Bull Shoals Lake

Last updated
Bull Shoals Lake
Bull Shoals.jpg
USA Arkansas relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bull Shoals Lake
Locationnorthern Arkansas, southern Missouri
Coordinates 36°21′55″N092°34′30″W / 36.36528°N 92.57500°W / 36.36528; -92.57500
Lake type reservoir
Primary inflows White River
Primary outflows White River
Catchment area 6,036 sq mi (15,630 km2)
Basin  countriesUnited States
Max. length80 mi (130 km)
Surface area 45,150 acres (182.7 km2)
Average depth75 ft (23 m)
Max. depth210 ft (64 m)
Surface elevation661 ft (201 m) at normal pool

Bull Shoals Lake is an artificial lake or reservoir in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, United States. It has hundreds of miles of lake arms and coves, and common activities include boating, water sports, swimming, and fishing. Nineteen developed parks around the shoreline provide campgrounds, boat launches, swim areas, and marinas.

Contents

History

Bull Shoals Dam BullShoalsDam-1.jpg
Bull Shoals Dam
Aerial photo of Bull Shoals Dam Bull Shoals Dam aerial photo.jpg
Aerial photo of Bull Shoals Dam

Bull Shoals Dam was created to impound the White River by one of the largest concrete dams in the United States and was the fifth largest dam in the world at its inception. [1] Work on the dam began in 1947, was completed in 1951 and dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in 1952. At least seven small family cemeteries and 20 larger cemeteries were meticulously relocated to accommodate the new lake. [2] Recent national events include Brostock 2010 and 2011 and the TBF Bass Federation and Bassmaster Elite Series Tournaments in 2012.

Hydrology

Bull Shoals Lake impounds the White River for the last time as water travels toward its mouth on the Mississippi River. Bull Shoals is thus the lake farthest downstream in a chain of four artificial lakes that include (from upstream to downstream) Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo. The lake is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers and has the primary purpose of flood control. The level of the lake fluctuates regularly with a normal pool level elevation of 654 feet (199 m) above sea level, which is locally known as powerpool. However, the lake regularly fluctuates between an elevation of 630 to 680 ft (190 to 210 m). The upper part of the lake, below nearby Powersite Dam, is known as the "Pothole". [3]

The shoreline of the lake is undeveloped and protected by a buffer zone (locally called the "take line") owned, operated, managed, and controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers. The dam is designed for a maximum elevation of 695 ft (212 m) (top of the flood pool). Bull Shoals Lake covers 45,000 acres (182 km2) with a 700-mile (1,100 km) shoreline at powerpool to more than 70,000 acres (284 km2) with a 1,000 mi (1,600 km) shoreline at 690 ft (210 m). The bottom of the lake consists of bedrock with very limited vegetation. The shoreline is heavily forested. [4]

State park

The Bull Shoals-White River State Park is a 725-acre (2.9 km2) park in Baxter and Marion Counties of Arkansas both above and below the massive dam. Facilities, including camping, pavilions, dock and interpretive programs, stretch along the banks of the White River. Along the lakeshore, the park offers picnic sites and playgrounds.

Flooding in 2008 and 2011

In the spring of 2008, due to the record rainfall, Bull Shoals reached its highest water level since 1957. The lake crested at 695.02 ft (211.84 m) above sea level, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to open the floodgates to relieve the lake from further flooding. A record crest of 696.51 ft (212.30 m) was achieved at 5 p.m. on May 27, 2011, due to record rainfall, exceeding the Spring 2008 lake levels and 1957 levels. [5] [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Lake</span> Reservoir in Oregon, United States

Detroit Lake is a reservoir impounded by the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River 46 miles (74 km) southeast of Salem, Oregon, United States. The lake is adjacent to Oregon Route 22 near the city of Detroit. This mesotrophic lake stores water for use by the city of Salem and other nearby communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White River (Arkansas–Missouri)</span> River in the US

The White River is a 722-mile (1,162 km) river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri. Originating in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, it arcs northwards through southern Missouri before turning back into Arkansas, flowing southeast to its mouth at the Mississippi River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaver Lake (Arkansas)</span> Man-made reservoir in Arkansas, United States

Beaver Lake is a man-made reservoir in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas and is formed by a dam across the White River. Beaver Lake has some 487 miles (784 km) of shoreline. With towering limestone bluffs, natural caves, and a wide variety of trees and flowering shrubs, it is a popular tourist destination. Beaver Lake is the source of drinking water in Northwest Arkansas, which is managed, treated and sold by Beaver Water District, serving more than 450,000 customers. One out of 7 people in Arkansas get their drinking water from Beaver Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull Shoals-White River State Park</span> State park in northern Arkansas, United States

Bull Shoals-White River State Park is a 732-acre (296 ha) Arkansas state park in Baxter and Marion Counties, Arkansas in the United States. Containing one of the nation's best trout-fishing streams, the park entered the system in 1955 after the United States Army Corps of Engineers built Bull Shoals Dam on the White River. The park runs along the shoreline of Bull Shoals Lake and the White River above and below the dam, and contains picnic areas, a marina, boat rentals, interpretive programs, and a visitors' center with gift shop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenkiller Ferry Lake</span> Oklahoma reservoir on the Illinois River

Tenkiller Ferry Lake, or more simply, "Lake Tenkiller," is a reservoir in eastern Oklahoma formed by the damming of the Illinois River. The earth-fill dam was constructed between 1947 and 1952 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for purposes of flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply and recreation. It went into full operation in 1953. The lake and dam were named for the Tenkiller family, prominent Cherokees who owned the land and ferry that were bought for the project. This is 6th largest lake in Oklahoma, based on water capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone Lake</span> Dam in Oklahoma Pawnee / Osage / Creek / Tulsa counties, Oklahoma

Keystone Lake is a reservoir in northeastern Oklahoma on the Arkansas and Cimarron rivers. It is located upstream about 23 miles (37 km) from Tulsa. It was created in 1968 when the Keystone Dam was completed. The primary purposes are: flood control, hydroelectric power generation, wildlife management and recreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Cumberland</span> Man-made lake in Kentucky, United States

Lake Cumberland is a reservoir in Clinton, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne, and Laurel, counties in Kentucky. The primary reasons for its construction were a means for flood control and the production of hydroelectric power. Its shoreline measures 1,255 miles (2,020 km) and the lake covers 65,530 acres (265 km2) at the maximum power pool elevation. The reservoir ranks 9th in the U.S. in size, with a capacity of 6,100,000 acre-feet (7.5 km3) of water, enough to cover the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky with 3 inches (76 mm) of water. The main lake is 101 miles (163 km) long and over one mile (1.6 km) across at its widest point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Table Rock Lake</span> Man-made lake in Missouri and Arkansas, United States

Table Rock Lake is an artificial lake or reservoir in the Ozarks of southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas in the United States. Designed, built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lake is impounded by Table Rock Dam, which was constructed from 1954 to 1958 on the White River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake of the Ozarks</span> Reservoir in Missouri, United States

Lake of the Ozarks is a reservoir created by impounding the Osage River in the northern part of the Ozarks in central Missouri. Parts of three smaller tributaries to the Osage are included in the impoundment: the Niangua River, Grandglaize Creek, and Gravois Creek. The lake has a surface area of 54,000 acres (220 km2) and 1,150 miles (1,850 km) of shoreline. The main channel of the Osage Arm stretches 92 miles (148 km) from one end to the other. The total drainage area is over 14,000 square miles (36,000 km2). The lake's serpentine shape has earned it the nickname "the Missouri Dragon", which has, in turn, inspired the names of local institutions such as the Magic Dragon Street Meet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheeler Dam</span> Dam in Alabama, United States

Wheeler Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River between Lauderdale County and Lawrence County in Alabama. It is one of nine dams on the river owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the mid-1930s as part of a New Deal-era initiative to improve navigation on the river and bring flood control and economic development to the region. The dam impounds the Wheeler Lake of 67,070 acres (27,140 ha) and its tailwaters feed into Wilson Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norfork Dam</span> Dam in Baxter County, Arkansas, United States of America

Norfork Dam is a large dam in northern Arkansas southeast of Mountain Home. It dams North Fork River and creates Norfork Lake. The top of the dam supports a 2-lane roadway, part of AR 177.

Millwood Lake is a reservoir in southwestern Arkansas, United States. It is located 9 miles (14 km) from Ashdown and is formed from the damming of the point where Little River and Saline River meet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilson Lake (Kansas)</span> Reservoir in Russell and Lincoln counties in Kansas

Wilson Lake is a reservoir in the U.S. state of Kansas, on the border of Russell County and Lincoln County. Built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, it is also used for wildlife management and recreation. Several parks are located along its shoreline, including Wilson State Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grenada Lake</span> Reservoir in Mississippi, United States

Grenada Lake is a reservoir on the Yalobusha River in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is one of four flood control lakes in North Mississippi constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Grenada Lake was constructed to help control flooding along the Yazoo River Basin. The dam is located on the Yalobusha River approximately 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Grenada, Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry Lake (Kansas)</span> Reservoir in Jefferson County, Kansas

Perry Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers operated reservoir in northeast Kansas. Its primary purposes are flood control, water reserve for nearby areas and regional recreation. The lake is approximately 11,150 acres (45 km²) in size, with over 160 miles (260 km) of shoreline. Perry Lake's full multi-purpose pool elevation is 891.5 feet (271.7 m) above sea level. Perry Lake is located about 40 miles (64 km) west of Kansas City, just northwest of Lawrence, Kansas. Its close proximity to Kansas City, Lawrence, and the state capitol, Topeka, make it a very popular destination, with the nickname "Paradise on the Plains".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benbrook Lake</span> Reservoir in Tarrant County, Texas

Benbrook Lake is a reservoir on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in Tarrant County, Texas, USA. The lake is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of the center of Fort Worth, where the Clear Fork and the West Fork of the Trinity River join. The lake is impounded by the Benbrook Dam. The lake and dam are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Pueblo State Park</span> State park in Colorado, United States

Lake Pueblo State Park is a state park located in Pueblo County, Colorado. It includes 60 miles (97 km) of shoreline and 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land. Activities it offers include two full-service marinas, recreational fishing, hiking, camping and swimming at a special swim beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanopolis Lake</span> Reservoir in Ellsworth County, Kansas

Kanopolis Lake is a reservoir in Ellsworth County in the Smoky Hills of central Kansas, about 31 miles southwest of Salina and a few miles southeast of the town of Kanopolis. The lake is formed by Kanopolis Dam. Completed in 1948 as a flood control and water conservation project of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the dam impounds the Smoky Hill River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Martin Reservoir</span> Reservoir in Colorado, United States

John Martin Reservoir is a reservoir on the Arkansas River in Bent County in southeastern Colorado. Built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it is used for flood control, irrigation, and recreation. John Martin Reservoir State Park lies on its shore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Point Lake</span> Lake in Georgia, U.S.

West Point Lake is a man-made reservoir located mostly in west-central Georgia on the Chattahoochee River and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The Chattahoochee river flows in from the north, before flowing through the West Point Dam, which impounds the lake, and continuing to Columbus, Georgia. Of the four major USACE lakes in the ACF River Basin, West Point Lake is the smallest by area containing 25,864 acres (10,467 ha) of water, and has the second shortest shoreline at 604 mi (972 km). The purposes of the reservoir are to provide flood control, hydroelectric power, and water storage to aid the navigation of the lower Chattahoochee.

References

  1. "Little Rock District - Bull Shoals Lake". Archived from the original on 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2004-02-21.
  2. [ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Bull Shoals Lake Maps". Ozark Anglers. Retrieved 2010-10-02.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. Bull Shoals, Fishing Hot Spots
  5. "White River System Lake Update". Archived from the original on 2012-08-05.
  6. "Flood Gates at Bull Shoals Dam Open". Archived from the original on 2008-12-04.