From Eagletown Volunteer Fire Dept FB page

Zone 3 Saturday morning...


Next Day



And it got worse after this...

Denny

As of 9 PM Tuesday May 26: Current Readings:

Pool elevation is 627.73 feet on Tuesday 26May15 Time: 2100 hours.
At this elevation the total amount of water stored in Broken Bow Lake is 1354378 acre-feet.
Reservoir release is 27800 cubic feet per second on Tuesday 26May15 Time: 2100 hours.
Flood control pool is 101.01% full.
Flood control pool storage filled is 403313 acre-feet which is equivalent to 10.03 inches of runoff over the entire drainage basin.
Flood control pool storage empty is -4039 acre-feet which is equivalent to -0.10 inches of runoff over the entire drainage basin.


Gate Changes:

Tuesday, 26 May 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Pool Elevation = 627.85 feet.
New Gate Discharge was 16249 cubic feet per second.
New Gate Settings:
8 Tainter Gates open 1.50 FEET
1 Low Flow Valve open 25.00 PERCENT

Consider the damage these storms have caused all over Oklahoma. Consider the expense to the state of Oklahoma to repair basic infrastructure in those areas, roadways, bridges, electrical, water supply, sewer systems, buildings, etc. Now after that consider how much of a budget the state will have for repairs to state parks. State recreational areas are going to be way down the list of storm recovery priorities. Take Beavers Bend for example. Damage assessment, debris and hazard removal, roadway and bridge repair, stabilizing and repairing damaged park facilities, checking the park water supply, rebuilding the RV and waterside campground / picnic areas and rebuilding washed out footpaths etc. the fix-it list gets longer the more you think about it but how will the fix be coordinated and at what cost and what items get prioritized? This process will go on for months through the summer into Fall and carry over into next year. It is all well and good to keep spirits high and be optimistic that everything will be fixed and back to rights with just a few dry sunny days worth of industrious work but a reality check may be in store. The aquatic ecosystem of Zone 1 was power washed down beyond Zone 2 and Zone 1 will be a lifeless debris choked watery ravine. Not a trout, minnow, crayfish, frog or rock clinging insect to be found. Re-establishing Zone 1 as a trout fishing environment will be a long term project unto itself aside from general park fixes. No, there won't be any trout stocking this week fellas and you won't be allowed to drive around in to the park anyway. The economic loss and recovery cost is truly shocking. A lot of park related livelihoods were changed when the dam gates were opened. Beavers Bend is in for a long recovery. The McCurtain County tourism industry was delivered a severe blow just in time for the summer season.

Broken Bow Lake USACE page

Gate Changes:

Wednesday, 27 May 15 at 3:00 a.m.
Pool Elevation = 627.51 feet.
New Gate Discharge was 5644 cubic feet per second.
New Gate Settings:
8 Tainter Gates open 0.50 FEET
1 Low Flow Valve open 25.00 PERCENT
Tuesday, 26 May 15 at 10:30 p.m.
Pool Elevation = 627.68 feet.
New Gate Discharge was 10954 cubic feet per second.
New Gate Settings:
8 Tainter Gates open 1.00 FEET
1 Low Flow Valve open 25.00 PERCENT
Tuesday, 26 May 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Pool Elevation = 627.85 feet.
New Gate Discharge was 16249 cubic feet per second.
New Gate Settings:
8 Tainter Gates open 1.50 FEET
1 Low Flow Valve open 25.00 PERCENT
Tuesday, 26 May 15 at 2:15 p.m.
Pool Elevation = 628.08 feet.
New Gate Discharge was 16965 cubic feet per second.
New Gate Settings:
7 Tainter Gates open 1.50 FEET
1 Tainter Gate open 2.00 FEET
1 Low Flow Valve open 25.00 PERCENT

Current Readings:

Pool elevation is 627.47 feet on Wednesday 27May15 Time: 0500 hours.
At this elevation the total amount of water stored in Broken Bow Lake is 1349812 acre-feet.
Reservoir release is 11644 cubic feet per second on Wednesday 27May15 Time: 0500 hours.
Flood control pool is 99.87% full.
Flood control pool storage filled is 398746 acre-feet which is equivalent to 9.92 inches of runoff over the entire drainage basin.
Flood control pool storage empty is 527 acre-feet which is equivalent to 0.01 inches of runoff over the entire drainage basin.

Anybody have a copy of the blueprints for Noah's Ark? I think that we're going to need it!

Bill

From the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation Latest update - It's not good

From the Lower Mountain For River Foundation:

Another quick update on the situation in the park:

The park is CLOSED right now. OKDOT is still needing to send in structural engineers to assess the swim beach bridge. The park is responsible for doing the same on the bridge by Beaver's Bend Fly Shop. This makes getting around in the park impossible for now. There is still no drinking water inside the park.

Broken Bow Lake is still full, IE-at full flood pool level, and there is still rain predicted. Remember that it is not just rain at the lake but runoff from north of the lake that affects the levels.

There is no guarantee that the gates will not open again. Additionally the park is not planning to do any clean up until the rain/release danger is completely past them. This means the flood pool being close to empty.

Right now the park and state agencies are in the damage assessment and most basic needs repaired stage. Jim Miller, park manager, is aware that the LMFRF and it's members are here and ready to help. The time to begin volunteering and helping is just not here yet. We will certainly reach out and look for help at the earliest possible time. We certainly appreciate everyone's thoughts and offers and look forward to working with you to rebuild this fishery and park.

Park info is verified through Jim Miller, Beaver's Bend State Park manager.

Latest from Pat W, president of the LMFRF. With new pics also,

5/28/15 LMFRF page updates

Was the fly shop still there when it went down. I'm sure it is a lot of damage but at least it was a fairly simple small building to fix.

Really good to see that there were fish rising. Hiding under a Cutbank would be an understatement looking at some of those pictures. Looks like a bulldozer went right down the side of the creek.

The shop building didn't move an inch on the foundation. Eddie is stripping it down to studs to dry everything but it seems like the building "bones" are alright. Threw all the other buildings downstream though. I guess it was secured better.

That's really good! Well it's really sad to see but I'm sure it will get going again. That fishery bring is way too much revenue into that area. I hope to get up there and help in the effort when the chances of flood goes down and rebuilding starts.

You know from the pictures I have seen the river looks really good. Add some loose substrate and they should be spawning again in no time. I had talked with a friend of mine and the park may be closed but if they are guarding it like they do the fishery on an average basis we should be able to drive right down to the river and fish. Probably already lawn chairs and power bait out. I really hope the scare continues to improve and the park is back in working order. Not having utilities should help with the type of crowd. You don't see too many hard core lawn chair fisherman. Those that show up with a six pack I bush and a jar of eggs are not adding much to the economy anyway. I am actually really excited to get up there and see the new river.