Winter Drawdown! Lake Of The Ozarks Water Level To Drop Even Further, Here's How To Prepare

The Lake of the Ozarks winter drawdown is about to begin: that means the Lake's water level will be dropping by several feet in the next couple of months.

In preparation for winter at Lake of the Ozarks, property owners should winterize their docks to avoid damage from ice. This is an important precaution to take as Ameren Missouri begins the winter drawdown process.

View a list of dock winterization tips at the end of this article.

Ameren reported that as of Monday morning, Dec. 11, the Lake of the Ozarks water level was at about 656.2 feet above sea level. Ameren plans to drop the water level to about 654 feet above sea level by mid-February, to reduce the possibility of flooding during the spring. However, the Lake of the Ozarks water level is already much lower than normal for this time of year, due to ongoing drought conditions in the Midwest, which includes the Osage River basin. So it's possible the Lake could drop below 654 feet above sea level: while Ameren's Guide Curve sets a target Lake level of 654 by mid-February, the low-level limit is 651, which means Ameren could go that low if they had to.

Ameren Missouri’s Osage Energy Center utilizes the Lake to generate hydropower for customers, and the utility company's Bagnell Dam activities are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“Water depth can vary significantly from cove to cove, and winterizing docks helps protect them from potential damage caused by periodic fluctuations in lake levels, as well as ice,” said Brad Todd, operations manager at Ameren Missouri’s Osage Energy Center. “Although drought conditions led to lower water levels this fall, we anticipate making adjustments throughout winter in preparation for spring.”

Dock owners can obtain up-to-date information on Lake water levels and river flows online at AmerenMissouri.com/Lake or by calling for the Lake Level Daily Report at 573.365.9205.