Predicting Water Levels on the White River
We live in paradise! We have world class, year around fishing for four species of trout. However, our fishing paradise is a tailwater, created by the construction of two dams built for power and flood control. These dams are operated by the Corps of Engineers (COE) and the Southwest Power Administration (SWPA) (the snakes in our paradise!). The amount of water in the rivers are controlled by SWPA, which determines the generation required to run the air conditioners for its rate payers in Tulsa, and by COE who actually operate the dams and manage the flood control requirements for the dams. So how do you figure out if you can go fishing today (or tomorrow) and where?
The COE provides the information about the current operations of the dams. This information may be obtained from their web sites: Bullshoals or Norfork :or by telephone at 1-870-431-5311. The web site provides the actual generation and water flow at each of the dams. The problem is that information is not "real time"; it is delayed about 4 hours. The phone number provides a recording that purports to tell the number of units currently operating. The recording is supposed to be updated whenever the generation status changes but sometimes the operator forgets to update the status. Also, the number of units operating only gives you a rough idea of the water flow. If you call the phone number in the morning (before 8:00 am) and there is no generation reported, it is smart to check again after 8:00 as the status is sometime updated at the shift change. When you are on the water, it is also smart to periodically check the current generation. The closer you are to the dam, the more often you should check.
SWPA provides information about the "planned" generation. Be aware, however, that sometimes their planning is not very good and there can be a big difference between the "planned" and the "actual" generation. SWPA website is here and the phone number is 1-866-494-1993. The web site appears to give the generation schedules for the whole week. But you need to verify the date on a schedule when you check it. In general the schedules don't seem to be updated more than a day or two in advance. SWPA will also tell you that the schedules are for power generation only and do not provide for any operational decisions that the COE might make beyond the generation required for power. The phone number is a bit of a pain to use. But it will provide you with the generation schedule for your selected dam for today, tomorrow, or the next day.
It is also useful to know the distance from Bull Shoals Dam to the location you hope to fish. (Distance is in miles):
Location Distance
State Park 1.5
White Hole 7
Wildcat Shoals 11
Cotter 18
Rim Shoals 24
Ranchettes 28
Buffalo City 32
Cartney 36
Shipps Ferry 38
Norfork 44
Reds Landing 49
And the speed of the water downstream during generation (Bulls Shoals Dam only):
1-3 units 2.5 MPH
3-6 units 3.0 MPH
6-8 units 3.25 MPH
To estimate when the water will fall, divide the distance by 2.
(This info came from the North Fork and White River Fishing Map, published by Jim Priest).
One thing that should be immediately obvious from this chart and the calculation for falling water, Rim Shoals is about 12 hours different from the Bull Shoals Dam. If the water was shut off most of the night and started in the morning, you can still fish Rim most of the day.
In the case of Norfork Dam and the Norfork River, the river is only 4 miles long. As a result, water level changes in a much more real time manner. It is very important to be aware of the current generation and to be watching for changes in water level!
This information should help you decide when and where you can go fishing. But as both the COE and SWPA will tell you, this information is no guarantee of safe water conditions. You need to watch the current conditions and apply good sense!