Low lake level

[Scoop]

We have been in drought conditions here for a few years. My friend owns a cabin on a lake that is around 9 feet low. We are sitting on the screened in porch enjoying the day when I hear a boat coming around the point. It sounds like it it coming right towards the cabin,I get up look around the trees just in time to hear the boat hit the the sand/rock bar. It stops dead. Luckily, it was just someone taking a cruise around the edge of the lake so they were at Non Wake speed. They did leave a V shape in the sand bar. I am sure they did some damage to their hull because the sand bar is made of 50% small rocks.​

 

[Stachi]

Re: Low lake level

OUCH!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Low lake level

9 ft low !!!! Wow, where is that ??? the lake must have shrunk to half the size !!!

 

[QC]

Re: Low lake level

9 ft low !!!! Wow,

Funny how our perspectives are different. I'm thinking "9ft. low? Quit your whining" . . . But then my lake is 117 ft. down . . .

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Low lake level

Funny how our perspectives are different. I'm thinking "9ft. low? Quit your whining" . . . But then my lake is 117 ft. down . . .

WOW, 117 ft low... Is there any lake left???

Certainly it is not a Hydro Damn lake, they can't make power if they are that low, at least the ones I know can't. What lake are you talking about QC???

Lake Thurman is now at 327' with the average being 323'. It had gotten down to 309 or even lower at times, but they could not allow it to go any lower or it would not be able to produce power. Nice to see it is 4' over full right now...

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Low lake level

We are lucky to have our lake part of the TN river... channel markers where we know it's deep and our experience to tell us where we can-and-can't go. During the winter, the lake is dropped up to 6', so this our perfect time to stay in the channels and see where the sand bars have shifted and remind us where the stumps are. We also drive to the bays and inlets to update our spots to watch for when we're at or near full pool.

That boat owner either knew he was close to the bottom (hence his no-wake speed) or he was just lucky.

 

[QC]

Re: Low lake level

WOW, 117 ft low... Is there any lake left???

Certainly it is not a Hydro Damn lake, they can't make power if they are that low, at least the ones I know can't. What lake are you talking about QC??

Clue is in my Avatar, but I am talking Mead. Helps when you start with 400 ft. I think we have another 50 or so to go before we start having power gen issues.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Low lake level

Did not realize that lake could fluctuate that much AND still be able to make power...

I guess it is a great time to pour new ramps....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Low lake level

Our lake drains and fills twice a day, but they publish tide charts to let us know when.
I am frequently reminded how lucky I am to be boating over a mud and sand bottom. We don't bend a lot of props but they get sanded down!
For the OP, better your guy hit the bar with the bow (not likely to hurt anything) instead of the prop.

 

[QC]

Re: Low lake level

Did not realize that lake could fluctuate that much AND still be able to make power...

Maybe they were smarter in the 30's . . . Don't know. Powell is that way too. Down around 70 ft. but has been down as much as 155 ft. in 2005. and was still able to generate power. I was wrong on Mead's capabilities though, we only have 10 more feet before we lose some power gen capability. We are at 1093 ft. min for power is 1083 . . . Also, the maximum water depth there is 590 ft.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Low lake level

I wish my local lake was that deep the army corp controls it's level to control the tributaries afor and aft of the lake we only enjoy it for about four months a year before they pull the plug so to say and it will drop almost 4' within a week and then it's sand bar city so if your out there you better know the lake and it's low points below the water line or you will be keeping the prop rework guys busy.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Low lake level

they drop 5 ft for dock repair in the fall and the boat come out, boating is done on lk hopatcong NJ.

 

[cribber]

Re: Low lake level

Went out on the Harris Chain today and we're pushing high water marks on Harris, Eustis, and Little Lake Harris. So glad our water levels came back!!!

 

[Triton II]

Re: Low lake level

Here on Moreton Bay in Australia, the tide variation is as much as 8ft. The ferries and car barges regularly run aground! You get used to boating with the motor trimmed fully up and to using GPS to avoid the vast areas of shoals, especially when the tides running out. At low tide the channel near our ramp is only 2ft deep in places. Everyone wears "mud-marks" on their props/skegs, I get through a lot of Yamaha marine blue spray paint!

On the fresh water side, most reservoirs/lakes in the country are well down on water, although as I sit here typing this, the rain's bucketing down - about time too!

 

[12vMan]

Re: Low lake level

Maybe they were smarter in the 30's . . . Don't know. Powell is that way too. Down around 70 ft. but has been down as much as 155 ft. in 2005. and was still able to generate power. I was wrong on Mead's capabilities though, we only have 10 more feet before we lose some power gen capability. We are at 1093 ft. min for power is 1083 . . . Also, the maximum water depth there is 590 ft.

We're actually up another foot!...but actually down 134' from full pool...

Tell everybody Mead is empty!! (less crowds)

 

[QC]

Re: Low lake level

Yeah, depends on if you use 1229 ft. (spillway) or 1210 ft. (generally considered full) . . .

 

[waju]

Re: Low lake level

I was at a ramp a few years ago talking to a guy about his new 22ft cruiser. This was his first time launching it. I don't know if he was trying to show off but when he left the dock he went full throttle. This area that the ramp is at is old woodland that has been flooded years ago. He hit a stump and sheared off all three blades right down to the hub.
It pays to do a little research about the area that you boat in.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Low lake level

Certainly shows the vast diversity of recreational boating. Around here, the reservoirs can change 30 to 40 feet over the season and still produce power. Before going out, we regularly check the Corps of Engineers web sites for water levels to see which boat launches are still useable. Since I take my 78 year old father in law, launches without docks in the water just aren't an option. With just the wife and myself, it's not unusual to launch off the rocks or beach and wade out to the boat.