By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. - As the water continued to rise Tuesday evening, folks drove and gazed at water at levels few may have ever seen. They stopped at Eagle Point, The bill Emerson Visitor Center and Sundowner Marina. All for a glimpse of what may, indeed, be record-breaking levels at Lake Wappapello.

Due to the significant rains in recent days, levels at the lake are closing recreation areas, boat landings, and beaches.

The scene Tuesday evening at the Bill Emerson Visitor Center as families stopped and walked along the top of the hillside looking out over the Reservoir, the lake and Redman Creek area. The parking lot at the Redman area had water at about the mid point by 5:30 Tuesday evening, and the entire recreation area – baskeball courts, playground equipment and picnic areas – were under several feet of water.

The Corps of Engineers reported that as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday the lake level was at 387.07 feet. The crest was forecast was set for Friday at 394.0 feet – but that was without additional rain. That rain did, indeed, arrive later Tuesday night.

The discharge at the spillway was increased on Tuesday to 10,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). The parking lot at the spillway was busy with visitors stopping to watch the cascade through the reservoir and hear the roar of the water.

At Girl Scout Cove, the water was covered the Holly Huntington Campfire Circle and lapped at the steps on the hillside – approximately 50 yards from the normal waterfront. Gazing out to the water the top12 inches of the flagpole at the Girl Scout waterfront is all that is visable above the water.

“Visitors to the lake are urged to use caution in flash flood-prone areas and when traveling low roads near the lake,” Doug Nichols of the Corps said. “D Highway at Hattie’s Ford floods at elevation 388.0 feet NGVD. All access to the Lake are either flooded or have been closed. Inflows have caused floating debris such as logs, limbs, etc., on the lake. Many recreational facilities are being closed due to this high water.”

For up-to-date lake information and facility closings, call the Wappapello Lake Hotline at (573) 222-8139 or toll-free at 1-877-LAKE-INFO (1-877-525-3463) or call the Wappapello Lake Management Office at (573) 222-8562. The website for the Lake office is www.mvs.usace.army.mil/wappapello.

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