Corps flood plan favors agriculture
By Gary Groman
Are the record high levels of Beaver, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals Lakes and the constant risk of flooding hanging over the heads of Tri-Lakes residents and businesses being caused by a flood management plan that favors agricultural interests hundreds of miles downstream?
A response to an email sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District on May 12 indicates that potential.
The Corps response, received from Public Affairs Officer P.J. Spaul in a May 20 email identified the plan used to manage the release of water from Beaver, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals Lakes as the White River Basin, Arkansas and Missouri, Water Control Master Manual dated March 1985 and revised December 1998. When asked where a copy of it may be found and examined, Spaul replied that the plan is quite large and was not, as of that date, available on line or in other electronic format, and contained sensitive information that was not releasable.
Spaul went on to say, “However, we may be able to post the 1998 revision portion of the plan, which contains the gist of how we operate the lakes.”
On May 21, an email was received from Tammy L. Moody, Corps public affairs specialist, stating portions of the plan pertinent to the current situation had been posted online at www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/documents/White%20River%20Master%20Manual.pdf.
In giving an overview of the plan, Spaul said, “The plan, simply stated, says releases from Beaver are dependent upon the elevation in Table Rock and Bull Shoals Lakes; releases from Table Rock are dependent upon the elevation in Bull Shoals Lake; and releases from Bull Shoals and Norfork are dependent upon the seasonal regulating stage at Newport, Ark.”
He went on to specifically state, “The plan provides for seasonal flood control releases based on the agricultural practices of the lower basin and is operated for benefit of the White River Valley.”
The plan uses the term “regulating stages” to describe seasonal flood control releases. Spaul said, “The regulating stages at Newport were developed from input received from the public and analyzed using a 50-year period of historical data. Many simulations were analyzed before the final plan was adopted in December 1998.
“The regulating stages are based upon balancing the needs of the users with the mission for flood risk management. The comprehensive plan developed was not the best plan for any single user group, but was rather a consensus agreement that this plan was the best for all of the users, many who have competing interests.”
Spaul explained the “regulating stages” at Newport by date and level as
follows: “From 1 December through 14 April regulate to 21 feet except if a natural rise exceeding 21 feet occurs, regulate to the lesser of the observed crest or 24 feet.
“From 15 April through 7 May, regulate to 14 feet except regulate to 21 feet from 15 April through 30 April, and 18 feet from 1 May through 14 May if the four-lake system storage exceeds 50 percent full.
“From 8 May through 30 November, regulate to 12 feet except regulate to 14 feet from 15 May through 30 November if the four-lake system storage exceeds 70 percent full.”
The plan also contains provisions permitting the Corps to exceed the regulating stages under certain conditions, on a case by case basis, when requested to do so by Southwest Power Administration in accordance with an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Southwest Power Administration and the Corps of Engineers.
There is no provision in the plan providing any flexibility for the Corps to provide any relief to areas upstream from Newport to alleviate flooding because regulating stages at Newport are “planned to assist the agricultural practices of the lower basin.”
The web site for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates the flood stage at Newport is 26 feet and the actionable level is 21 feet. As of 5 a.m. on May 27 the level at Newport was 14.2 feet.
That’s about 12 feet below flood stage and 6.8 feet below the actionable level.
As of 5 a.m. May 27 the level of Table Rock Lake was 929.68 and rising. That is less than 1.32 feet below the 931 level that plays an important part in the decision to open the spillway gates.
