Labor Day is often regarded as the unofficial end of summer and as boaters descend upon Fall River Lake and Toronto Lake, they are urged to use caution due to lower than normal lake levels.
Lake levels at Fall River Lake and Toronto Lake will be about two feet below normal while contractors perform maintenance on the dam’s Tainter (flood) gates. The low lake levels will continue until March 1, 2011.
The target level will be about two feet below normal, but there may be times when that may be exceeded. Boaters should take precautions while launching their boats and slow down while boating since underwater hazards may cause damage to their boats and motors.
During times of heavy rains the lakes may increase to above normal levels but precautions should still be taken since flooding bring new hazards into play such as floating debris.
Historically, the lakes are known to be at normal or above normal elevation and many regular boaters on the lake may not be aware of these new hazards caused by the lower elevation. The consequences for not taking caution can be severe.
A two foot drop in elevation around the shoreline doesn’t appear to be much in areas, however for both Fall River Lake and Toronto Lake this change in elevation limits the safe areas to launch your boat and operate.”
Labor Day is just around the corner, and boaters should be safe and slow down. Visitors can still enjoy the lake but you have to change the way you have boated on Fall River Lake and Toronto Lake in the past.”
Boat ramps currently open to public use at Fall River Lake are South Rock Ridge (State Park), center ramp of North Rock Ridge (Corps of Engineers Park), and the Engineer Cove ramp below the Fall River Corps of Engineers Lake Office. There is one boat ramp available for public use at Toronto Lake and that is the east ramp in Toronto Point (State Park).
For more information about current lake levels, visit the Water Control Data System or the daily report link under the Lakes and River Information link on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District Homepage, www.swt.usace.army.mil or call the Fall River lake office at 620-658-4445 for information on both lakes.
