For the first time in memory, all three lakes on the White River, not including the adjacent Norfork Dam (on the North Fork River,) are all very near or peaking their flood control levels. With it's lake falling to just below full flood pool, Beaver Dam finally closed it's flood gates yesterday afternoon, around 3-4 PM, meaning that all 3 dams' flood gates were open to some measure, for about 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours.
As of 11 AM, Sunday, at lake level 1129.38 feet MSL, Beaver was discharging 7800 ft³/s from 2 turbines; at 932.22 feet MSL, Table Rock was discharging 47000 ft³/s from all 10 flood gates and 4 turbines; at 694.47, Bull Shoals was discharging 27000 ft³/s from all 17 flood gates and 8 Turbines.
The three dams were created through the Flood Control Acts of 1938, 1941, and 1954, for flood control, and passage of the Recreational Act of 1965 authorized their reservoirs for recreational development.
