Log jam surrounds docks at Mallard Point. Photo courtesy of Peter Kirch
With heavy rains over the last week inundating the Twin Lakes area with nearly 10 inches of precipitation, log jams have been forming on Norfork Lake, creating a navigation hazard and limiting access for local dock owners.
KTLO, Classic Hits, and The Boot News spoke to Head Ranger Dylan Edwards of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Norfork, who noted that this is a common occurrence when heavy rains drain into Lake Norfork.
Listen:
TRANSCRIPT: It’s, it’s very common, especially amounts of rain that we’ve seen in the last several days and a huge influx of water coming into our watershed for North Fork Lake. Common for debris to become washed into the lake. It comes from the north part of the lake around Tecumseh where Bryant Creek and, and the North Fork River come in and, uh, follows the river channel all the way down to where it’s at right now around Cranfield Mallard Point.
The Corps does not assist in breaking up these jams. Instead, Edwards explains that natural forces typically handle moving the debris along.
Listen:
TRANSCRIPT: It’s kind of formed itself coming down the river channel, stays real tight. Well, where it’s at right now, it’s going to start, it’s going to start naturally breaking up as the lake gets bigger. Start kind of scattering through some of the, some of the creek arms and different, uh, tributaries of the lake.
Edwards urges caution for anyone attempting to move a log jam or navigating the lake at this time.
Listen:
TRANSCRIPT: We do have some folks that do that, and we just obviously caution folks. We want them to be safe, and so if it’s something that they feel comfortable with, with moving a log to the bank, we know that folks are doing that. We will get out, you know, pull in articles of man made, um, type debris. We always get calls.
You know, they’re going to need to be very cognizant right now that there are a lot of additional hazards out on the lake that aren’t typically there, and so. Encourage everybody to, you know, wear, always wear their lifejacket, keep their kill switch attached, try not to go out on the boat by yourself so that you can have a spotter, additional set of eyes, and, uh, probably not a good idea right now to operate a vessel past, uh, past sunset.
Lake Norfork has risen nearly 10 feet from the recent heavy rains, and Edwards says Corps engineers in Little Rock are still evaluating the entire water system before making decisions on lake level adjustments via dam releases. Updates on future lake level predictions are available on Corps reporting websites.
To report man-made debris in the lake, residents can call the Mountain Home Project Office at 870-425-2700.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI