Lake Chapala is at 49% capacity ?

CONAGUA says Lake Chapala is at 49% capacity. The main problem is evaporation due to high temperatures


Is it real low ?

No.

It is the highest I have ever seen it at this time of year (at least in Ajijic). If the rains come like last year we could be looking at some nice highs by October.

I live across the road from the lake. I have a good view of the shore line from my upstairs window. The water is much higher than it was last year at this time.

Capacity and high/low are different measuring techniques. As the lake rises, it is not the same quotient to the capacity as it covers a larger surface area.
Imagine a soup bowl.

If the lake rises to 100% much of the buildings close to the lake would be flooded. The lake is high compared to same time last year.

When was the last time the lake was at 100%? Anyone know?

Don't know about capacity but I remember the lake splashing up over the wall and flooding the walking path in Christiana Park. For part of my walk I had to go away from the path along the lake to higher ground. That was maybe 2009 or so?

I've seen pics from the early 1900's where the water was crashing over the top of the pier in Chapala. That would be about 4 meters higher than it is today.

They say, and I don't know when this was, the highest known/recorded level of the lake was when it was at the steps to the church in Chapala. There is a photo. . .

CanuckBob wrote:I've seen pics from the early 1900's where the water was crashing over the top of the pier in Chapala. That would be about 4 meters higher than it is today.

You look entirely too comfortable in that pool, Bob.

About a year after we moved here (probably 2009) the lake was right up to the entrance of the old Roberto's restaurant at the end of Ramon Corona. A group of us ate there and had to splash up to the entry steps. The park was completely flooded.
That was before they installed the raised malecon. We were worried about some of the old trees, but they made it.

I was visiting here in 2008 and saw it when the old park was under water. I don't believe that was anywhere near 100% capacity though. I think 100% capacity would give us waterfront properties here on 16th de Septiembre......jaja.

CanuckBob wrote:I was visiting here in 2008 and saw it when the old park was under water. I don't believe that was anywhere near 100% capacity though. I think 100% capacity would give us waterfront properties here on 16th de Septiembre......jaja.

That's the truth. I noticed that whoever built this old casa of mine elevated it from the street on purpose, but the roots of the bougainvillas are obviously sipping from the water table not far beneath.

I found these on the web. These two pics were taken when the lake was apparently at 110% capacity.

The park in Ajijic was underwater in 2008 - malecón wasn't there yet and sea wall was lower - and the lake was lapping up onto to the walkway in front of the Old Posada and what was then Roberto's. The lake rose again in 2010 but to a lesser degree.

Yeah. I was living in Joco and the malecón was WAY under water. It was much different then, there was a big drop off from the malecón into the picnic area. That picnic area was about 5 feet under water, snakes swimming, ducks, and kayakers kayaking over the submerged stone picnic tables and benches! hah

There is a photo, on the wall in maybe the tourist office in Chapala, of the lake lapping at the steps of St. Francis Church. It's pretty amazing to see.

CanuckBob wrote:When was the last time the lake was at 100%? Anyone know?

In my 41 years of being around here, the highest I remember the lake being was in the late to mid 70's when the water was almost up to the intersection of Morelos and Independencia/16 de septiembre in Ajijic and about a half meter deep on Ramon Corona in Chapala.
Cristiania Park was a swamp. Morley Eager had sand bags on the lake side door of the Old Posada and parking was limited to lanches.
His bathrooms were disgusting as nothing would flush...no where to go. We had to hold it until we got home or somewhere out of public view, but the party didn't stop and the cerveza and tequila just kept on comin'. LOL

I've been taking pictures of the lake levels down at the Ajijic malecon from the same spots over the last few years.  I've put the pictures on a link in my blog and you can see the differences over time.
Here's the link to the web page Ajijic malecon lake levels over time
Check out the difference between May 2014 and May 2016, it's telling.
I'd say if we get a decent rainy season the lake will remain in decent shape.

Looking at those pictures the lake currently looks higher than the "high" of 2013.

Summer of 1966..I remember stepping directly from the Chapala pier into a rowboat. The water was pristine at
that time and there was a crude water filtration system set up.

That was probably close to 100% capacity (or maybe a little above). Where was this water filtration system set up?