Corps Releases More Water From Beaver Lake

(Rogers, AR) — The Army Corps of Engineers increased releases today from Beaver Dam as part of the ongoing effort to evacuate water captured in the flood pools of the White River lakes during heavy March rains.  A total of about 8,000 cubic feet per second will be released through the two turbines at full power generation.

A falling lake level will come as welcome news to many who live around or recreate at BeaverLake because the lake is still more than five feet above the top of its conservation pool.  Barring additional heavy rain, the lake level is expected to drop about half a foot a day for about 10 days until the lake reaches elevation 1,120.4 feet.

Officials advise boat dock owners to keep an eye on their docks and move them as needed to prevent them from grounding.  The Corps also advises boaters to slow down, wear life jackets, use depth finders and check with local marinas about possible trouble spots as the lake level recedes.

The releases are being made in accordance with the White River Water Control Plan.  The plan calls for releasing stored floodwater up to a 24-foot river stage at Newport and up to 22 feet at Georgetown until April 14.  This evacuates more flood storage now because April and May are historically the most flood prone months of the year.

After April 14, the regulating stage decreases to 14 feet at Newport and 16 feet at Georgetown in conjunction with the start of the agricultural season.

For more information about Beaver, visit our website at www.swl.usace.army.mil or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace.  Or call the Beaver Project Office at 479-636-1210.