ROGERS, Ark. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened the flood gates eight times on Beaver Lake this spring, but with Wednesday's rain and more expected Wednesday night, dam managers said the flood gates will likely be opened once again either Thursday morning or afternoon.

Corps May Open Beaver Dam Flood Gates Again

"[This is] very unusual; it's never happened. Before then we had only had the gates open six times in 45 years. To open them eight times in one spring has never happened, but we're 12 or 15 inches above our normal rainfall this year, and it's only May," said Alan Bland, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ranger.

In April, the gates were raised 9 feet, and homes downstream of Beaver Dam on the White River were flooded. Officials said if they open the gates again, they will not be open very wide for very long.

Officials said they would like to see the lake drop another 1 to 2 feet, but that probably won't happen until mid summer.