How's your water level?

[dbski]

I was just wondering how everyone elses water level is around the mid-west. We had a really dry late summer and fall last year and our lake was as low as I ever seen it. We had ice out around 2 weeks ago and while the lake has recovered some, it is still low for this time of the year. March was really dry, hope we have some good spring rains! I'm located in SE Michigan.

[skihacker]

Our pond is regulated by lake ontario, um....yeah. We pulled boats quite a few weeks early last fall and had trouble doing it. It's come up some but still pretty low. Here's hoping.

[6balls]

Way low

[The_MS]

We went into winter 4 feet low and now our turn islands are just above the water. We had lots of snow and it gave us lots of run off.

[SkiJay]

The natural lakes in central Florida are really low.

[MISkier]

Our club lake in SW Michigan had one spot (between 1 and 2 ball) that was about 3.5 feet deep when the lake was full last spring. At the end of the summer last year, that spot was 12 inches deep and unskiable. I don't believe it recovered over the winter. And, even if it did, we need to address the issue at full lake level anyway. We have leased a different lake for this year and hope to dredge or otherwise correct that spot. The rest of the lake was 9 -12 feet deep, so correcting this one spot would put us back in business - even with the low levels.

 

But, yes, the water levels are an issue for us.

 

@dbski - where are you skiing in SE Michigan? I am actually in Lansing, but drive to SW Michigan to ski (100 miles one-way).

[A_B]

Our lake is lower than the last few Springs by about a foot or more, but is really where it should be, based on the prior 30 years. The last few seasons our issue has been too much water in Spring and no way to get rid of it.

[dbski]

@MISkier, That's a long drive! We ski in a reclaimed sand/gravel pit between Clinton and Tecumseh. It's north of Adrian. I live on Sand lake which is low, have not visited the pit yet this spring to check its level.

[boarditup]

2-3 inches above the overflow.

 

[SkiJay]

The water is still frozen solid at Calgary's Predator Bay, with snow in the forecast.

[RichardDoane]

the Broho is full to the brim, which is good, so that there'll be plenty of water come late August

[Brady]

Our lake is already at mid-summer levels. Looks like we will be in trouble come mid season.

[XR6Hurricane]

Local lake was down about 30" at the end of last season. Came up about a foot from the snow but that's it so far. Last time it went down that far was in '88 and it took until '90 before it recovered so we're actually not doing too bad.

 

River has been at flood stage for a couple weeks now. Lots of snow melt and runoff pouring down from Wisconsin.

[Ed_Obermeier]

We've had serious drought here in the Great Plains this past summer. The two lakes we usually ski in locally were so low by early September we couldn't get a boat in them, ran out of boat ramp. We got 3 heavy snows here in March, about a foot each time which is pretty unusual for this part of the country this late in the winter. Gave us enough run off that both are now at full pool. Won't last all summer if we don't get some timely rain through the season but at least we're good through mid July with what we have now.

[Deke]

Not good in SW Colorado

From McPhee 2013" />

[Skoot1123]

Central Illinois was down about 4-5 feet this past summer/fall/winter. With the last couple of storms/snow that we had in the last couple weeks, it has recovered about 4 feet. We should be good to go this year. We almost ran out of boat ramp last season too!

[aswinter05]

Lots of rain and snow run-off here in Indiana. The overflow pipe at our pond as been working overtime all winter long. Most/all lakes in the area should be full.

[Harrybb]

Very dry. I am also waiting for spring!

[east tx skier]

One of our club's sites is a little low. The other is spring fed and is probably well over pool. Our fun weekend place where my wife's dad has a house is about half a foot over pool.

[BraceMaker]

@deke - not good!

 

I've been told Colorado has many water rights issues/laws as well, so its not as if you can sink a well and seal up your lake correct?

[usaski1]

Here in Central Texas, we are about 40%.. not good.. all our water is run off, with no chance for a well. We are primed now, and just need one good one (4 inches in 1 night) But if we don't get it, we wont make it through June, and maybe wont make it through may. Not the first time this has happened.. might not be the last.. screw this plains drought.

[ForrestGump]

We're about 12-13 inches below full. A drop of 4" and we'd not be skiing. Thankfully, Lakes at Cypress is full as long as they keep letting me ski there. Which is probably a bad decision on their part. LOL

[dbski]

For once I hope the weatherguy is right, he just forecast 2-4 inches of rain right on top of us!

[Bobbyroy]

Last day water level was 5 feet...

[A_B]

@dbski, we are getting that right now, with a lot of fireworks! First thunderstorm of the year.

Rats. Our level WAS perfect.

[thager]

Ours is still about a foot low. It won't be for long when this snowstorm melts.

[dbski]

@ab, You guys are getting what we were supposed to. We got a couple a showers, not much. "What did Jay say?" Maybe tomorrow he'll be right!

[gregy]

@usaski1 any of this rain lately help you guys out. Frameswitch lower lakes are full. We should be good for quite a while.

[Thomasbb]

Our lake is at very low-level. Hope to recover the water level soon!

[boarditup]

3+ inches of rain in the past 72 hours. We have nearly complete saturation from natural ground water to the surface. It will be a long time for the farmers to get into the fields - lots of standing water. If the summer is anywhere close to normal precipation, we should not see even an inch of water drop in August.

[ForrestGump]

We've gotten 3 inches of rain this week. That definitely helps!

[jwroblew]

Our lake level in SW Michigan is low, buy about 8", perfect for the waves rolling out, just worried if we get another summer like last year, we may not be able to ski come September. Although with the rain we just had I'm guessing it's probably up.

 

@dbski, I think I've skied at your Pit before, with Rip and Damin, several years back, it's about an hour drive for me. You can come down and ski with me if you want, a little west of I-75 and north of the Ohio border.

[A_B]

If you lower Meechigan guys run out of water come on down, we always have plenty!

[boarditup]

Even during the worst drought, I would only loose 9" of water depth. So far, last year was a 4" drop and that was the only drop we have seen below the outfall. I depressed the local water table by 2.5' by installing the outflow, so I don't really have to worry too much.

[dbski]

@jwroblew are you close to North Cape Y.C.? A friend sails out of there, maybe I'll bring my ski the next time I go sailing. You must have skied our site, Rip moved south but Damon and 3 of us still ski there. If you are up by us stop by.

[m70win]

We've had several inches of rain here in southeast Mi., Tipsico Lake has come up several inches from the lowest I 've seen. Hopefully well keep getting some more spring rains. Now if it would just warm up.

 

 

[xrated]

@MS do you have soft water?

 

Lake up north went into winter a couple feet low after June flooding had it 3-4 high.

 

Currently it is sitting under a couple feet of ice at least.

 

With all the March and April snow it should be fine once it melts.

[thager]

My lake is back to normal level with latest snowstorm runoff.

[XR6Hurricane]

I'm shocked at how much our lake has come up in the last couple of weeks, especially the last few days. I think with the rain coming this week we will be very close to normal. About 6" - 8" down now. River is at flood stage down here and rapidly went over its banks just north of the WI line yesterday.

[The_MS]

We are running out the the end of the lake at the overflow and our ice will be gone by Mon or Tues.

[usaski1]

@gregy - the recent Texas rains have helped, but not that much. We got 2 1/2 inches in the last 2 weeks, but That's almost all gone now... there are still puddles in the ditches here and there, meaning ground is saturated. Aquaplex has just been unlucky for rain this year, with Frameswitch full.. can't believe it.. I hear Zorn is good too.. Its depressing.

[OTF]

What @ms didn't say is what mon or tuesday? June? Thinking about drinking myself into a coma until its all gone. @ms will you wake me up when we can ski??

[MrJones]

We have gotten 8+ inches in the past 11 days. 4" last night and the turn buoys were under water today. I have the new powered dye to put in, but it's way to expensive to watch run out the overflow.

[jwroblew]

@dbski we are about 15 minutes south of North Cape Y.C., definitely bring your ski

[tjm]

"How's the water level??? Getting deeper by the minute!

[tjm]

24 hours later. Still rising!!

[DooSPX]

Water level not so bad on our lake, the problem is the city is dredging and making the channel wider and adding walls to keep the sand from washing back in and covering the ramps. They have been at it for 4 weeks now! The most ridiculous thing is the city wanted to use the sand that is being taken out and use it to fix the beach next to the boat ramp(has eroded over time). The EPA came in and said you cant put the same from the SAME lake 20 feet apart and put on the beach for fear of cross contaminating the lake??? What? its the same water? I understand about from another lake, but not the same. Oh well, the Government at its' best.

[Skoot1123]

With all the rain we had it looks like we will be breaking records for flooding. Previous crest of the river was ~30 feet, sounds like it will be ~32 feet this time around. Saw some snow this morning too.....crazy. Where are you summer?

[KcSwerver]

Apparently it's like 2-3 feet low... In Lawrence Kansas

[XR6Hurricane]

We've got the opposite problem now in the Chicago area after the rain Wednesday night. Last August it was waist deep in the middle of the channel in some spots and now this.