Mayor hopes to restore lakefront

As the water level in Lake Taneycomo lowers in Rockaway Beach, sludge is seen on its banks.
Joshua Clark | Branson Tri-Lakes News

By Joshua Clark
Staff Writer
Originally published Nov. 25, 2009

ROCKAWAY BEACH — Since taking the office of Rockaway Beach mayor more than three years ago, Larry Cline has been leading the charge to get some dredging done on Lake Taneycomo in Rockaway Beach.

“I have been working on this project since I got elected to office,” Cline said. “Even Sen. Jack Goodman tried to help me get something done, but nothing ever happens.”

All day Monday, residents of Rockaway Beach got the chance to see exactly what Cline was concerned about as Lake Taneycomo was lowered to accommodate work on Powersite Dam.

“If you look at the little puddles of water that are left out there, you can see the contamination coming from the mud,” Cline said. “All this is built up from the flooding we have had. This wasn’t here when I moved to town.”

The mud and slime also makes launching boats a difficult proposition in the small town.

“Boats can’t get in, people can’t get in,” Cline said. “The city has that property with the pier and we can’t justify fixing it if people can’t get to it.”

Last week, Empire District Electric Co., with the cooperation of the Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Southwest Power Administration, and others began preparations to replace flashboards at the Powersite Dam.

A portion of the flashboards were removed from the dam in September to let Table Rock Dam release more water. In order to complete the task, Lake Taneycomo was lowered to approximately 696.5-foot elevation at the dam.

The water on Lake Taneycomo fell, exposing what lies beneath the water in Rockaway Beach.

“Kids are out here swimming,” Cline said. “Something has to be done.”

With the lake level falling enough for Cline to get additional documentation to back his case, a conference call has been scheduled for Wednesday morning.

“It will be myself, (Taney County Presiding Commissioner) Chuck Pennell and members from the economic development (board) of Taney County talking with the Army Corps of Engineers down in Florida,” Cline said. “What comes out of that, I have no idea.”

While the problem may not be new, according to Cline, the city has been spending money to repair pumps and fountains that he says were not made to circulate water in a lake the size of Taneycomo. However, until a plan can be mapped out, Cline must face other government problems.

“We have a meeting to select a bid to redo our water lines this week,” Cline said. “Should we spend $1.6 million of these people’s money to fix the water lines when we can’t even get this problem taken care of? I just have a hard time fixing those water lines when we can’t get anything done out here.”

Cline is still committed to fighting for not only his city, but his lake, as well.

“They take care of this lake on both ends, so why not the middle? They say this isn’t a recreation lake, but they need to come out here and see how many boats and fishermen and people are jet skiing and tubing. If the people of Missouri could see this, they’d surely agree we need to get this taken care of.”