Drought

[jjohnson120]

Looks like this year is going to be another rough year for Oklahoma. We are already at some of the lowest water levels that we've seen in years, and it's only January. Water levels have barely risen from last year and at that point between that and all the blue-green algae, I think I only ended up going to the lake around 4 times.

Just curious what other people do during this time? I have thought about selling the boat, but I can't imagine there being a market with no lakes to go to.

 

[Trim]

Re: Drought

I live up on Grand Lake, we were out on the water every single weekend over the summer. Heard people talk about the water levels but it never affected me. What lake do you usually go to? We got quite a bit of rain the other night so maybe that will help a little. Don't sell the boat, hang with it.

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Drought

We got a nice rain but it won't go to any length to help fill the lakes around here. We tend to go to Cobb and Murray, they were both very low last year and almost impossible to navigate.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Drought

We have the same problem up here except it's the lack of snow. People talk about selling their sleds. But who would buy them? You know what would happen if you sold your boat? Yep, the lakes would fill up. Try to ride it out if financially the boat isn't costing you anything if it sits......

 

[aspeck]

Re: Drought

Had an exercise bed (one of those from those tanning and exercise places, as old as the hills) that was sitting and taking up space. For 10 years we talked of getting rid of it, finally tore it apart and scrapped it out 2 weeks ago. Today a little old lady from the church with bad knees came to me and asked if we still had the bed, it was what she needed for her knees and her condition! :facepalm::cower: GRRRRR! That is why I hate getting rid of ANYTHING if you don't have to. The day after you do is the day you will need it!

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Drought

I hadn't really planned on selling, if I do it will be for other reasons. It's not costing me anything as I paid cash for it. I don't really believe in buying toys if you can't pay cash. Just doesn't make financial sense to me, but hey that's probably because it's what I went to school for.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Drought

Old Farmer's almanac said January would have 2" above normal for us...you Okies and me here in N. TX. Well that didn't happen. We got some rain, less than normal for the month, but some, but not what you need to fill a farm pond (call them pools here) or a rec. lake. I usually boat in Bonham city lake and it is way down. Just have to wait it out.

Mark

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Drought

Try this. Because of the draught the local lakes are at record low levels yet because of the frozen groung and the heavy rain the past few days the local river is at flood stage and full of ice flows!

 

[bassman284]

Re: Drought

Try this. Because of the draught the local lakes are at record low levels yet because of the frozen groung and the heavy rain the past few days the local river is at flood stage and full of ice flows!

Yeah, that frozen ground doesn't soak up much water. Like you, Iowa had pretty much our first year of drought in 2012 but most of the state was rated severe to extreme. Back around Thanksgiving the Cedar Rapids paper was talking to some grave diggers who said they were finding bone dry dirt 5 or more feet down. Someone who was supposed to now said Iowa would need 7 to 8 feet of snow this winter to break even on soil moisture. That ain't happenin' in spite of the 6 to 10" we got yesterday. Winter has been very dry so far and is not predicted to change much.

That said, the lakes I frequent are only down a couple of feet so I'm not seriously inconvenienced at this point. Unfortunately, predictions are for our drought to continue through 2013 which could really start sucking them down. This drought is affecting all the corn belt states so you breakfast eaters may want to seek an alternative to corn flakes.

 

[chrisf695]

Re: Drought

Here in Michigan... I live about an hour way from Detroit on a inland lake and Ive been pretty satisfied with the snow/rain we have gotten. We've had a few really good snow storms and gotten about 2-3 inches of rain in just the past couple of days and now we are getting just pounded with lake affect snow. Not saying we are above avg at the moment but we are on track for a normal to above normal winter and then spring will bring more rain. But dont get me wrong... I'm very concern about what this summer will bring in the long run... End of last year I almost couldn't get my boat out of the lake at the ramp because of my trailer not being deep enough, but my draft is over 2ft. But there was over 12 ski boats stuck on there lifts...

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Drought

I would hang onto the boat unless you have a buyer. The drought pattern is similar to the pattern during the 1930's. In MN. it is lacking rain as well. The problem is if there is no moisture the crops fail. If the crops fail we are in trouble.

This is what happened in the '30's and caused my family to lose the ranch. It was 110 degrees fahrenheit during the day, rattlesnakes everywhere, clouds of grasshoppers that would eat the carrots into the ground. The only place the kids could play was in the pig barn because they would kill the rattlesnakes. Bad, bad times. But, they lived through it.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Drought

Precipitation is down around here also, but one of the local rivers (the Wallkill) is flooding. Crazy stuff.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Drought

The big lake (superior) is down too. But my lake at the cabin ( siskiwit) has been pretty normal the last few years. Only 5 miles from the big lake and all uphill by 250 feet. Not enough rain or snow up here either so time will tell,I've seen our 350 acre lake much lower than this on good years. Don't sell the boat! You will regret it later! Hang in there, it'll be ok.
Grub

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Drought

The weather just seems to be all over the place the past few years for everyone.

I think even if I wanted to sell my boat, I'd be hard pressed to find anyone that would give me a worthwhile dollar. Worse case scenario I end up having to drive to larger/deeper lakes to get any use out of it.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Drought

Our closest lake to me in kansas, cheney lake, was 8 feet low months ago. They say if it gets any lower the last open launch ramp, will be closed. Scary part is the city water comes from there and there was never any water restrictions all summer. We plan to do a bit more traveling to lakes this coming summer. Maybe head down to eufaula lake in oklahoma or tablerock. It just sucks because cheney is 25 minutes away... the others mentioned are 4-5 hours! Come on rain...

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Drought

We are still in a drought that is covering much of the US. Snowpack is well below average in most places, so its going to get ugly when people start expecting the rivers and streams to start picking up, and they don't.

 

[chrisf695]

Re: Drought

I was talking to the wife last night about the water levels and told her about people that MAY sell there boat... Cause i do have a friend or two that trailer there boat that talked about it in the fall of last year... But, myself and the wife would never sell our boat, even if we couldn't use it on our own lake... We put WAY too much work into the old Powerplay to restore her and love that boat so much. IF toward the end of the season we cant use her because of the drought, ill just park it in the drive way and let her idle and just star at it for hours on end... LOL. Maybe even sit in it and have the wife just spray water at me revving the engine... But we'll see...

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Drought

We are still in a drought that is covering much of the US. Snowpack is well below average in most places, so its going to get ugly when people start expecting the rivers and streams to start picking up, and they don't.

Very true! The lake I live on is the lowest I can ever recall and the ramp that I use all the time is on a shallow flat so that will make my use much more difficult.

Next season may be a good time to be in the prop repair business! I can see it now with the number of people still thinking they can boat the same areas of the lake that they always did.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Drought

i got out to the lake late fall to 1st part of Dec. man, every time i'd go out the lake was down just a little bit more. one of my normal boat ramps is closed due to low water. short of it is, my favorite watering hole is drying up just like everyone else is. no rain, no snow. i do hope the weather patterns change and go back to raining and snowing or boating is gonna be bad.

Just curious what other people do during this time?

well, i've changed my tune for boating. while i'm doing it for monetary reasons, i also have an alternative reason. i'm gonna be boating when others aren't. i got a canoe. pretty darn shallow draft i'd say. my boats paid for and i like it so i'm not selling at this point. the water level will return i assume. but while it's low. i'm still gonna be on the water, just in a different way. by product is less expense while i'm doing this. no boat fuel, no wear and tear on the boat, use a small fuel efficient small pickup for transportation instead of a gas guzzler 1 ton van. i'm hoping it's a win/win way to continue to boat when funds are low along with low water levels.

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Drought

Our closest lake to me in kansas, cheney lake, was 8 feet low months ago. They say if it gets any lower the last open launch ramp, will be closed. Scary part is the city water comes from there and there was never any water restrictions all summer. We plan to do a bit more traveling to lakes this coming summer. Maybe head down to eufaula lake in oklahoma or tablerock. It just sucks because cheney is 25 minutes away... the others mentioned are 4-5 hours! Come on rain...

Last I heard Eufaula was pretty low, but the nice part about it is that it's so big you can get by with it more at these lakes. Some coves may dry up, but you can usually still get around out in the open. Of course you got to hope that the ramps are long to get the boat to the water.

I'll probably end up going to Eufuala which is a couple of hours away, and Broken Bow, which is more like 4. OKC already has water rationing due to the low reservoir levels with in the city limits. They've actually had to pull water from another lake which has got several people throwing a fit. It just isn't a good situation to be in from anyway you look at it.