Wanted to share some 'after the rain' information. Some of you had asked about reporting to
CoCoRaHS and your work schedule conflicting. I went back and reread the 'Getting Started' info. Here is where my selective memory kicked in, you can report BEFORE 7 AM. I must have blocked that part out. You can report the reading anywhere from 5 AM - 9AM for it to be recorded on the map. (So you early birds can get it done bright and early) If you report by 7 AM the amounts will be included in local weather report totals for the news. Reports by 9 AM will be shown on the maps. For those who might be away for a few days you also have the option of reports a multiple day accumulation of precipitation.
Our rainfall total for the rain from two days ago was less than I thought. My rainfall total was 1.66 inches. Further north, Greenville to Asheville and further west got a lot more... averaging about 3 inches. Rainfall in Greenville affects us. The lake levels have been crazy. Here is a picture of our dock before it rained on the 15th.
Lots and lots of shoreline. This is typical in the winter. Our lake management brings the lake level down in the winter for the health of the lake. The winter's lake level also allows us to clean up trash, repair docks, and explore the shoreline. By sea level elevation the winter's low is supposed to be 434.5 feet above sea level. The photo above is 434.5 ft. Beginning January 31st the lake level is brought back up, slowly to what they call full pool, 439 feet.
Here is the lake yesterday-- at 437 ft.
Today the lake level is another foot higher!! So rainfall upstream was enough to raise the level of the lake by three and a half feet! We know the exact level because of the
US Geological Survey website. Check out the rise in water level in just a couple days!!
Not sure if they will lower the level much between now and January 31 when the level is supposed to come back up. If it wasn't so cold we might be tempted to uncover the boat and go for a ride.
Was outside walking the yard and thought I would share an additional picture of the water.....water is real muddy but also quite high.
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| Saturday, January 19, 2013 |
©Copyright 2012
Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for
The Queen of Seaford.
words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.
Is that a manmade lake? I've never seen lake levels rise and fall like that before.
ReplyDeleteMarguerite, yes, it is a manmade lake. It was part of the CCC work in the 1930's. It is a managed lake.
DeleteThat is amazing. It's very warm here today so maybe you have taken the boat out.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn @ Shade Gardens, it is amazing. Guess we missed out opportunity to go for a drive.
DeleteWe got an amazing amount of rain here and some places in the Smokies got 14 inches this past week! Lots of flooding and rockslides in the area.
ReplyDeleteNC Carolyn, I know you all got a lot of rain, the news covers your area. What a mess, saw some roads were washed out.
DeleteIn Hildesheim our house is on a sort of 'island', and water in the rivers around once got so high that I signed a water assurance (normally now quite difficult to get). But your lake isn't near to your house?
ReplyDeleteBritta, When we lived in Virginia we had flood insurance which I guess is similar to water assuance. Here we are really high above the water. I think our house sits at an elevation of about 460 feet above sea level. The high water pictures are at 439 feet. We have a lot of room.
DeleteYou have more coming, the Reedy is still above normal. I hope Hartwell got a bump too.
ReplyDeleteMarian, Yes we got a bit more. They are taking their time letting out the water... lots of energy going through the turbines!
DeleteJanet
ReplyDeleteHere is a third grade fact for you... ALL lakes in SC are man made. It is amazing to see how much the level of your shore line changed so fast.
David, I knew many were, but didn't know that ALL are man made. Cool fact. thanks!
Deletei will still have to wait until I retire as my morning commute is an hour so I have little time in the dark to report anything before I leave at 6:30...but I thank you for finding out...it is still on my radar and I love the whole idea!!
ReplyDeleteDonna @GEV, I understand that!! When you do retire I hope you think about doing the rain gauge reporting.
DeleteWhat a paradise! I can just imagine sitting in those chairs by the water side. Perfection! When I first saw how low your lake level was, I was shocked - then you said it was normal for it to be low in the winter. Here, it is opposite. It gets low in summer, and fills up in winter. Unfortunately, our levels are still down this winter for all the lakes around here. Interesting how fast yours filled up, though. The last photo is perfect with the water by the rocks.
ReplyDeleteHolley, thanks so much. I was down there enjoying the day on Saturday. I hope your lakes fill up this winter.
DeleteIt is good to see that the water levels are getting back up in your area. What a beautiful sight.
ReplyDeleteLona, yes, though it wasn't supposed to come up until the end of January... so they are letting a good bit out.
DeleteThe weather has been so nice that we could have taken many boat rides all winter long thus far. We were at the lake this weekend geocaching and it has risen about a foot but still 14 feet below normal pool and too low for us to launch. We shall keep our "Liquid Asset" covered up for now...
ReplyDeleteSkeeter, yes we could have. I saw that your lake was still low. Fifteen feet is a lot to make up for.
DeleteHi Janet, I read back through the last post and noting the rainfall sounds like it would be an interesting assignment. I wonder if I could be disciplined enough to check the gauge on a daily basis? Hmm...I will have to consider that. I checked out the website and the program runs in Canada as well.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I am glad the program runs in Canada too!! You should give it a try. For me to drag my butt out of bed by nine am and read the gauge and report it isn't too hard. You could wait until the spring when the weather is a bit better.
DeleteThat's a dramatic effect on your lake levels. Very cool graph and I still love my rain gauge. gail
ReplyDeleteGail, it is very dramatic indeed. Have you done any reporting on your rainfall amounts?
DeleteThat last shot is quite extraordinarily beautiful Janet, no wonder you toyed with going out in the boat, but brrrr...
ReplyDeleteJanet, Yes, going out on the water is a bit chillier than sitting in the sun on the patio.
DeleteI have a manmade pond, partly spring-fed and partly fed by a stream. The waterlevel was pretty consistent until - beavers! Now we have to clean out the overflow pipe with some regularity. Just about impossible in the frozen winter.
ReplyDeleteCommonweeder, Ours is fed by two rivers, the Saluda and the Reedy. We live on the Saluda branch. Oh beavers....UGH!!! We have some here as well. They seem to like some prized trees in my neighbor's yard.
DeleteThat is remarkable! I've never lived on a lake, so I know nothing.
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful view!
Freda, thanks, it is a great view, we love it.
DeleteSo glad you are getting the rain to fill up not only your lake but others. It is looking good!
ReplyDeleteTina, we could use more rain again!! Amazing how we miss it so quickly.
DeleteFunny, your winter lake looks the way our lake looked in a summer drought! The lake I grew up on was just 33 acres though, and only had an earthen dam. I still miss it, seeing the ducks and the light shining on the water.
ReplyDeleteSweetbay, our winter lake is drawn down for the health of the lake and to accommodate the winter rains. In the summer we have a full lake as ours is not managed by Army Corps of Engineers but by the county.
DeleteOh Janet, I'm so glad to see the lake rising! As gloomy as it was, we definitely needed that rain. Thank goodness! I love your reporting--it's so important to us gardeners. I think I might need to participate, too! Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I know, it was pretty amazing. Yes, we could use some more rain too!!! You should report as well!
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