Osage River levels increase due to flooding at the Lake of the Ozarks

Ameren continues to release water through the Bagnell Dam flood gates to decrease lake levels at the Lake of the Ozarks.

That water is going into the Osage River and flooding the banks.

Residents along the river said river levels have gone down since Thursday.

There are lines on the trees from where the water level once was.

To get lake levels below flood stage, Ameren had to open the Bagnell Dam flood gates, flooding the Osage River.

Ameren has decreased the water release by 70,000 gallons per second.

People ABC 17 News talked to Friday said they can tell the water in front of their property has gone down, but not before causing a few issues.

The bank in front of one homeowners’ property is eroding, it’s falling into the river and taking large trees with it.

As for the lake, levels are also down.

Ameren expects lake levels to be normal for this time of year by 12:00 p.m. Saturday.

The wake restrictions are still in effect.

ABC 17 News talked to business owners along the river about the restriction.

One restaurant manager said he just wants vacationers to know the lake is open for business.

Dog Days manager Luke Hagedorn told ABC 17 the entire front deck area was below water Thursday, but after Ameren opened flood gates at the Bagnell Dam the water has been receding and his restaurant is gearing up for a busy weekend.

Lake restaurants and businesses depend on the 4th of July as one of the biggest revenue generators of the year.

Hagedorn said the no wake restriction has helped keep water off the dock area in front of the restaurant.

“I think the thing most people are worried about is folks think the entire lake is shut down and you’re not going to have any kind of fun down here this weekend. I think the biggest concern for business owners down here is folks just staying away.”