Where Did All The Water Go?
Lake Drawdowns and Why They Occur
The ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation manages many of Ohio’s inland recreational lakes and recognizes its responsibility to maximize the boating season for Ohio boaters. The number of state park lakes affected by the drawdown process changes on a yearly basis and this winter include water level reductions at 28 sites. Depending on the park, the drawdown is controlled by either the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the ODNR Division of Water or the Division of Parks and Recreation.
State park and other flood control-managed lakes have water level drawdowns for a variety of reasons. Drawdowns, which generally begin in mid-fall, occur for maintenance needs such as shoreline protection work, ramp improvements, dock protection, fish habitat improvements and dam rehabilitation or inspection. Some state park lakes have earlier drawdowns due to historic reasons. Also, historically, heavy winter and early spring runoffs occur throughout Ohio and drawdowns may occur for flood control.
Each park is different and not all park lakes are managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation. Ten Division of Parks and Recreation lakes are actually flood control reservoirs that are owned by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps of Engineers determines and controls the drawdown amount for these lakes that are leased to the Division of Parks and Recreation. For example, the Army Corps of Engineers establishes a yearly drawdown at Deer Creek Lake of 14’ for the purpose of flood control.
As dock holders on some lakes can testify, a dock’s worst enemy is not only the water level and ice but also the wind. A few hundred acres of 7-inch thick ice weigh a couple tons, and once the wind starts to move the ice, nothing including bubblers will stop that ice from rolling over a dock.
Lakes are generally allowed to start to refill in the spring and resume their normal level for the summer season. Therefore, the lake is at low level only through late fall, winter and early spring. See Related Links for more information about lake drawdowns. |