News Releases

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (Dec. 14, 2022) – In preparation for winter at Lake of the Ozarks, property owners should winterize their docks to avoid damage from freezing water. This is an important precaution to take as Ameren Missouri begins the winter drawdown process, dropping the water level to about 654 feet above sea level to reduce the possibility of flooding during the spring. Ameren Missouri’s Osage Energy Center utilizes the lake to generate hydropower for customers.

“While lake levels have been lower than usual this fall due to drought conditions, we still anticipate the need to adjust levels throughout the winter to prepare for spring,” said Travis Hart, director of Hydro Operations at Ameren Missouri. “We want property owners to be aware that these fluctuations will occur periodically in the lake and Osage River, and that winterizing their docks can reduce the risk of damage from changing water levels as well as from ice.”

Dock owners can obtain up-to-date information on lake water levels and river flows online at AmerenMissouri.com/Lake or by calling for the Lake Level Daily Report at 573.365.9205. 

Ameren Missouri also offers the following tips to help both Lake of the Ozarks and Osage River dock owners prepare for the drawdown and winter season:

• Below the dam, remove docks from the Osage River before freezing occurs.
• Ensure that hinges, pins and other connections linking docks to seawalls or piers have the flexibility to follow water-level fluctuations.
• Lengthen cables to allow docks to drop as the lake or river levels drop.
• Use a dock deicer to help protect docks from ice damage. Be aware that a deicer may not provide protection from large ice sheets and blocks.
• Ask neighbors to keep an eye on the dock or retain a local dock builder or similar contractor to care for the property when the site is unoccupied.

Bagnell Dam houses Ameren Missouri's Osage Energy Center, which produces more than 500 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy for Missouri each year. To learn more about Bagnell Dam, visit Ameren.com.

About Ameren Missouri

Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and the company's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri's mission is to power the quality of life for its 1.2 million electric and 135,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. The company's service area covers 64 counties and more than 500 communities, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit Ameren.com/Missouri or follow us on Twitter at @AmerenMissouri or Facebook.com/AmerenMissouri.