Although
we are quickly approaching Winter, the ongoing drought remains on the
minds of folks living along the shore of Lake Fort Phantom Hill in North Abilene.
"During the summer, we could go down there and see almost daily it was dropping by a foot or two, and it is real shallow right there behind my house," says Kale Stephens, a lakeside resident.
The extremely low lake levels have been affecting more than just the water supply for these lakeside residents.
"You might jump in and be able to stand up, whereas before, you could jump in and swim around some," states Stephens.
However, the low levels also pose a danger to boaters and swimmers wishing to brave the chilly waters.
"I think there is a lot of danger for boaters, hitting things on the bottom of the lake, and jumping in and it not being as deep as you might think it is," explains Stephens.
Although portions of the Big Country saw a wet September, Abilene Regional Airport has just barely seen an inch of rain since October. Combine that with a dry winter outlook, and many folks may be surprised with just how low the lake levels may go.
"During the summer, we could go down there and see almost daily it was dropping by a foot or two, and it is real shallow right there behind my house," says Kale Stephens, a lakeside resident.
The extremely low lake levels have been affecting more than just the water supply for these lakeside residents.
"You might jump in and be able to stand up, whereas before, you could jump in and swim around some," states Stephens.
However, the low levels also pose a danger to boaters and swimmers wishing to brave the chilly waters.
"I think there is a lot of danger for boaters, hitting things on the bottom of the lake, and jumping in and it not being as deep as you might think it is," explains Stephens.
Although portions of the Big Country saw a wet September, Abilene Regional Airport has just barely seen an inch of rain since October. Combine that with a dry winter outlook, and many folks may be surprised with just how low the lake levels may go.
Comments
Once again, why are we not dredging the lake dry areas so that it will hold more water when the rain returns? Also, why not drill water wells on public shorelines to pump water back into the lake? Of all the volume the lake covers, Well Water is down there by the 'lake load'.
Robert R.
December 7, 2012 at 7:50 am
