Ribbon Cutting Set for April 27th 

With the goal to "ATTRACT, EDUCATE and INSPIRE, the US Army Corps of Engineers is almost ready to open new doors at Table Rock Lake!

    The much anticipated opening of the new Dewey Short Regional Visitor Center will occur later this month! Split Rock Studio has a crew on-site installing the exhibits in the new facility. A realistic rock bluff with a majestic white tail deer mounted atop is the focal point of the main gallery. Visitor will be impressed by the scope and scale of the hydropower exhibit. Narratives about local species plus descriptions of early life along the White River will intrigue the environmentalist and the history buff. There is so much to see in the beautiful new facility! When you need a break, you may just want to "sit a spell" and enjoy the view of Table Rock Lake from the decks.

   Construction is complete, the remaining work is fine tuning and touch up. Contractors are doing systems evaluations and providing training for the various systems such as the state-of-the-art Audio/Visual equipment and safety training on elevator operation. The video security system is now in place and functional. Another step toward LEED certification is the enhanced commissioning process for the mechanical systems, certifying that all systems are functioning properly and efficiently. The building passed a strict indoor air quality test with flying colors, due in large part to the use of green building components including formaldehyde free products. No off-gassing or contamination of the air was noted within the building. 

    A safety fence has now been installed along the lake bluff at the back of the center to keep visitors a safe distance away from the edge. The sustainable landscaping is filling in nicely, trees have already blossomed this spring, grasses are growing and flowers are blooming! The rain garden and bioswale are functioning as designed, allowing spring rains to slowly seep into the soil instead of creating run-off into the lake.

    It has been fun and educational to speak monthly with the project manager, David Geuea of Applied Energy Management, Inc., about the progress of the new building. Construction is wrapping up and David will soon be moving on to his next job. When asked what his favorite feature of the building was, David said it is the unique character that exists in the polished concrete floors. Building a LEED Gold facility has been rewarding and he refers to the new visitor center as a "stand-out facility." Interacting with the local community plus building a relationship with the Corps and the Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation has been fulfilling as he recognizes the passion of those involved in the project. He has been pleased to have put alot of trades people to work during the construction. 

   Thanks Dave, you did a fantastic job and you've been a great informational resource for the Paper Buoy! gs

The Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District invites you to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. April 27 for the new Dewey Short Visitor Center at Table Rock Lake at 4500 State Highway 165 in Branson. Afterward  the public can tour the new facility.

Joining this ceremony will be Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley; Chip Mason, president of the Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation; Col. Glen Masset, Little Rock District engineer; and Brig. Gen. Tom Kula, the Corps' Southwestern Division engineer from Dallas.

The old facility was built in 1975 and houses both the visitor center and the Table Rock Lake Project Office. It is not large enough to accommodate the large number of visitors it receives. The project office will absorb the square footage now devoted to the old visitor center. The new 15,000-square-foot facility is about twice the size of the old one.

The $10 million center is one of a handful of regional Class A facilities in the Corps. It not only highlights the history of the lake and surrounding Ozark Mountains, but also an emphasis is placed on regional aspects that encompass the entire White River Basin and its diverse partners in water resource development through engaging exhibits.

It has three functional areas: the visitor area, which includes exhibits, a 75-seat theater and a gift shop; an educational area, which includes a multi-purpose room and wet lab; and an administrative office area.

The building design focused on energy efficiency, building sustainability, and low maintenance. The contractor was Lime Energy Services Co., of Huntersville, N.C.