NEWS

Record-breaking amount of water flows through Table Rock Dam after weekend floods

Wes Johnson
WJOHNSON@NEWS-LEADER.COM

The amount of water surging through Table Rock Lake dam is now in uncharted territory.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports this morning that 72,000 cubic feet of water per second is being released from the dam, eclipsing the previous record of 69,000 cubic feet per second during the flood of 2011.

By a different measure, that means nearly 539,000 gallons every second are pouring out of Table Rock dam into Lake Taneycomo below.

The lake is still rising, and that extra pressure behind the dam is causing more water to rush through the 10 spillway gates and hydropower turbines, according to Corps spokesman Miles Brown.

"The lake rose a foot from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., but the spillway gates remain open at 4.5 feet," Brown said. "We have not made any change in the gate openings from yesterday and we are not, at this point, anticipating the need to increase the gates. We're hoping the inflows into the lake will begin to stabilize."

Brown said Table Rock Lake's water level continues to creep up, and Corps staff expect it to crest sometime Tuesday evening at around  933.5 feet — close to, but still below the 2011 record elevation of 935.47 feet above sea level, which is how lake levels are measured.

But the record release could mean more misery for property owners along Lake Taneycomo downstream from Table Rock dam. Many homes already have suffered flood damage along Lake Taneycomo.

Emergency management officials did a helicopter survey of the area Tuesday afternoon, and Branson officials continue to monitor flooding.

"We're very close to where we were in 2011," said Branson Fire Department Chief Ted Martin. "We've heard of a couple of docks breaking loose, but right now we're focused on people's safety."

Flood gates open at Table Rock lake; water level may come close to 2011 record

He said voluntary evacuations have taken place at 53 duplexes at Lakewood Estates, and five people stayed in a city shelter Monday night. However, Martin said the shelter likely will close Tuesday night because the Salvation Army will provide housing for those who need it at local hotels.

Elsewhere, approximately 120 single-family residences from Parnell Drive upstream to Pointe Royale have been affected by water rising in the neighborhoods, Martin said.

"Most of these homes are not accessible due to high water, have water up to the house, water in crawl spaces and some with water in basements," he said.

Several of these areas have had electrical services cut off by Empire District Electric Company to reduce risk and impact to the utility infrastructure.

All of the businesses on Branson Landing were open Tuesday, Martin said, even though flood water has reached the edges of some of the businesses.

“The Branson Landing has a phased program to secure infrastructure as the water rises," Martin said. "All of the businesses at Branson Landing were open for business on Tuesday, according to mall management.  The affected area is a narrow path along Lake Taneycomo."

As Table Rock Lake rises, the Missouri Department of Transportation said the Kimberling City bridge over the lake remains open.

MoDOT, working with the Corps, is keeping an eye on rising levels at Table Rock Lake. As of 9 a.m.Tuesday, MoDOT didn't anticipate the need to to close the bridge due to rising lake levels.

The Corps projects the lake will crest at a near-record elevation Tuesday. At that level, MoDOT does not anticipate the need to close the bridge or the road approaching the bridge.

In 2011, the lake crested at 935.47 feet which resulted in the closing of Route 13 south of the bridge for a short duration. The water did not reach the bridge during the 2011 flooding event.

If projections change, MoDOT will only close the bridge when water covers the driving surface of the bridge or it covers Route 13 approaching the bridge. It will not be closed until that time.

In the event that the bridge must be closed, MoDOT will alert all emergency responders and regional media. MoDOT also will use electronic message boards in the area used for the bridge rehabilitation project to alert drivers to the closing if that becomes necessary.

MoDOT also warned boaters on Table Rock Lake to use extreme caution when traveling around the Kimberling City Bridge. Because of high lake levels, safety scaffolding under the bridge is submerged in the water and may not be visible.?

The Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery directly below Table Rock dam has been unaffected by flooding or the record release of water into adjacent Lake Taneycomo, according to hatchery manager Clint Hale.

Photos: Flooding in Branson