Mark Twain National Forest law enforcement investigators are looking into the Aug. 17 discovery of loss of water at Noblett Lake, located in northeastern Douglas County south of Willow Springs.
On Aug. 17 it was discovered that the spillway gate on the dam had been opened and most of the water flowed out of the 26-acre lake. Most of the fish that were in the lake flowed with the water into Spring Creek, which eventually flows into the North Fork of White River about 10 miles downstream.
Very few fish died.
A few fish remained in a small pool of water remaining in the lake. The spillway gate has been left open in hopes the remaining fish will move downstream to Spring Creek, according to Jenny Farenbaugh, ranger of the Mark Twain National Forest Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs District.
Forest officials are consulting with Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel on the next step.
Noblett Lake is temporarily closed to the public. Noblett Recreation Area remains open, however.
In the meantime, if anyone has information about the incident, they are asked to call the Ava Ranger Station at 417-683-4428 ext. 199.
Since there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation, no further details are being released until the investigation is completed, according to information released by Mark Twain National Forest.
Mark Twain National Forest is the largest public land manager in Missouri with 1.5 million acres in 29 counties in southern and central Missouri. Mark Twain National Forest’s mission is to continue to restore Missouri’s great outdoors and maintain a healthy, working forest.
