Table Rock Lake has crested at 933.25, at 4 am on April 12th, 2008
Table Rock Lake on the Missouri/Arkansas Line located in the Ozark Region crested this Saturday morning, April 12, 2008, at 4am, establishing a new record, 3.25 feet over the flood pool of the Table Rock Lake Reservoir. Near Branson MO, Table Rock Lake is managed by the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers, Little Rock District, and flood control is the number one priority of the overall management plan, also including power generation, conservation, and recreation. The Corp of Engineers succeeded in keeping downstream damage to a controlled level. All Ozark Reservoirs are reaching the very top levels recorded in history, after the rains that have deluged the MO/AR line in the last weeks of March and April, 2008. The levels are starting to ease slowly, as the volume of water increases by each foot of elevation because of the growing impound size. The larger it gets, the more per foot of elevation to release.
From the view within the shores of Table Rock Lake, the docks are far out beyond the reach of their catwalks, and have required the maintenance of the tension cables to be adjusted as much as every four hours. With wind currents at 30 mile per hour due to a cold front, and logs and trash debris from the streams that pours in to the lake, the waterfront seems chaotic for the moment to outsiders. “The lake heals quickly”, quoted by PaddlingCenter.com staff. “It is made to rise and fall by design, with the Corp of Engineers easement and takes line that protects residents as much as the lakes primary purpose. Debris is left on the banks as it coagulates on the shores and the levels drop leaving everything on shore. There will be quite a bit of trash pickup, with the Table Rock Lake clean-up scheduled soon. Everyone is encouraged to help. It will be a big job this year. The micro debris settles as it forms new algae and life, food for the fish and organisms of the lake. Then the color clears up, the waters warm with the sun, and the nation’s interior lakes are once again the top destinations in the nation.
Paddling kayaks on Table Rock Lake is almost easier than bass boats when the water is up. Paddling treed areas as well as through debris is not a problem, once winds subside, and the stillness and warm weather takes over. Kayak fishing is also excellent with the trees being the place where fish find cover in flooded times. Our ramp at PaddlingCenter.com, Cape Fair Missouri still has good access for Bass fishermen, now entering Bass spawning season, with the white bass running. Water will probably remain pretty high for the next couple of weeks baring no new heavy rains, and the consistent and safe drainage of the lakes through the Table Rock Lake Dam locks. All ten gates have been open for days, handling both Table Rock Lake water as well as Beaver Lake upstream, which also saw flood pool these last few days.
What goes up must come down. In the mean time as the weather warms up, we are enjoying our new paddling areas around the trees, and fish? They spawn this time of year, no matter what happens. It is time to get the kayak with fish finder attached and go fishing!