Floodgates were opened at Lake of the Ozarks this past weekend

As a precaution, Engineers at Bagnell Dam opened the floodgates this past weekend due to heavy rains. After the lake area received almost 4 inches of rain, water was released through the floodgates from 11 p.m. Friday to three o’clock Saturday. Up to 6 inches of rain was recorded in the Niangua River drainage basin which drains into the lake as well. The floodgates were releasing 50,000 cubic feet per second of water into the Osage River. The lake is currently undergoing its annual drawdown.  This is done in anticipation of spring rains. The water released in drawing down the lake level will be run through the turbines for electrical production and should be completed by mid-February.