles (16km) serves as the last segment of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System; this part of the channel is deeper than the rest of the river. Feeder creeks coming into the White also add to this fluctuation of water level, and so fishermen, especially when wading, must be aware of their location on the river and if they are near those confluences. So when the Corp is faced with making a decision about the water levels in one of its lakes, it follows the water control plan, which does not include provisions for recreation. View the Enhanced Operating Capability Products and Services StoryMap here. It also ensures that there is not too much or too little water being released into the White River based on seasonal requirements. The also ONLY reflect releases through the hydropower facilities and do not include spillway releases ordered by the Corps (during flooding). When the Corps of Engineers entered the picture in 1928-31 in the midst of an economic depression, it made a negative decision for construction of a dam. The White River National Wildlife Refuge lies along the lower part of the river. According to the Ozarks Water Watch, a clean water watchdog group in NWA, the spending in and around Beaver Lake is worth an estimated $30.24 million annually to the local economy. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers. Beaver Lake is a man-made reservoir in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas and is formed by a dam across the White River.Beaver Lake has some 487 miles (784 km) of shoreline. We offer a float trip on the White River with a shuttle (located just 10-15 minutes from our office) for single and tandem kayak and canoe rentals. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the size of the NWA economy in 2001 was $13.3 billion. Some industries ask for lower river stages during the growing season, while others would prefer the levels be higher.. The White River is a 722-mile (1,162 km) river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri. Table Rock Lake provides a storage capacity of 3,462,000 acre-feet, of which 760,000 are for flood-control and 2,702,000 are for generation of power. There are numerous access points to the river provided by state and federal agencies and private resort owners. For projected generation conditions: A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Beaver Lake is slowly being encircled by the Northwestern Arkansas Metropolitan Area, often just called Northwest Arkansas. Second highest crest since the completion of the flood control reservoirs was 35 feet in May 1973. With so many recreational opportunities it is no wonder that Beaver Lake is one of the focal points for both work and play in the region. Beaver Lake is made up of layers of water that include a conservation pool, and a flood pool. A lock ( Rogers, AR 72756 When daily fluctuations begin to repeat themselves, you can predict short term (tentatively). Height and duration of flooding along the lower White River is greatly dependant on the level of the Mississippi River in combination with the flow rate of the White River. The first of these encountered from the headwaters is Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas, followed by Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo in southern Missouri, and finally Bull Shoals Lake as the river loops southward into northern Arkansas. The water levels on the White River change significantly, often on a daily basis. For website corrections, write to ceswl-pa@usace.army.mil, An official website of the United States government, Floodplain Management Services and Silver Jackets, Maumelle River Ecosystem Restoration Study, Requirements/Exemptions for Flood Recovery Activities, Real Time Data (Arkansas River Nav. Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps, Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps, Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks, Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks. We also offer boat rentals which allow you to pick up a canoe, kayak, or stand up paddleboard and transport it yourself to one of the rivers or lakes around Eureka Springs - including Beaver Lake, Hogscald Hollow, and Lake Leatherwood. White River at Beaver Dam - HW & TW. Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS They were so nice and willing to work with us. The blaring sounds of the warning horns at Beaver . While there is lot of information that goes into making a water control plan, at its heart, its simply a guide that the Corp uses to determine how and when water is stored and released. Intended to prevent floods, Beaver and the other lakes of the White River Basin have done much to enable the economic growth and prosperity. The focus of concern shifts once releases start, as downstream home owners worry when they see the river start to rise. The Corps and SWPA also work together on smaller water releases in order to keep temperatures and dissolved oxygen to at least minimum acceptable levels. No fishing within 100 yards of Beaver Dam. Hydrography [ edit] Only observed stages are available for this point. Channel), http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/docs/White_River_Master_Manual.pdf, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Its because of this, that the Corps recommends that anyone with (or considering) investments along the White River to prepare for the risks by being familiar with the Water Control Plan (summarized into an easy to digest form here: http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/docs/White_River_Master_Manual.pdf). That said, recreation does not enjoy an equal footing against the lakes primary focus flood control. A total of eight dams impound the upper White River, six in Arkansas and two in Missouri. 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