With rapidly rising lake levels and large amounts of debris, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is urging boaters take extra precautions on Lake Ouachita.
As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Lake Ouachita was at 581.88 feet above mean sea level, more than 3 feet above the flood pool level, which begins at 578 feet msl.
"We're waiting to see what rain we get Saturday, but we're projected to hit 582 (feet msl)," Amy Shultz, natural resource specialist, Lake Ouachita Field Office, told The Sentinel-Record.
Shultz said there was a slight break as Lake Ouachita did not get hit as hard by rains Wednesday as other areas of Garland County; however, the National Weather Services predicts rain chances through Saturday, with wet weather returning midweek.
According to a news release from the Lake Ouachita Field Office, large amounts of debris have washed into the lake after heavy rain from a series of storms that passed through the area the last few weeks. As a result of heavy rains in the state, Lake Ouachita is still rising, it said.
Shultz said debris, including downed trees and stumps, are carried into the lake by strong currents, making for hazardous conditions for boaters.
"We've actually had a lot of people complain because they've hit these trees and damaged their boats all because they couldn't see it out on the water," she said.
"Thankfully we haven't had any fatalities on Lake Ouachita yet, but people think the high water is not as dangerous as when the lake levels are low, but that's not the case. They're not suspecting this debris because they can't see it.
"There's usually a lot of cleanup after a major flooding event like this," she said.
Shultz said rangers have to be just as careful with their patrol boats because of the debris.
The Corps of Engineers stresses that anytime boaters take to the water they slow down, wear a life jacket at all times, wear a "kill switch," and "keep a vigilant lookout for water hazards."
"Across the district, we've already had a couple of fatalities -- thankfully not on Lake Ouachita -- due to not wearing a life jacket," Shultz said. "We know that had these individuals been wearing their life jacket, these would not have been fatal."
According to the release, warm weather can be deceiving as rain-cooled water is still very cool and "cold water immersion can result in a gasp reflex and possibly hypothermia."
Shultz said the corps also discourages people boating at night due to low visibility and debris. Boaters who take to the water at night are encouraged to leave a float plan with family members or friends, ensure all lights are working on the boat, and carry a fully charged cellphone or marine band radio to call for assistance.
For more information on Lake Ouachita, contact the Lake Ouachita Field Office at 501-767-2108 or visit http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/lakes/ar/Ouachita.
Local on 05/10/2019