Dec 29th Flood Update - Slowly Dropping

It appears lake levels crested last night around 10pm and the lake is now dropping as Ameren continues to operate the flood gates around 40% open. The flow rate is also decreasing in tandem. This is a likely attempt to reduce the amount of current this much water is creating.  Keeping the water moving, only not too fast, helps prevent excess debris from moving downstream all at once. At this rate however, it will be several days before we see normal lake levels.  It is likely this event will delay the start of the normal winter lake drawdown.

At the current rate of decline, the lake will reach normal full pool level of  660' close to the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

By contrast, the winter drawdown will lower the lake level 10 feet from where it is now.

Dec 28th Flood Upate - 4PM CST

As of 4pm the lake level continues to rise, now at 663.79.  Discharge has increased to over 103,000 cfs.  Subtracting 35,000 cfs for flow available through the turbines, means 68,000 cfs is passing through the flood gates.  The 12 flood gates are each capable of releasing 13,503 cfs for a total of 162,036 cfs.

By these numbers we can estimate that all 12 flood gates are open approximately 42%.

Docks Breaking Free

This is the Hwy 54 bridge over the Niangua Arm near Camdenton.

This was posted at LakeExpo.com

Picture by Terry Summers

December Flooding Surpasses July's

December 28th.  As of the 2pm CST reading, discharge is being held at about 102,500 cubic feet per second but lake levels are still rising, although slowing down.  Currently the lake is at 663.73.  If discharge remains above 100,000 it is possible the lake will not reach 664.

The maximum flow discharge during the summer flooding peaked at just over 85,000 cubic feet per second with a lake level high of 662.55.

Here's what's happening on the Osage River, below the dam.  Up nearly 16 feet in 48 hours.

November 2015 Lake Levels and Discharge

No power generation to speak of in the first half of November meant lake levels stayed virtually constant.  Rain and cold moved in and the lake reached full pool, nearly two and a half feet above the 5 year average.  Power generation is clearly seen in the latter part of the month as average generating discharge dropped the lake towards more average levels.

October 2015 Lake Levels and Discharge

October turned out to be the best boating month of the year! Ameren power generation was almost negligible with only five outflows of any consequence, leaving the Lake of the Ozarks comfortably above the 659 mark despite the lack of rain.  Calm winds and warm weather throughout the month made it a boaters dream. Wow!

PSA - Getting Serious About a "No-Wake Lake"

December 2015 update

Three members of the Missouri House of Representatives that often advocate for the lake area have been making stirrings lately about conditions on The Lake of the Ozarks regarding large wakes.  On November 4th, a public forum will be held at the Osage Beach City Hall at 9am to hear concerns regarding lake conditions along with dock and fire safety issues.

The Lake's rather undeserving reputation for being hazardous has been getting more attention over the past year. Despite efforts from Ameren to hold boat size down through dock regulation, this year's flooding along with the subsequent "no-wake" start to the 4th of July holiday weekend brought home the problem of large wakes and public pressure to do something about it.

A proposal being floated at this time by Rep. Wood is to restrict any area of the lake with less than 1250 feet from shoreline to shoreline as a no-wake zone, possibly only for larger boats.  This restriction would have a profound impact, given that nearly every cove on the lake would fall into this category. I urge anyone with an interest to either attend the meeting or write their representative as to their opinion, along with any ideas they may have to help improve situation.

Information on how to contact the three attending members of the State House of Representatives can be found at each link.

Rocky Miller (district includes Osage Beach and Lake Ozark area)

Diane Franklin (district includes Camdenton area)

David Wood  (district includes Gravois arm)

This will likely be worked out by those of us who own property on the lake, and could easily affect home values. Get involved if you can.