By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

MONROE CITY, Mo. -- Boaters like Terri and Ted Welch may have to wait a while longer for things to get back to normal at Mark Twain Lake.

Heavy rainfall in the lake's watershed has water levels rising rapidly, and without any more rain, the lake's level is expected to reach 637.5 feet by Tuesday -- above the record elevation of 636.77 set in 1993.

The lake continues to release water at 12,000 cubic feet per second, but "should further rain increase the lake elevation to 638, we will be increasing those discharges," Park Ranger Mary Heitmeyer said.

A water level above 638 feet and discharges of approximately 24,000 CFS would trigger an evacuation of areas along the Salt River and the smaller Spencer and Peno Creeks.

Landowners already have been encouraged to move equipment or property in the low-lying areas near the Salt River to higher ground.

"We're not mandating any evacuation. We didn't get any rain (Friday) night. That helps," Ralls County Sheriff Paul Forney said. "We've got a day or two to play with before we know anything definite."

In the meantime, the lake remains open including major boat launch facilities, campgrounds and high water boat launch ramps that permit boating at higher elevations. The lake office will be open 24 hours a day to provide access to updated lake conditions.

Some areas -- John Spalding and Indian Creek beaches as well as some smaller areas, including the Joanna and Lick Creek Trails and Hunter-Fisherman Access 11 (Route N), 20

(Highway FF), 30 (Route U), 12, 41 (Elkfork), 23 and the Duane Wheelan Access -- are temporarily closed.

Boaters likely will find large amounts of floating and submerged debris on the lake as the water rises. Officials urge boaters to be cautious and wear a life jacket.

The high water levels hit at a busy time for the lake, "right in the middle of the peak of our season," Heitmeyer said. "You never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at you, but this is an unusual circumstance, a huge amount of water over the entire watershed."

The high water means it hasn't been a good summer for boaters like the Welches who bought a boat a little over a month ago. They've taken the boat out four times, three times to the lake.

"One night this past week, they finally had the regular boat ramp open at Spalding. The times before it was limited ramp access, with a really long wait to get the boat in and out," Terri Welch said. "It was really inconvenient."

The debris, especially large logs and limbs in certain parts of the lake, also poses a concern for the couple's children who like to ski and tube.

"We're real excited to have a boat again. We had one many years ago, and with kids getting to the preteen age, we purchased one to get them active in water sports," she said. "Hopefully we'll still have some good weather yet, maybe some better water levels in the next couple of months to get some more use out of it."

-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379