High Lake Levels Prompt Spillway Releases, Park Closings At Nimrod and Blue Mountain Lakes

PLAINVIEW, Ark., March 20 – Heavy rainfall has Nimrod and Blue Mountain Lakes on the rise. Rising waters will likely prompt releases from the spillways of both dams. Also, the rising water has prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close portions of several parks at both Nimrod and Blue Mountain Lakes.

As of Tuesday morning, Blue Mountain Lake on the Petit Jean River was at elevation 417.4 feet and rising. Water is expected to go over the spillway at elevation 419. The lake is forecast to crest at elevation 422 with a maximum spillway discharge of 2,600 cubic feet per second.

At Nimrod Lake on the Fourche La Fave River Tuesday morning, the elevation was 368.2 feet. Water is expected to go over the spillway Tuesday evening at elevation 373. Nimrod Lake will crest at about elevation 376.2 with a maximum spillway discharge of 2,300 cubic feet per second.

Regarding the parks, after evacuating campers, the Corps closed Sunlight Bay Park at Nimrod because access is flooded. A good part of Waveland Park on Blue Mountain Lake is closed because of flooded facilities. All parks on both lakes have portions that are closed or unusable because of flooded areas. Corps officials anticipate this will be the case for several weeks.

The high water levels are because Nimrod and Blue Mountain Lakes are doing what they were designed to do, reduce downstream flooding by trapping large amounts of water during heavy rains. After the lake levels fall below the spillway elevations (373 at Nimrod and 419 at Blue Mountain) the water is then released in a controlled fashion over an extended period of time.

Without the lakes, all that water would come rolling down the Petit Jean and the Fourche La Fave Rivers at one time. Flood crests would push higher and result in floodwaters spreading out over more land, thus causing more damage and possibly even loss of life.

Because of the high levels, boaters are urged to use extra caution when on the lakes.

There are a lot of floating logs and other debris that will become much harder to see during the next couple of weeks. As floating timber becomes water-logged, it sinks deeper into the water and floats just under the surface. If you are on the lakes, be sure to wear your lifejacket, hook up the kill switch and slow down to watch for debris.

Boaters should use caution when launching because high water can make ramps tricky. Be patient if others take a little longer than normal. When boating near the shore or in coves, go slow to avoid underwater obstacles such as signposts, picnic tables, trees, stumps and other obstructions that are normally on dry ground.

For more information call the Corps’ Nimrod-Blue Mountain Project Office at (479) 272-4324 or the Blue Mountain Lake Field Office at (479) 947-2372.