Table Rock Lake

Aerial Photo of Table Rock Lake showing the Dam and the lower part of the lake

Table Rock Lake is an artificial lake, or reservoir, in The Ozarks of southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas. The lake was made by the construction of Table Rock dam. This 252 foot high impoundment was constructed in 1954-1958 on the White River by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It is one of the popular attractions for the nearby town of Branson, Missouri. There are several commercial marinas along the lake, and Table Rock State Park is located on the east side. Downstream from the dam, the Missouri Department of Conservation operates the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, which is used to stock trout in Lake Taneycomo. The cold water from the dam creates an ideal environment for Rainbow trout and Brown trout.

Lake air temperature

The lake area temperature varies according to season:

• Spring: 56 to 77 °F (25 °C)
• Summer: 85 to 90 °F (32 °C)
• Fall: 71 to 82 °F (28 °C)
• Winter: 42 to 47 °F (8 °C)

Lake data

Dam and Outlet Measurements

• Length of dam- 6,423 feet (1,958 m)
• Length of concrete section- 1,602 feet (488 m)
• Maximum height of dam above stream bed- 252 feet (77 m)
• Concrete in dam- 1,230,000 cubic yards (940,000 m³)
• Earth in embankment- 3,320,000 cubic yards (2,540,000 m³)

Dam elevations above mean sea level

• Top of dam- 947 feet (289 m)
• Spillway crest- 896 feet (273 m)

Lake elevations above mean sea level

• Top of flood control pool- 931 feet (284 m)
• Top of normal pool- 915 feet (279 m)

Surface area of lake

• Flood control pool- 52,300 acres (212 km²)
• Normal pool- 43,100 acres (174 km²)

Maximum storage capacity

• Flood control pool- 760,000 acre feet (940,000,000 m³)

Shoreline length

• Flood control pool- 857 miles (1,379 km)
• Normal Pool- 745 miles (1,199 km)

Other

• Maximum depth - 220 feet (67 m)
• Lake total- 3,462,000

Power generating data

• Number of generating units- 4
• Rated capacity for each unit- 50,000 kilowatts
• Station installed capacity- 200,000 kilowatts

Flood control

The original purpose of the reservoir was for flood control on the White River. It also produces Hydroelectric power and provides recreation for southern Missoui and northern Arkansas. The dam had been authorized under the Flood Control Act of 1941. But World War II and the Korean War delayed construction until 1954. The reservoir has a fluctuation of 16 feet (4.9 m). When the reservoir is above the maximum flood pool, excess water goes over the auxiliary overflow spillway at the north end of the dam. Table Rock is the second of four major reservoirs on the White River before it enters the Mississippi River. The other three are Beaver Lake, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals Lake.

Fishing

Table Rock is one of the premier Largemouth bass fishing lakes in the United States. All three species of Black bass are here in abundance (Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted). The lake has produced Largemouth bass of over 10 pounds and Smallmouth bass over 7 pounds. Table Rock is the site of several major Bass fishing tournaments each year. The lake has several other species of game fish including Crappie, Walleye, White Bass, Paddlefish, Catfish and Sunfish. Lake Tannycomo, below Table Rock dam, is one of the top 5 Rainbow and Brown trout fisheries in the world.

Table Rock Lake Media

• 

  Table Rock Dam during the April 2008 flood with all flood gates open

Further reading

• "Wake Up to Table Rock Lake", pamphlet available at the Table Rock Dam Visitors' Center