One walk-in access and handicap access is available at Parker Bend. Work on the dam began in 1947, was completed in 1951 and dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in 1952. Max water release from all 8 generators is 26,400 CFS (cubic ft/second). NAD83/WGS84, Search by city or zip code. Lock The area was already recognized for its fishing; and during normal times, the community had a rather stable and moderately secure economy based on fishing and recreation, reinforced by agriculture. That said, the water control plan is more than just a playbook. The FEMA Web Mapping Service (WMS) is down. Dam Safety. Extensive flooding in the delta. 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. It runs through this mountainous region of the Ozarks before tumbling into the Delta. Please be aware that schedules are subject to change to meet power demand. ", 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. 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. 2805 West Oak Yet in spite of this, the high lake levels and the irregular release schedule at Beaver Dam regularly become a points of contention. United States. Despite being much shorter than the Arkansas River, it carries nearly as much waternormally more than 20,000 cubic feet per second (570m3/s), and occasionally more than 100,000 cubic feet per second (2,800m3/s) during periods of flooding. 1, 2, and 3, Spanning White River, Batesville, Independence County, AR, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_River_(ArkansasMissouri)&oldid=1093540650, Bodies of water of Phillips County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Monroe County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Prairie County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Woodruff County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of White County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Jackson County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Independence County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Stone County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Izard County, Arkansas, Bodies of water of Madison County, Arkansas, Tributaries of the White River (ArkansasMissouri), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 June 2022, at 07:45. 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. Table Rock Dams spillway capacity was evaluated as a result of a dam safety program in the 1990s. That will greatly increase your chances of catching trout, whether youre bait fishing or throwing artificial lures. As climate change worsens water quality and threatens ecosystems, the famous dams of beavers may help lessen the damage. The focus of concern shifts once releases start, as downstream home owners worry when they see the river start to rise. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Horizontal Datum: This is all in accordance with the water control plan, which has been carefully thought out and reviewed multiple times over the years. Low Water Records Currently none available. NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the White River at Bull Shoals Dam. This is the official public website of the Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It can hold up to 28,945,000 acre-feet of water at one time, and is formed by the legendary Hoover Dam. 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. The final 10 miles (16km) serves as the last segment of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System; this part of the channel is deeper than the rest of the river. As the White River begins to rise, home owners and dock owners are all impacted as the increased flow can wash away docks that . Official websites use .gov Nestled high in the Ozark Mountains, Beaver Lake is a man-made reservoir that covers more than 487 miles of visually stunning Northwest Arkansas shoreline. 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. They will hold back and / or release water, primarily focusing on flood control needs. Recreation is a wonderful way to use the lake, says Little Rock District Chief of Water Management, Nathaniel Keen, but our water management decisions are made to reduce flood and drought risks.. To do otherwise would increase flood risks all along the White River downstream of Beaver Dam.. It also ensures that there is not too much or too little water being released into the White River based on seasonal requirements. Additionally, if conditions allow, the measures will also reduce the amount of time engineers have to maintain the 12-foot regulating stage at Newport, Arkansas on the White River by holding higher stages in the . Intended to prevent floods, Beaver and the other lakes of the White River Basin have done much to enable the economic growth and prosperity. Its an agreed upon set of rules and instructions that the Corp is compelled - by law - to follow. Whats frustrating for recreation users as well as business and home owners - around Beaver Lake, is that this multi-lake system creates a situation where Beaver holds water higher in its flood pool for longer than the other lakes. 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. Maximum Power output from the dam is 391 Megawatt Hours. This kicked off a massive civil works initiative that was intended to reduce the severity of floods, provide hydropower, and support clean drinking water. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 417-336-5083 White River at Beaver Dam near Eureka Springs. While not the central focus of the initiative, lawmakers believed that it was important that recreation be supported and allowed. Most cropland in the floodplain flooded. Surrounded by 12 parks and more than 2,000 acres of campgrounds, the land surrounding Beaver Lake offers hiking, cycling, and some of the best fishing and paddle boarding in Arkansas. 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, 3 to 4 generators - approx speed = 2.75 - 3.0 miles per hour, 5 to 6 generators - approx speed = 3.25 - 3.5 miles per hour, 7 to 8 generators - approx speed = 3.5 - 4.0+ miles per hour. Most cultivated land in floodplain affected by either inundation or isolation. For details. Beaver Lake is made up of layers of water that include a conservation pool, and a flood pool. This ensures that there is enough remaining storage to allow for unexpected spikes in rainfall or runoff in each lakes watershed. 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. 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. [9], Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, and Table Rock Lake are man-made lakes or reservoirs created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the authority of the Flood Control Act of 1938.[11]. Many downstream areas are accessable by boat only. Along with flood control, the lakes are also responsible for hydropower generation, drinking water, and a recreation mission that according to a 2016 study of the economic impact of USACE operations, sees more than 15 million visitors a year and is worth more than $650 million to local economies. Perhaps the most important thing to understand about the White River chain of lakes is that each of them are managed as a single system. 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 biggest trout recently have been caught downstream of the Houseman Access. Launch your stand up paddleboard or kayak at the boat ramp and paddle left to the limestone dam for a short, scenic little voyage. Yet in spite of this, the high lake levels and the irregular release schedule at Beaver Dam regularly become a points of contention. Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. Large portions of the Cache and White River National Wildlife Refuges are flooded. Knowing as much as possible about the water conditions and how to read the information released by the US Army Corps of Engineers will keep you safe, and make your White River experience much more enjoyable. Ultimately, the Corps water control plan has to acknowledge all these needs, and the end result is a compromise across all of them. In its entire 720-mile journey, the river's flow is interrupted by at least eight dams, six in Arkansas and two more in Missouri. As the population of businesses, and private home owners that live downstream of the lake continues to grow, so too have demands for power, clean drinking water, and stable water levels for recreation. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. The towns across from Branson were saved from considerable damage. State Highway 302 north of Clarendon may be affected. A lock ( To do otherwise would increase flood risks all along the White River downstream of Beaver Dam.. 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. Yet, as beautiful as the lake is, recreation was not what it was made for. The auxiliary spillway was completed in 2005 at a cost of apx $65,000,000. 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. Beaver Dam Site Park has picnic sites which make a great home base to explore the beautiful shoreline from a kayak, canoe, stand up paddleboard, or tube rental from Float Eureka. Lake Leatherwood is a top recommendation - its very close to town, but feels like its miles away. How the water falls out: Take the distance from the dam in miles, and divide by 2 for approx 85% of the water to fall out. These recreation centric dollars and the ongoing growth opportunities that it creates brings with it a new challenge: the desire for stable lake-levels. 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. That said, the water control plan is more than just a playbook. Welcome to Float Eureka - a stand up paddleboard, kayak, and canoe outfitter located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. As the population of businesses, and private home owners that live downstream of the lake continues to grow, so too have demands for power, clean drinking water, and stable water levels for recreation. Portions of the National Wildlife Refuge downstream of Clarendon flooding. River flows in many side channels and creates islands between the river and sloughs and creeks. Lake levels near or at the top of its conservation pool make for a sort of goldilocks-zone for those wishing to fish, boat, or use personal watercraft. This is a great float, with clear water, beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife, and terrific trout fishing. Natural or scented baits are not allowed. The directions it provides are not a loose guideline, but an agreed upon series of requirements that ensure each lake in the system is capable of meeting its congressionally authorized purposes. Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map?Possible reasons: Note: Your zoom level may have changed. This is all in accordance with the water control plan, which has been carefully thought out and reviewed multiple times over the years. 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. NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. Catching bait with bait tackle is not allowed. The water here is gin-clear, so use very light line, 4-pound-test or less, whenever possible. Paddlefish also provide some excellent action below Beaver Dam duringpaddlefish snagging season. Its because of this, that the Corps recommends that anyone with (or considering) investments along the White River to prepare for the risks by being familiar with the Water Control Plan (summarized into an easy to digest form here: http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/docs/White_River_Master_Manual.pdf). 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. 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. The next to be constructed was Table Rock Dam near Branson, Missouri, completed in 1958 at a cost of $65 million. Remember, once the water leaves Beaver Lake, we cant put it back. An event of this magnitude would overtop the earthen embankment and destroy Table Rock Dam with catastrophic losses in downstream areas including Branson. That said, its a guide that theyre required by law to follow. Beaver Lake is made up of layers of water that include a conservation pool, and a flood pool. The Beaver tailwater may not have the name recognition of Arkansass more prominent trout waters, but it certainly has plenty of rainbows and browns worth chasing. 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. Lake users waiting on lower pool levels at Beaver are often frustrated and confused at why Beaver is held high for so long. Overall construction cost was approximately $65.42 million. Beaver Dam had been authorized a month earlier under the Flood Control Act of September 3, 1943. The Corps and SWPA also work together on smaller water releases in order to keep temperatures and dissolved oxygen to at least minimum acceptable levels. For website corrections, write to hqwebmaster@usace.army.mil. Evacuations will be necessary. The water flowing from the base of the dam was too cold to support the native smallmouth bass and sunfish population, so trout were introduced to restore the fishery. 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. View the Enhanced Operating Capability Products and Services StoryMap here. The more home and business owners understand the constraints of the plan, and how they fit within it, the better decisions they can make. Here it is internationally known for premier trout fishing. Beaver Dams two generating units annually produce more than $8 million in revenue through Southwest Power Administration sales. 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