Mark Twain Lake, located in northeastern Missouri, has reached its highest-ever recorded level in the United States. The lake, which has been monitored since the early 1900s, is now 25 feet above its normal summer level, a height not seen since the massive flooding of 1993.
What Is Mark Twain Lake?
Mark Twain Lake is a reservoir that was created in the late 1970s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lake is located in Ralls, Monroe and Pike counties in Missouri, and is the state’s largest reservoir, with an area of 18,600 acres. The lake is named after the famous American author and humorist, Mark Twain.
What Caused the High Water Level?
The high water level at Mark Twain Lake is the result of a combination of heavy rainfall and snowmelt over the past several months. In 2019, Missouri experienced record-breaking rainfall and snowmelt, and the lake has been slowly rising since then. The lake is now at its highest-ever recorded level in the United States.
What Are the Risks of High Water Levels?
High water levels pose a number of risks to the area surrounding Mark Twain Lake. The most immediate risk is the potential for flooding, which can damage homes and infrastructure in the area. Additionally, the high water level is causing water to back up into the tributaries that feed the lake, which can lead to increased water pollution and the disruption of aquatic ecosystems.
What Is Being Done to Manage High Water Levels?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking steps to manage the high water levels at Mark Twain Lake. The Corps is releasing water from the lake through the Clarence Cannon Dam, which is located downstream of the lake. Additionally, the Corps is working with the local communities to identify potential flood risks and develop plans to mitigate them.
What Are the Long-Term Impacts of High Water Levels?
The long-term impacts of high water levels at Mark Twain Lake are not yet known. However, it is likely that the lake will stay at its current high level for the foreseeable future. This could have a number of consequences, such as increased erosion, disruption of aquatic ecosystems, and increased flooding risk. It is also possible that the lake may eventually reach a new record high level in the future.
Conclusion
Mark Twain Lake has reached its highest-ever recorded level in the United States. The high water level is the result of record-breaking rainfall and snowmelt over the past several months. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking steps to manage the high water levels, but the long-term impacts are not yet known. It is possible that the lake may reach a new record high level in the future, which could have significant consequences for the area surrounding the lake.