WAPPAPELLO — The periodic inspection of the Wappapello Lake dam, planned for next week, will be rescheduled after several inches of rain fell on the lake and its upper watershed Thursday.
“It’s going to be a while,” said Park Ranger Andrew Jefferson, before the inspection can take place because the lake must be drawn down a foot and a half below the winter conservation pool of 354.74 feet.
With a heavy flow of rainwater, currently at 16,490 cfs, coming into the impoundment after Thursday’s rains, the lake is expected to rise for several days.
“It’s expected to crest at 371 feet on Wednesday, Feb. 23,” Jefferson said.
That would put the lake 16 feet above normal for this time of year.
Additional rainfall is predicted for several consecutive days next week, so that crest date likely will occur later than expected.
Downstream of the lake on the St. Francis River, the water level at Fisk is expected to rise above 15 feet early next week as discharges from Wappapello increase. Flood stage at the Fisk gauge is 20 feet.
For now, Jefferson said, the inspection should take place sometime in March.