Table Rock's low ebb concerns area marinas

If the water level in Table Rock Lake goes down one more foot, marina owner Steve Gage says he'll have to spend everything he might make this summer to relocate his docks.

Continuing low-water conditions have forced Gage, who owns Gage's Long Creek Marina, and some other marina owners along Table Rock Lake to extend their docks farther into the water.

Some of them are now exceeding the reach of their dock tethers and are faced with the possibility of dropping new anchors and completely relocating their marinas. Gage said such procedures are a costly and difficult proposition.

"We're basically just sitting here hoping the water comes up," Gage said.

The lake level is low because of ongoing drought, said Kenneth Foersterling, operations manager of the Table Rock project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Normal levels for the lake, called its conservation pool, range between 915 feet above sea level and 881 feet above sea level. Table Rock's level has been as low as 900 feet in March, the lowest since 1981, but was back up to 902.7 feet March 15, Foersterling said.

"The operations of the lake have been totally normal; we've had no failures at the dam, no leaks. We're simply in a situation where we've had a deficit of rainfall," Foersterling said.

The lake still has "plenty of good water," Foersterling said, but if the drought continues this summer, as he said early weather reports have indicated might happen, it could affect recreation.

Though some in the area have speculated that the low water level on Table Rock is due to more hydroelectric power being generated, or to a construction project on an auxiliary spillway for the lake, Foersterling said neither of those have contributed.

"Operations have been consistent with previous years, but rainfall has not. We simply haven't received sufficient in-flows of water because our watershed hasn't been saturated well enough or long enough," Foersterling said.

The drought has not yet gone on long enough for the Corps of Engineers to begin enacting its contingency plans. For that, the water level would have to remain at or below 900 feet above sea level for 12 months, Foersterling said.

Among the options in contingency plans is restricting hydroelectric generation of energy at Table Rock Dam, he said. There are already some limits in place on how far the water level can be drawn down for generation of power: The maximum draw is 1 1/2 feet for a seven-day period, or 4 1/2 feet for a 28-day period, Foersterling said.

The drought has exposed more shoreline, and has drawn some attention, but, Foersterling said, the lake remains very large, and though some tourists may be concerned this summer, it probably won't stop them from coming to the lake.

W.K. Lewis, who owns the Kimberling Arms and Kimberling Heights resorts on the lake, said the reports of low lake levels have already caused some concern among visitors.

"I've had some guests call and ask me can they launch a boat in Table Rock Lake. Well, of course you can, but they've heard these rumors about the lake being low and they're not sure," Lewis said.

Lewis said he, like Gage, is "at the end of his cable," having moved his dock as far as possible.

"It's a serious concern to us when the lake goes down. That's a considerable expense for us," Lewis said.

Lewis is also president of the Table Rock/Kimberling City Area Chamber of Commerce.

He said members are concerned that the low water level could cost them business this summer.

"If the lake stays low, it could cost a good deal of business. When you're in the resort and hospitality business, it's a very competitive business and you want everything to be right for you. If one thing is wrong, they can affect you in a hurry," Lewis said.

Foersterling said about 125 resorts are on Table Rock Lake.

"Many of those have had to move out some, but most are still in their lease area," he added.

Other lakes in the area are also low, Foersterling said. Bull Shoals Lake is in a similar situation to that of Table Rock, he added.