The lake level is 579.40 and has risen 1/2 inch in the last 24-hours with both generators running continuously. Norfork has about 8-inches before it goes over the spillway. Both Table Rock and Bull Shoals are running over the spillway now. Dam management 101 teaches do not let the water goes over the spillway. I wonder if anyone managing the level has taken 101. They are to open spillway gates on Table Rock at noon to continue to overflow Bull Shoals. The White River at Newport is at 25.5 feet and 26 feet is flood stage. They have really gotten themselves in a bind. They want to hold and hope more but there is no place to hold. I suspect their next move will be to shut Norfork down until it is over the spillway also. At least the weather is to be beautiful with no rain in sight. That is all that is saving them. It looks like the rivers will be flooded as is the farmland downstream and the area lakes will remain full.. At least they held off doing this until the crops were planted and up where it will be doing the most damage. If they can take the White river up almost to flood stage now, I wonder why they cannot do it in the fall, winter and spring before the crops are planted? Just sayin. Get rid of the 12,14,18 feet stupid rules. The lake is still clear and is in good condition. There is a little debris out there but not bad. I do not recomment tubing or going out after dark. Some wood is water logged and just under the surface out of sight. This is changing daily even though the level has been pretty stable. The wind direction is responsible for this. One day north and one day south. The surface temperature is in the mid 70's and good for swimming. There are no beaches but you can swim off Blackburns Dock, in our big pool or out on the lake off a boat. The water is not dirty away from the bank. Blackburns is probably your best option for dock access, and vehicle and trailer parking. You can park at the dock and step right on but cannot launch here. No trailers at the dock. If you rent a boat, it is easy. If you bring your own boat, not so much. The boat launches are very crowded especially on the weekends and vehicle and trailer parking is very limited. We have plenty of that here at Blackburns and are not crowded up on a hillside. A lot of fish are still on the old shoreline and from the bank to there. Keep your boat in about 25-feet and cast to shore part way back in the creeks using creature baits and soft plastics. There is a top water bite some days at sunrise but not every day.
