Posted on 07/01/2015 1:00:48 PM PDT by markomalley
Ameren Missouri has opened the flood gates at Bagnell Dam at Lake of the Ozarks.
Consulting engineer Alan Sullivan said 11 of the dam’s 12 flood gates were opened to 10 percent after the area recorded three inches of rain in the overnight hours. More than 40,000 cubic feet per second are flowing through the gates. Operators also ordered Truman Dam to close its gates to relive the pressure downstream on Bagnell Dam.
Sullivan said Ameren is working with the Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the impact of the flooding on farmers and property owners downstream, but added that the release may raise levels on the Osage River about four feet. He said that will likely cause some minor flooding on low-lying cropland downstream.
“We’re doing everything we can to mitigate the impact of this flooding on farm families downstream,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said it’s the first time Ameren has opened the flood gates at Bagnell Dam in several years. The last time came after the area received about eight inches of rain in a short time.
Ameren is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to manage the flow of water through Bagnell Dam’s turbines. The overnight rain pushed the lake level up over the 660 foot mark, which is too high for the turbines.
Sullivan said he’s in constant contact with the National Weather Service watching the forecast. He points out that with a couple of more inches of rain in the forecast, it’s possible Bagnell Dam may have to increase the flow of water through the flood gates. He said he's not sure how long the gates will remain open.
As I recall, the Bagnell boys just have to play along off of whatever sheet music the Truman boys play — the COE doesn’t ask permission to dump water, they just say, here it comes.
We had an electrician in to upgrade our dock to the new fire dept code last October. Paid the $50 fee.
We’ve called five times to get the FD out to inspect the work.
Still no response.
No Wake allowed the Lake of the Ozarks.
Gov Nixon news conference announced this today.
Nixon says he hopes a complete shut down of the lake can be avoided.
The big power boats and cruisers will just have to stay docked, I guess. Huge recreational investments, useless on the biggest summer weekend. Those guys burn through about 100 to 600 dollars in gas on a weekend like this. Those big and little gas docks will be sorely hurt by lack of sales.
I have a good friend that has one of those big Formula boats that cost about 400k. He will just have to sit on his dock and watch his wide screen TV.
Our neighbor has a 42’ Formula with twin 502s.
He’s content to keep a couple $100 bills in his wallet this weekend.
662.13
84,210.93 cfs
Water is going down.
Yes, I have been following the lake levels and discharges. It is still a considerable amount.
I grew up at Lake of the Ozarks. I have driven(or in a car/bus that I wasn't driving) over Bagnell Dam literally thousands of times. This happens quite a bit, as I remember, and the main memory I have is the smell. Drive across the Dam when the gates are open, and the smell from the fish going though is strong....really strong!
Left pretty young, but have some great memories, the late 70’s and early 80’s were quite the time there....
MOgirl
Tell us about the old “party cove” before they made them move in the nineties.
Were you one of the kids that jumped off the Grand Glazie bridge?
We are still swamped with water.
A no wake order was issued by the governor yesterday and will be in effect until the lake drops below 661. The 4th of July weekend usually sees this lake visited by many thousands of 2nd home owners and their boats.
The flow on the Big Niangua is keeping a mass of wood trash at the mouth of the Little Niangua so boating in this area comes with some risk.
It’s a pity we can’t donate some of this liquid to the folks in California...
I was too young to go to party cove, and the idea of me jumping off a bridge is too! funny!
I am sorry to hear how bad the high water is, and hope the flood gates are successful in getting the lake level down quickly.
I am leaving today for vacation and will return in a few weeks, take care and have a wonderful and safe Independence Day!
:)
MOgirl
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