The Osage channel is the spine of the lake, from Bagnell Dam upstream toward the headwaters. Lake Ozark and Osage Beach are the towns at the lower end. The channel continues uplake through coves and bends that a town name will not identify. Mile markers, counted from the dam, are how builders and neighbors describe a spot. Put yours on the form even if you are rounding.
Channel docks are not cove docks
Appendix B’s channel rule: the dock including breakwaters, together with a 100-foot buffer, may not reach more than 25 percent of the distance to the opposite shore. The dock and breakwaters themselves stop at 350 feet. Where the channel is under 1,000 feet wide, the buffer may be reduced if no dock takes more than 20 percent of the width. Measure shore to shore at your property, square to the channel.
A cove off the Osage uses the cove rule instead. One-third of a narrower cove, or 25 feet from the center, whichever is stricter, capped at 100 feet. Do not apply the channel’s 350-foot figure inside a cove. That mistake is how drawings get denied.
The lower lake also includes the Grand Glaize, which FERC treats as its own major arm. If that is your water, say Grand Glaize rather than Osage. The Osage Beach page is the town page for that stretch. Lake Ozark covers the dam and Horseshoe Bend.
Design for the winter elevation
Channel docks feel a drawdown. Ameren’s published guidance is to design for 650 feet so most drawdown damage is avoided, and for 645 feet if you want fewer problems in an emergency. The lake-level page cites that guidance. A roof or a lift on light flotation will show the low water first.
Permits
A new channel dock is still $550, still a scaled drawing, still no work until the permit exists. Exposure is a reason to be more careful about anchors and flotation, not a reason to skip the packet. Start with new docks or repair, and name the mile marker.