UPDATE: Bagnell Dam closes floodgates; lake to drop a foot in 24 hours

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. (LakeExpo.com) -- Bagnell Dam operators closed all 11 floodgates at 9 p.m., Saturday. The lake level is anticipated to drop a foot to approximately 658.5 within the next 24 hours as the Dam continues to run a heavy generation.

As the week continues and Truman Lake begins to release water into Lake of the Ozarks, Bagnell Dam operators intend to cut back generation allowing the lake to reach 659 by Memorial Weekend.

As always, operators say major rain events can and ultimately do cause quick changes. There is rain in the forecast daily between now and Friday morning.

Bagnell Dam Opens Floodgates

Posted: Saturday, May 21, 2011 3:41 pm

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. – Ameren operators at Bagnell Dam opened 11 floodgates at 11 p.m. last night after sudden and heavy rain Friday swelled feeder tributaries to Lake of the Ozarks.

The lake level hit 660.01 (full pool) at approximately 3 a.m., today, and ebbed and flowed at 659.87 by 2 p.m.

By opening floodgates, Bagnell Dam operators have increased outflow from 39,000 to 49,000 cubic feet per second from the lake into the Osage River.

Operators intend to watch the water level diligently in anticipation of closing the gates either tonight or Sunday morning. With more rain in the forecast for next week, the dam is scheduled to continue to run at maximum generation as Memorial Day approaches.

Truman Dam, at a level of 712.6 at 11 p.m. today, has not released water into Lake of the Ozarks since 8 p.m., Thursday.

Bagnell Dam had run at heavy generation all week previous to the heavy rain event on Friday.

Earlier this month Bagnell Dam had been asked by the Corp of Engineers to release only minimal flow of water into the Osage Basin to take pressure off the flooding Mississippi river.

It takes approximately 10 days for outflow from the lake to reach the Mississippi.

This is the first time in 2011 that Bagnell Dam has opened floodgates.

Lake Level May 21, 2011

Lake of the Ozarks: 659.87 (3 p.m., May 21)

River Level: No Report Saturday

Tailwater: 571.46

Truman Lake: 712.6

Surface Water Temp: 66F at Bagnell Dam

Lake Ozark Operational Data May 20, 2011

Harry S Truman Dam Head Level at Midnight – 712.2 FT

Harry S Truman Dam Outflow – 15.3 SFD

Lake Ozark Inflow – 43,375.0 SFD