Private Lake Water Volume and Yearly Water Loss

[Brady]

I am looking at a site for building a private lake and am a bit concerned I have enough water shares purchased. I have two questions. First, is there an easy way to figure total volume of a lake? I know how to figure general cubic volumes, but with the many-changing levels on the bottom of the lake, I am having a more difficult time nailing down exact figures. Second, I am looking to find an accurate way to determine what water needs I will have throughout the year, in both evaporation, and seepage. Thanks in advance.

[Skoot1123]

@brady - off the top of my head you'll need a soil analyses and will have to take a look at the evaporation maps. I'll do a little digging and see what I come up with.

[A_B]

Also note the bottom soil composition. Clay is like a rubber liner, but sand will lose water through the bottom.

[LeonL]

They more you ski the higher the evap rate. I sometimes track our water depth, and with a fairly consistent weather pattern, no rain, etc, I see a consistent daily loss. Throw in a tournament with 90 pulls and it loses a lot more on that day!

[Bruce_Butterfield]

@Brady, don't overcomplicate it. Evaporation rate is only dependent on surface area, not how much water is in the lake. In Texas in the summer, we are right at 1/2" per day evaporation.

 

Seepage is a whole different kettle of fish:)

[buoyboy1]

There is also evapotranspiration to take into account if you will have any shoreline vegetation.

http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycleevapotranspiration.html

 

[Rpc29]

@brady where in Utah are you thinking for the lake?

[Brady]

@Rpc29 That is a secret. As it moves along, I will gladly divulge. Stay tuned.