Norfork Lake Arkansas near Mountain Home Condition by Scuba Steve from Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental

The lake level is 579.51 and has dropped 3/4 of an inch in the last 24-hours. They opened up spillway gates equivalent to 2-1/3rd generators to supplement the two generators for a total of 4-1/3rd generators at 1:PM yesterday or ir would have gone over the dam by now. They will continue this until it reaches 579 or a one foot surge capacity and then quit and adjust as necessary. Do not expect Norfork or Bull Shoal;s to drop very much any time soon. Their goal is to keep Table Rock from flooding without opening spillway gates on Bull Shoals while keeping the White River at Newport near the minor flood stage of 26-feet. They could pull it off but it will be close. There is not much rain in the forecast for the next week in the area.  The Black River at Black Rock is flooded going into the White River and Bryant Creek on the Norfork River is still sending a lot of water into Norfork lake. The only things they have going for them is the weather and Bull Shoals being able to hold a bunch of water. It is 4-1/2 feet below the top of the flood pool and will continue to rise.  Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental has installed their new walkway to the dock and you can drive to the dock, park and walk right on but you have to launch at Panther Bay. It is newly renovated and has much better launching and much more parking than before. They just opened it again after being shut down for a year and is only a short drive to Blackburns where you can park your boat at our dock. Cranfield is closed for the season but the ramp on the back side of Henderson is open but has very limited parking but a good place to launch and bring your trailer right back to Blackburns but is further by boat.  We have no diminished services except launching and many resorts do not have that anyway. The water is clearing and should clear more with the steady but high water levels. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental continues to have the best place with the best price on both cabins and Boat Rentals in the area. Give Debbie a call at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. Good top-water bite and also Catfishing.