Caution urged as lake level drops

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urged caution Thursday as the pool elevation of Lake Ouachita continued to slowly fall due to the open flood tunnel at Blakely Mountain Dam and full-load hydropower generation.

Ouachita's elevation was 581.44 feet above mean sea level as of Monday morning following a weekend of heavy rainfall in the lake's watershed. The flood pool begins at 578 feet msl. The Corps, in conjunction with downstream releases from Carpenter and Remmel dams, which are managed by Entergy Arkansas Inc., has been working to slowly lower Lake Ouachita out of the flood pool. As of Thursday afternoon, Ouachita was at 580.84 feet msl.

As the lake level drops, the Corps is asking boaters to keep an eye out for debris floating in the lake, according to Brian Westfall, a natural resources specialist with the Corps of Engineers.

"After a lake rise, boaters should use extra caution while navigating the lakes," Westfall said Thursday.

"Oftentimes debris is carried from the shoreline out into the boating lanes. Boaters are advised to watch out for floating debris by having dependable lookouts and reducing their cruising speed. Some debris can be located just under the surface of the water creating dangerous hazards."

Boaters are also urged to wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets as the best defense against drowning.

"Life jackets won't work unless they are worn and worn properly," said Westfall, the past president of the National Water Safety Congress. "Remember children 12 years old and younger must wear a properly fitting life jacket while the boat is underway."

The mission of the National Water Safety Congress is to promote water safety education and professional development to prevent drownings and water-related incidents.

Westfall said the Corps of Engineers encourages all boaters to file a "float plan" with a reliable adult prior to coming to the lake.

"Information in the float plan should include who will be going along on the outing, where they intend on launching their vessel and when they intend on returning home from the lake," Westfall said.

"This information is most helpful to search and rescue personnel should the party not return home as planned. The plan gives rescue personnel a starting point to begin searching. Lake Ouachita is enormous, with over 40,000 surface acres of water. First responders can provide rescue assistance much more quickly and efficiently with a solid float plan to follow."

Local on 05/06/2016

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