Roaring River Impacted by Floods,
Clean-up Underway
Extensive clean-up will be required before Roaring River State Park can safely reopen for public use. Park Ranger Steve Jabben says one of the hazards faced is an increase in the number of snakes, which have been displaced due to the flooding. Jabben reported seeing three copperheads within a two-hour time frame.
"Typically," he said, "it's a little early for them."
"Typically," he said, "it's a little early for them."
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April 29, 2021
Sheila Harris
A screen shot (below) captured the live camera feed at Roaring River State Park at approximately 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 28, during an event Roaring River Hatchery Manager, Paul Spurgeon, says was the fastest-rising flood he'd seen in the 11 years he's worked there. According to the U.S. Geological Survey website, water discharge rates at the Roaring River gage rose from a daily median average of 80 cubic feet per second the week prior to the flood, to 10,000 cubic feet per second on April 28. As of Thursday, April 29, the rate was diminishing.
"No fish were lost at the hatchery during the flood," Spurgeon said Thursday, "but we may see a higher mortality rate among the fish during the coming days as a result of the muddy water conditions."
Spurgeon credits the recently completed hatchery renovations with the staff's ability to keep all of the fish safe.
Spurgeon hesitates to call Wednesday's flood 'historic.'
"Every flood is unique depending on rainfall rate, water velocity, and the direction the water comes from," he said.
"Flood waters typically come from one of two directions," Spurgeon explained, "either from the canyon behind (to the north of ) the hatchery, or down Dry Hollow which bisects Highway 112 to the south of the hatchery. If the flood comes from just one of those directions, we call it 'one-prong.' With this flood, water came from both directions and was what we call a 'two-prong flood,' which inevitably affects the sound end of the park (Campgrounds 2 and 3).
Although Spurgeon believes Dry Hollow carried the majority of the flood waters Wednesday, he said there have been times when he's seen a four-foot wall of water rolling into the hatchery area from the canyon behind it as if someone flushed a toilet.
Paul Jepsen and Don Miller, from the Kansas City area, arrived at the park as flood waters were cresting about noon on Wednesday.
"We had a fishing trip planned," Jepsen said, "but we had no idea this flood was going on here. We got here to find the park blocked off to the public. We were barely able to get our travel trailer turned around so we could head back up the hill."
The two felt lucky to find a campsite at a park on higher ground, but were nevertheless disappointed not to be able to fish. Although Table Rock Lake is nearby, the gentlemen said they weren't equipped to lake fish.
"I'm an avid fly-fisherman," Miller said, "so we'll just hang around the area for another day or so, then head back home. I guess we won't be doing any fishing, though."
Spurgeon said he anticipates that clean-up of the park will go quickly, although he's not in a position to offer a guess as to when it might open back up to the public.
According to park ranger, Corporal Steve Jabben, crews from other state parks are making their way to Roaring River to help with clean-up efforts.
The Roaring River Park Facebook page announced that interested volunteers may contact the park office at 417-847-2539. Volunteers should check in at the park office and bring work gloves, rubber boots and a rake and/or pitchfork (if they have them). Tools will be provided for those who don't have them.
Sheila Harris
A screen shot (below) captured the live camera feed at Roaring River State Park at approximately 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 28, during an event Roaring River Hatchery Manager, Paul Spurgeon, says was the fastest-rising flood he'd seen in the 11 years he's worked there. According to the U.S. Geological Survey website, water discharge rates at the Roaring River gage rose from a daily median average of 80 cubic feet per second the week prior to the flood, to 10,000 cubic feet per second on April 28. As of Thursday, April 29, the rate was diminishing.
"No fish were lost at the hatchery during the flood," Spurgeon said Thursday, "but we may see a higher mortality rate among the fish during the coming days as a result of the muddy water conditions."
Spurgeon credits the recently completed hatchery renovations with the staff's ability to keep all of the fish safe.
Spurgeon hesitates to call Wednesday's flood 'historic.'
"Every flood is unique depending on rainfall rate, water velocity, and the direction the water comes from," he said.
"Flood waters typically come from one of two directions," Spurgeon explained, "either from the canyon behind (to the north of ) the hatchery, or down Dry Hollow which bisects Highway 112 to the south of the hatchery. If the flood comes from just one of those directions, we call it 'one-prong.' With this flood, water came from both directions and was what we call a 'two-prong flood,' which inevitably affects the sound end of the park (Campgrounds 2 and 3).
Although Spurgeon believes Dry Hollow carried the majority of the flood waters Wednesday, he said there have been times when he's seen a four-foot wall of water rolling into the hatchery area from the canyon behind it as if someone flushed a toilet.
Paul Jepsen and Don Miller, from the Kansas City area, arrived at the park as flood waters were cresting about noon on Wednesday.
"We had a fishing trip planned," Jepsen said, "but we had no idea this flood was going on here. We got here to find the park blocked off to the public. We were barely able to get our travel trailer turned around so we could head back up the hill."
The two felt lucky to find a campsite at a park on higher ground, but were nevertheless disappointed not to be able to fish. Although Table Rock Lake is nearby, the gentlemen said they weren't equipped to lake fish.
"I'm an avid fly-fisherman," Miller said, "so we'll just hang around the area for another day or so, then head back home. I guess we won't be doing any fishing, though."
Spurgeon said he anticipates that clean-up of the park will go quickly, although he's not in a position to offer a guess as to when it might open back up to the public.
According to park ranger, Corporal Steve Jabben, crews from other state parks are making their way to Roaring River to help with clean-up efforts.
The Roaring River Park Facebook page announced that interested volunteers may contact the park office at 417-847-2539. Volunteers should check in at the park office and bring work gloves, rubber boots and a rake and/or pitchfork (if they have them). Tools will be provided for those who don't have them.
