LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — The Lake of the Ozarks water level continues to rise, and Lake homeowners are watching their dock ramps and electrical connections go under water; some have lost their docks completely as they detach from the shoreline. Some damage may be unavoidable by dock owners, but local experts have a few tips to maximize the chance at saving the structure and avoiding injury in the process.
photo courtesy Jon Bussey/Catalyst Electric
ELECTRIC
Turn off the electric connection to your dock, says Jon Bussey, owner of Catalyst Electric in Osage Beach. This will typically be a breaker. But the breaker might also be feeding power to other devices in the house, so homeowners should be aware of what else might be shut off (e.g. a freezer, wall outlets, etc.).
If the dock electric shutoff is submerged or can’t be safely accessed, it would be better to shut off the power to the whole house, Bussey said.
DOCK CABLES
Adam Morris, of Pirate’s Point Marina, says dock owners may be able to loosen the winches if their dock has sunken anchors. Many docks on the main channel do, he pointed out. This could help the dock float as the Lake level rises. Currently the level is 663.71 feet—more than four feet higher than it was a week ago, before the rains began.
Nina Gennetten, owner of Ozarks Barge & Dock, points out the strong current may be the factor that damages many docks. "I have one customer who had a rush of water break his dock bridge in half,” she said.
She pointed out that, as a general rule, dock owners should check cables at least annually and replace them when necessary.
But it would be better to lose a dock than to lose a life. "A lot of the cables are now under water," Gennetten said. "Everyone should be very careful along the shoreline right now. No one wants to see anyone fall in and drown."
