Along the Ouachita River at the H.K. Thatcher Lock and Dam in Union County, Felsenthal Lock and Dam, near the Union/Ashley county line and the river at Camden in Ouachita County – water levels were above flood stage at all three locations and are expected to continue to rise the next few days, according to the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.
On Dec. 27 and 28 at the South Arkansas Regional Airport in El Dorado, 4.58 inches of rain were recorded, according to the National Weather Service website.
At Moro Bay State Park, located 23 miles northeast of El Dorado on U.S. 63, the Ouachita River level was at 81 feet on Wednesday, 16-feet above normal water level, according to Corbin Merriott, assistant park superintendent, said one of the hiking trails at the park is closed due to flooding, but all other facilities (campground, cabins, store, playground and other hiking trail, are still open – “for the time being.
“Our water level is expected to rise in the coming days, but it is still unclear if the river will rise enough to further affect park operations,” he said.
At the Thatcher Lock and Dam, the river level was posted at 83.8 feet on Wednesday morning and it has been predicted by weather forecasters, that with run-off flowing down the Ouachita River, by Sunday, the level could be 86.4 feet.
According to the National Weather Service website, the flood stage is listed at 79 feet with a moderate flood stage at 88 feet and a major flood stage at 94 feet. Historic crests recorded near that site include 96.3 feet on April 6, 1945; 93.60 feet on Jan. 1, 1988; 93 feet on May 14, 2009; 92.50 feet on April 26, 1973 and 92 feet on Dec. 31, 2009. The lowest river level recorded at Thatcher was 64.8 feet on Aug. 9, 1987.
According to the website, at 85 feet, there may be some county roads along the river that are flooded, requiring lengthy detours. The river will be high and swift and boaters should be very cautious. Access to many oil and gas rigs will be by boat only. At 88 feet, the river will be high enough to stop drainage from Calion Lake. Heavy rainfall in the area could cause the lake to rise towards several homes along the shore. Downstream, water could rise into undeveloped areas of the state park at Moro Bay.
At the Felsenthal Lock and Dam, flood stage is 70.1 feet – and the river was at that height Wednesday morning, with predictions that the river could rise to 72.7 feet by Sunday. Historic crests at Felsenthal Lock and Dam include 88.30 feet on April 11, 1945; 87.10 on May 14, 1958; 86.40 feet on May 10, 1991; 85.78 feet on Nov. 9, 2009 and 85.70 feet on May 5, 1973. The river crested at 79 feet on March 29, 2015 and according to the National Weather Hydrologic Prediction Service, low water levels were 0.0 feet on Sept. 10, 1913; 16 feet on Jan. 17, 1935 and 17.20 feet on Feb. 15, 1970.
The Ouachita River at Camden measured 30.67 feet on Wednesday, with flood stage listed at 26 feet. The river is expected to rise to 35.5 feet by Sunday. Historic crests include 46 feet on May 12, 1882; 44.82 feet on April 3, 1945; 43.87 feet on May 5, 1958 and 43.08 feet on May 17, 1968. In 2009, river levels reached 41.16 feet on Dec. 28, and 39.12 feet on May 10.