While tornados are blowing Oklahoma away....

[712edf]

This is Lake Wichita, or what's left of it. Is was built just over 100 years ago & is reputed to be the oldest man-made lake in Texas. Virtually all lakes in Tx are man-made.

We are entering our third Summer of extreme drought conditions. While towns just an hour away are being hammered with tornados & those a tad further away (San Antonio) are being flooded, we are reliving the dust bowl.

Bucky

[712edf]

The normal shoreline is about 8 ft from the sidewalk in the pictures.

Bucky

[Gordon Maney]

Wow.

[Ron in Indiana]

How deep it the lake itself? Our lakes dropped quite a bit last year but nothing like this.

[712edf]

This actual lake itself had the dam lowered back in the 80's (to prevent flooding???), so now at its full capacity I doubt its even 10' deep at its deepest point. Originally it was once much deeper when the 1st dam was in place.

All area lakes, which are several times larger in area & much deeper too, are at roughly 35% capacity.

While just a short ways East, South or North of here things may be fine, here we just get piddly little showers, accompanied by 40 mph winds. Its almost unEarthlike.

Bucky

[712edf]

In 2010 most lakes in the area were considered full/normal level. But only getting 50% of our normal rainfall in 2011 along with the over 100 days of 100+ degree temps (60 days were 105 or more) dropped them down considerably. 2012 wasn't much better.

So far this year we are lagging behind again. It (2013) wouldn't be so back in itself, but it honestly MUST flood to bring things up to par.

Bucky