Frothy and muddy floodwaters from a 36-hour monsoon are running over the top of Powersite Dam near Forsyth. The 85-year-old generating plant is running at capacity and withstanding torrents of run-off.

Upstream, Branson isn't higher but is drier. It wasn't always this way.

In 1913, 1927 and after World War 2, days of downpours would almost wash downtown Branson off the map.

Holding back certain devastation for half a century now is Table Rock Dam.

At the current flow, in the time it takes to say “Table Rock Dam in Branson,” half a million gallons of water have rushed past the floodgates and through the generating turbines at the dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says this may go on for several weeks.

But back turn back the clock, and Branson Landing's stores, restaurants, hotels, excursion train and the new convention center would be swamped.

Branson Landing management says the downpour was a good test of its design. Its lakefront service roads and partly covered parking lot were drying out in the afternoon sun.

When lakes rise, so does hydroelectric power generation. It’s about a third of the cost of producing power from coal-fired plants.

Officials say Table Rock rose eight feet between Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening, and is letting out as much water as it can without flooding people living along Lake Taneycomo. The floodgates are also open at Beaver Dam, releasing water that Table Rock is receiving.