Beaver Lake prepares for busy weekend
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
ROGERS - Beaver Lake's high water should not affect campers and boaters too much as Memorial Day weekend approaches to kick off the busy lake season.
Ranger Alan Bland said 130 of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers'670 campsites are closed because of high water. He encourages visitors to make reservations because normally all 670 sites fill up.
"Lately we've been kind of dwelling on the negative, the flood damage and this and that,"Bland said. "Sometime, we've got to say: Hey ! We're still open ! … We've done some upgrades. Come out and see us."
Bland said Thursday that Beaver Lake's water level has dropped almost 4 feet since April 10, when the record high of 1, 132 feet above sea level was measured.
Bland said the Corps had to close some campsites because they were completely underwater or an electrical box was submerged, which causes four to five campsites to lose electricity when the breaker is shut off.
Boaters are encouraged to "use the middle of the lake when going from point A to point B,"Bland said.
"You're going to boat over things that are normally on land - picnic tables, barbecues, trees, etc.,"Bland said. "We already had a report of a small boat that sank from hitting a stump. The driver was OK, but that incident just goes to show you have to be extra careful."
Lost Bridge Marina owner Bob Bauer said there are plenty of campsites still available, and people should not be afraid to go to the lake because of the recent floods and negative reports in the media.
"At least I know here at Lost Bridge North, the water level hasn't affected us a lot. We have only one picnic table underwater, and there's tons of water for people to use,"Bauer said.
Memorial Day weekend is an "iffy"holiday for the marinas, Bauer said, because the water is still a little too cold for swimming.
Bland said Memorial Day is traditionally the Corps'biggest holiday, with thousands of visitors going out for lake day use.
"Really, it all depends on the weather, though. A lot of people make their mind up in the morning whether to head out for the day depending if it's raining, cloudy or sunny,"Bland said. "With high gasoline prices, people coming to the parks are more likely to be close to home, but the parks stay just as busy, in any case."
On park upgrades, Bland said, the Corps is proud of the switch at Dam Site Park from well water to treated drinking water from a Carroll-Boone Water District pipeline.
Some of the most popular campsites at Horseshoe Bend Park are also having water pipelines added, being lengthened to accommodate 60-foot RVs and having 50-amp electric service installed.
"We're within, probably, a couple of weeks of finishing those up,"Bland said Wednesday.
Also in preparation for Memorial Day weekend, a group of park rangers and Benton County Jail inmates worked to clean up debris in Hickory Creek Park caused by April flooding.
Bland said day use at Hickory Creek Park is currently closed.
More information on campground and park facilities is available by calling the Corps at 636-1210.
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