Bull Shoals Lake is an artificial lake or reservoir in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. It has hundreds of miles of lake arms and coves, and common activities include boating, water sports, swimming, and fishing. Nineteen developed parks around the shoreline provide campgrounds, boat launches, swim areas, and marinas.
Bull Shoals Dam was created to impound the White River by one of the largest concrete dams in the United States and the 5th largest dam in the world at its inception.[1] Work on the dam began in 1947, was completed in 1951 and dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in 1952. At least seven small family cemeteries and 20 larger cemeteries were meticulously relocated to accommodate the new lake.[2] Recent national events include Brostock 2010 and 2011 and the TBF Bass Federation and Bassmaster Elite Series Tournaments in 2012.
Hydrology
Bull Shoals Lake impounds the White River for the last time as water travels toward its mouth on the Mississippi River. Bull Shoals is thus the lake farthest downstream in a chain of four artificial lakes that include (from upstream to downstream) Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo. The lake is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers and has the primary purpose of flood control. The level of the lake fluctuates regularly with a normal pool level elevation of 654 feet above sea level, which is locally known as powerpool. However, the lake regularly fluctuates between an elevation of 630 to 680 feet. The upper part of the lake, below nearby Powersite Dam, is known as the "Pothole".[3]
The shoreline of the lake is totally undeveloped and protected by a buffer zone (locally called the “take line”) owned, operated, managed, and controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers. The dam is designed for a maximum elevation of 695 feet (top of the flood pool). Bull Shoals Lake covers 45,000 acres (182 km²) with a 700-mile (1,120-km) shoreline at powerpool to more than 70,000 acres (284 km²)with a 1,000-mile (1,600-km) shoreline at 690 feet. The bottom of the lake consists of bedrock with very limited vegetation. The shoreline is heavily forested.[4]
The Bull Shoals-White River State Park is a 725-acre (2.9 km²) park in Baxter and Marion Counties of Arkansas both above and below the massive dam. Facilities, including camping, pavilions, dock and interpretive programs, stretch along the banks of the White River. Along the lakeshore, the park offers picnic sites and playgrounds.
Flooding of 2008
In the spring of 2008, due to the record rainfall, Bull Shoals reached its highest water level since 1957. The lake crested at 695.02 feet above sea level, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to open the floodgates to relieve the lake from further flooding. A record crest of 696.51 was achieved at 5 p.m. Friday May 27, 2011 due to record rainfall, exceeding the Spring 2008 lake levels and 1957 levels.[5][6]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bull Shoals Lake.
Bull Shoals Lake / White River Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bull Shoals Lake
March 14, 2023
bull, shoals, lake, artificial, lake, reservoir, ozark, mountains, northern, arkansas, southern, missouri, hundreds, miles, lake, arms, coves, common, activities, include, boating, water, sports, swimming, fishing, nineteen, developed, parks, around, shoreline. Bull Shoals Lake is an artificial lake or reservoir in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri It has hundreds of miles of lake arms and coves and common activities include boating water sports swimming and fishing Nineteen developed parks around the shoreline provide campgrounds boat launches swim areas and marinas Bull Shoals LakeBull Shoals LakeLocationnorthern Arkansas southern MissouriCoordinates36 21 55 N 092 34 30 W 36 36528 N 92 57500 W 36 36528 92 57500 Coordinates 36 21 55 N 092 34 30 W 36 36528 N 92 57500 W 36 36528 92 57500Lake typereservoirPrimary inflowsWhite RiverPrimary outflowsWhite RiverCatchment area6 036 sq mi 15 630 km2 Basin countriesUnited StatesMax length80 mi 130 km Surface area45 150 acres 182 7 km2 Average depth75 ft 23 m Max depth210 ft 64 m Surface elevation661 ft 201 m at normal pool Contents 1 History 2 Hydrology 3 State park 4 Flooding of 2008 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory Edit Bull Shoals Dam Aerial Photo of Bull Shoals Dam Bull Shoals Dam was created to impound the White River by one of the largest concrete dams in the United States and the 5th largest dam in the world at its inception 1 Work on the dam began in 1947 was completed in 1951 and dedicated by President Harry S Truman in 1952 At least seven small family cemeteries and 20 larger cemeteries were meticulously relocated to accommodate the new lake 2 Recent national events include Brostock 2010 and 2011 and the TBF Bass Federation and Bassmaster Elite Series Tournaments in 2012 Hydrology EditBull Shoals Lake impounds the White River for the last time as water travels toward its mouth on the Mississippi River Bull Shoals is thus the lake farthest downstream in a chain of four artificial lakes that include from upstream to downstream Beaver Lake Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo The lake is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers and has the primary purpose of flood control The level of the lake fluctuates regularly with a normal pool level elevation of 654 feet above sea level which is locally known as powerpool However the lake regularly fluctuates between an elevation of 630 to 680 feet The upper part of the lake below nearby Powersite Dam is known as the Pothole 3 The shoreline of the lake is totally undeveloped and protected by a buffer zone locally called the take line owned operated managed and controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers The dam is designed for a maximum elevation of 695 feet top of the flood pool Bull Shoals Lake covers 45 000 acres 182 km with a 700 mile 1 120 km shoreline at powerpool to more than 70 000 acres 284 km with a 1 000 mile 1 600 km shoreline at 690 feet The bottom of the lake consists of bedrock with very limited vegetation The shoreline is heavily forested 4 State park EditMain article Bull Shoals White River State Park The Bull Shoals White River State Park is a 725 acre 2 9 km park in Baxter and Marion Counties of Arkansas both above and below the massive dam Facilities including camping pavilions dock and interpretive programs stretch along the banks of the White River Along the lakeshore the park offers picnic sites and playgrounds Flooding of 2008 EditIn the spring of 2008 due to the record rainfall Bull Shoals reached its highest water level since 1957 The lake crested at 695 02 feet above sea level prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to open the floodgates to relieve the lake from further flooding A record crest of 696 51 was achieved at 5 p m Friday May 27 2011 due to record rainfall exceeding the Spring 2008 lake levels and 1957 levels 5 6 See also EditList of Arkansas dams and reservoirsReferences Edit Little Rock District Bull Shoals Lake Archived from the original on 2009 07 24 Retrieved 2004 02 21 1 permanent dead link Bull Shoals Lake Maps Ozark Anglers Retrieved 2010 10 02 permanent dead link Bull Shoals Fishing Hot Spots White River System Lake Update Archived from the original on 2012 08 05 Flood Gates at Bull Shoals Dam Open Archived from the original on 2008 12 04 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bull Shoals Lake Bull Shoals Lake White River Chamber of Commerce Bull Shoals Dam Web Cam Bull Shoals Background History U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Bull Shoals Lake Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bull Shoals Lake amp oldid 1136083003, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
