From the ACOE the word on the gates is they are closed until Monday at the latest. There is significant inflow downstream from BB lake and they are waiting to be sure they are not creating a flood down the line somewhere. This of course adds the element of things being alright right now with no good estimate as to when they will begin to release water again. Be careful if you are headed that way, if the horns sound get out of the water because they may open both gates at once and you don't want to be in the river when that "wall" of water gets there.

Figure on about 6" of drop in the lake roughly per day if the release stays similar to what it was. It could be as much as a week or more extra time to draw down the lake after this rain.

Kelkay, not sure about the reasoning of the trees. Beautification is definitely one reason, shade for the EH water in the long term could be another. Just guesses there, I don't know the exact reason.

Eric

sound like them trouts is gonna have to learn how to swim.

Eric, if the trees were further back, they could still provide shade when they grew fairly big. But they have them where people are going to get those trees full of flies. I hate fishing with trees all in my way. Once those trees mature at the bank like that, people are going to be disgruntled to say the least.

my guess on the trees is for erosion control -- especially with that much foot traffic that kills ground vegetation then when water is high....

Great point Hill! This is a great example of why I am NOT in charge of anything like this!

The Upper Mountain Fork river is falling now so perhaps the runoff is starting to drop and they will get back to getting water out of the lake. That would get them closer to fixing the generators, and ultimately us back to fishing again sooner!



Eric

Bikedog thanks for the pics!

Here is my glass half full but partly cloudy thought:
Having never fished there before I have nothing to compare it to so I may go up there and be pleasantly surprised if I catch some quality trout. That being said, knowing it's a quality fishery that offers quality close to home but won't be up to par make the forecast cloudy...but half full

Im just ready to throw some loops in the air. Fishin was just getting really good there too.

Hill, that is a good guess, and it might very well be WHY. Rocks or plants would help, and not get in the casters way though, I think. I can just see those trees nice and mature. The flies on it will be picture worthy in the future!

Here is the latest info from Beaver's Ben SP. Those who ventured north to Beaver's Bend this weekend got a great surprise, the gates were closed/running less water most of the weekend. Due to the extra water downstream they needed to slow the flow from Lake Broken Bow. But as of yesterday afternoon they have re-opened the gates on the Spillway and resumed trying to get the lake down below 599' for the maintenance on the generators.

While this was a bit of a "bonus" weekend and those who made the trip were able to fish and do quite well it means that the length of "downtime" will be that much longer.

Here is the newest gate changes:
Gate Changes:

* Monday, 26 Oct 09 at 3:00 p.m.
o Pool Elevation = 606.42 feet.
o New Gate Discharge was 899 cubic feet per second.
o New Gate Settings:
+ 1 Low Flow Valve open 10.00 PERCENT
+ 2 Tainter Gates open 0.50 FEET
This is in addition to having both generators running which is an additional ~3000cfs in Z2 and Z3. Those areas are NOT fishable! An experienced kayaker died in Z3 last week.

Good luck all!
eric

Welcome to the world of the ACOE! As of this afternoon the gates on the Spillway are closed again. I am sure this is due to rain downstream from Broken Bow, but they are scheduled to get rain later this week. After that I hear it may get dry again for a bit.

Tuesday, 27 Oct 09 at 10:30 a.m.

* Pool Elevation = 606.69 feet.
* New Gate Discharge was 71 cubic feet per second.
* New Gate Settings:
o 1 Low Flow Valve open 10.00 PERCENT

Good luck and get out to go fish!
eric

Hey, Jesse & Linda King from Three Rivers Fly Shop just sent the note below to their mailing list. I hope no one minds if I post it here - it sure seems noteworthy!
-------------------------------

Best Update!

The Broken Bow powerhouse supervisor has told us that the Corps. of Engineers plans to leave the Spillway gates closed until Spring!!! One generator is off-line now and the other one will be taken off-line in probably mid-March.

This means that fishing IS possible in Zone I for the next several months! The water will still be too high in Zone II and III. Once the lake level gets below 599', then the generating schedule will go back to normal periodic releases.

Linda King
Three Rivers Fly Shop
580-494-6115
www.threeriversflyshop.com

Wow. I hope that news holds. I'm heading there next weekend with my in-laws for a trip that has been planned for a while and won't change with fishing conditions. I'd written off fishing given all of the bad news, but if I can get out that would be great.

I know there's a guide who posted here that he canceled all trips for a while. If you'd like to pick one up for next Saturday (11/7), send me a PM and we might be able to work something out.

I just spoke to Linda and this is correct. She had a conversation this afternoon with the COE and this is their plan for the moment, always seems to change of course!

Looks like anyone who has a trip planned may have gotten a break! Time to go fishing!!!

Eric

i knew i would get some loops in the air!!!

Fall at Beavers Bend woot