Only observed stages are available for this point. One has to wonder if the original engineers designing Beaver Lake could have imagined that the lake would allow NWA to grow so incredibly fast. On the other hand, if more rain falls in the Beaver drainage basin and fills its storage capacity, we can simply move some of the floodwater into Table Rock and Bull Shoals at that time. For both user groups, the concern is understandable, but most of it is due to not realizing that the Corp is following a playbook the water control plan which guides their decisions to hold water or release it. 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. As with other Corps projects, these dams had a long history of proposals, refusals, counter-proposals, delays, despair, investigations, and political involvements. This relationship makes sense when you consider the sizes of the flood pools in each lake, and need to balance risk across the entire system of lakes. The more home and business owners understand the constraints of the plan, and how they fit within it, the better decisions they can make. A lock ( 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. The Corps understands this, and appreciates the recreation demands that NWA place on Beaver Lake, but they dont adjust the level of the lake to support it. As the White River begins to rise, home owners and dock owners are all impacted as the increased flow can wash away docks that are not secured, and in certain conditions, threaten private property built near the waters edge. 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. For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. Intended to prevent floods, Beaver and the other lakes of the White River Basin have done much to enable the economic growth and prosperity. Dam Safety. In October 1954, construction of Table Rock Dam, at Branson, Missouri, was begun. Highly recommend this company to rent from. 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. [16] A number of trout fishing resorts lie on the tailwaters of Bull Shoals Lake and the North Fork River. It was finally commissioned in 1971 and overflowed for the first time in 1972. Beaver Dams two generating units annually produce more than $8 million in revenue through Southwest Power Administration sales. 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. With towering limestone bluffs, natural caves, and a wide variety of trees and flowering shrubs, it is a popular tourist destination.Beaver Lake is the source of drinking water in Northwest Arkansas, which is . 5 to 6 generators - approx speed = 3.25 - 3.5 miles per hour. For home owners on the White River downstream from Beaver Dam, a different concern appears when the Corp begins to lower the flood pool. But thats where the Corp of Engineers has perhaps its most difficult mission of all and one that they share with multiple environmental and water quality concerns in the region: namely the protection of Beaver Lake and ensuring its ongoing viability as a resource for the future. Copyright 2023 Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, A Public Treasure: The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, A Eureka Springs vacation is all about location. ", McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: White River, http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-ar-05/WDR-AR-05-1.pdf, "USGS Surface Water data for Arkansas: USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics", "Little Rock District > Missions > Recreation > Lakes > Table Rock Lake > Dam and Lake Information", Upper White River Lock and Dam Nos. 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. Beaver Dam had been authorized a month earlier under the Flood Control Act of September 3, 1943. 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. The White River is the closest river to Eureka Springs (only 15 minutes away), and is a dam-fed river so it is floatable year-round! To prevent the potential loss of life and property damages, congress approved and authorized construction of the Dam Safety Project. That said, the water control plan is more than just a playbook. We will be back!, 171 W Van Buren Eureka Springs, AR 72632(479) 981-2689. They were so nice and willing to work with us. Hydrography [ edit] From 654 feet to 695 feet, the US ACE (Army Corps of Engineers) is in control of the flood pool. 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. The flood delayed construction for a short period, but the project was completed in August of 1958 and power production was online in June of 1959. So while the lake supports clean drinking water and the national electrical grid, the recreation it provides makes it a center of commerce in and of itself. Yet in spite of this, the high lake levels and the irregular release schedule at Beaver Dam regularly become a points of contention. Homes and cabins from Clarendon to Saint Charles will be impacted by the high water. Remember that the further you travel down the river, the rises and falls of the tail water levels are more subtle. SO FUN! On the other hand, if more rain falls in the Beaver drainage basin and fills its storage capacity, we can simply move some of the floodwater into Table Rock and Bull Shoals at that time. 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. Smallmouth bass fishing is good at the mouths of feeder streams, including the mouths of Sylamore Creek, Buffalo River, Rocky Bayou and Piney Creek. Its an agreed upon set of rules and instructions that the Corp is compelled - by law - to follow. Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. Launch your stand up paddleboard or kayak at the boat ramp and paddle left to the limestone dam for a short, scenic little voyage. The dam rises 252 feet above the riverbed, contains 1,230,000 cubic yards of concrete and 3,320,000 cubic yards of embankment. Very organized and professional. The river flows northwards from its source to loop through southwest Missouri before heading southeast through Arkansas to its mouth on the Mississippi River. This collection consists of papers and plats generated (as wells as maps and other research materials gathered) by Richard E. Redden, engineer and geologist. In the wake of the Flood Control Act of 1936, Congress originally tasked the Corp to build lakes, levees, and dams throughout America. River has not been this high since completion of flood control reservoirs. The headwaters of the White are similar to the beginning stretches of other Ozark streams -- fast and furious in the wet months, and comparatively calm the rest of the year. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville. Two public boat accesses are available at Dam Site Park (Dam ramp and Bertrand Access) and one is available at the Houseman Access east of the town of Busch. They dont realize that the Corp is waiting on the conditions in Table Rock and Bull Shoals to be optimal before releasing more water downstream. Beaver, as the most upstream lake in the chain of lakes that impound the White River, provides supplementary flood storage for Table Rock and Bull Shoals. Its a stark reminder to those that live and work around the lake. Channel), http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/docs/White_River_Master_Manual.pdf, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Beaver, along with Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Lake Norfork work together to reduce the damage and severity of floods which means that their associated flood pools must be managed to balance risks. Likewise, if the water level was somewhere in the Power Pool, SWPA would not run water that would promote flooding. Three public walk-in accesses are available at Dam Site Park. An official website of the United States government. To figure how the water rises: up to 1 generator - approx speed = 1.75 - 2.0 miles per hour 1 to 2 generators - approx speed = 2.25 - 2.5 miles per hour Luckily no significant damage was done to the dam structure Gariep Dam started storing water in September 1971. 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. As its journey continues, the White feeds dammed lakes, and its tailwaters then become rewarding cold waters for trout fishing below Beaver Dam and Bull Shoals Dam. Please be aware that schedules are subject to change to meet power demand. This ensures that there is enough remaining storage to allow for unexpected spikes in rainfall or runoff in each lakes watershed. So while the lake supports clean drinking water and the national electrical grid, the recreation it provides makes it a center of commerce in and of itself. 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. Home to more than half a million people, as well as the headquarters of three Fortune 500 businesses, NWA has experienced rapid growth in both investment and opportunity. The reservoir is integral to the . Water data back to 1966 are available online. If you call the dam generation number of 870-431-5311, the recording may say there are no generators running, BUT there can still be a lot of water coming down the river from a non-power release. 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. Hogscald Hollow is a beautiful cove located on Beaver Lake outside of Eureka Springs. 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. Recreation is important, but its not why the lake was built. Many secondary roads are flooded. This article is about the river in Arkansas and Missouri. As though to emphasize the need of the dam for flood control, the rains of 1957 brought on flooding conditions while the dam was yet under construction. 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. These can last a few days or several weeks. State Highway 302 north of Clarendon may be affected. Flooding of cropland and timber is occurring. Often overshadowed by the Bull Shoals and Norfork Tailwaters, the Beaver Tailwater provides excellent trout angling opportunityand supports a thriving tourism industry. The laketechnically a reservoir since it was created by a manmade dam in order to store wateris located on the White River in the Ozark Highlands region of northwest Arkansas. The project brought electricity to a rural area of the Ozark Mountains south of Springfield, Missouri with rural electrification programs in the 1940s expanding service to the surrounding region. River crested at 33 feet in March 2008, 33.8 feet in April 2008, 35 feet in May 1973. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Float Eureka is a one-stop shop for adventures in Eureka Springs. 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. Two additional generating units were completed in April and June 1961. One walk-in access and handicap access is available at Parker Bend. is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates After considering several options and gathering considerable public input, an auxiliary spillway was determined to be the best solution. The water here is gin-clear, so use very light line, 4-pound-test or less, whenever possible. Yet, as beautiful as the lake is, recreation was not what it was made for. That will greatly increase your chances of catching trout, whether youre bait fishing or throwing artificial lures. Over the decades, the Corps of Engineers flood control lakes have prevented a staggering amount of flood damage. As they watch the river get faster, and grow closer, they start wondering when the Corp is going to finally turn off the tap. An official website of the United States government. These dollars are used to maintain the generating and transmission facilities as well as provide dollars to supplement lost property tax to counties that have land submerged under the lake. Working as a single system, the lakes of the basin were meant to reduce both the frequency and severity of floods both in the region and downstream as the White eventually joins the Mississippi River. Lake Leatherwood is a top recommendation - its very close to town, but feels like its miles away. White River at Beaver Dam near Eureka Springs. The game tries to level out these levels. As the region grows, so too does the burden put on Beaver Lake as a source for clean drinking water. Flyfishing is extremely popular on the White during low water periods, but most anglers opt for the standard White River rig -- a 16 to 20-foot johnboat equipped with a 10-20 horsepower motor. Fishing: The upper White River with its assortment of bass (smallmouth, largemouth, rock and Kentucky), catfish (channel, blue, and flathead), and sunfish should satisfy nearly any angler. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Ultimately, the Corps does its best to balance the needs of those living downstream of the lakes, but those needs can be very specific and often conflict, said Col. Eric Noe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District Commander and Engineer. Channel), Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The new measures will allow USACE to lower the water levels behind Beaver Dam more efficiently following significant rainfall events. The White River National Wildlife Refuge lies along the lower part of the river. The auxiliary spillway was completed in 2005 at a cost of apx $65,000,000. Stop by our outdoor center and office for cool t-shirts, souvenirs, and watersports gear! 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