Update on Flooding at Wappapello Lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake reports that significant rains received in the St. Francis watershed north of Wappapello Lake have caused the upper St. Francis River and Wappapello Lake to rise. As of 10 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2017, the Wappapello Lake level was 370.16 feet relative to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) and rising. The lake level is forecasted to crest at approximately elevation 373.0 feet NGVD from this rainfall event. In addition, more significant rainfall is forecasted for the next three days over the watershed. With an additional 7.9 inches of rain, the lake would be forecasted to crest near elevation 385.0 feet NGVD. The top of the Overflow Spillway is elevation 394.74 feet NGVD. The present discharge is approximately 4,200 cfs, but will be increased to approximately 10,000 cfs when water on the ground has the lake forecasted to rise above elevation 379.74 feet NGVD. This could happen as early as Saturday, April 29th or Sunday, April 30th.
Visitors to the lake are urged to use caution in flash flood-prone areas and when traveling low roads near the lake. Numerous access to the Lake are either flooded, have been closed or will be closed. Inflows have caused floating debris such as logs and limbs. For up-to-date lake information and facility closings, please call the Wappapello Lake Hotline at (573) 222-8139 or toll-free at 1-877-LAKE-INFO (1-877-525-3463) or call the Wappapello Lake Management Office at (573) 222-8562. You may visit us on the web at www.mvs.usace.army.mil/wappapello.
