Lake level

I remember that, as the south entrance was all sand bagged and sitting by the south windows was like sitting along side an aquarium.
We had to swim to the banos but nobody cared and the beer and tequila kept flowing.    Never got to where you couldn't "bend an elbow".

Now those were "the good ole days"

 The Underwood"s (Old Posada proprietors) bailed out about '73 or '74, moved to SMA, and it stayed empty for a year or two until the Eager's arrived. The flooding gave the place a lot of "character".

We are currently sitting at 96.21M. Only .5M required to beat the 42 year high set in 2008 (96.72M). It rose .5M since Sept 19. If it continues to rain like it has recently for another two or three weeks I think it will do it.

With the lake level being almost 2 meters higher at this same time last year we are almost certain to get flooding of the lakeshore roads and homes. According to the last time this was flooded (1976) they had to dredge the mouth of the Rio Santiago to drop the lake level. Simipa or whoever is in charge of this should be proactively dredging that mouth now. The rains will be here in 5 or 6 weeks. I have encouraged Dale from the GDL Reporter to start asking around as to what their plan is to prevent the inevitable......If I was lake shore person I would be also asking around. Geet involved if this is going to affect you!!

http://www.ceajalisco.gob.mx/contenido/chapala/chapala/comportamiento.html

This is the message I received from Dale:

Hey Bob. The guy I talked to a few weeks ago is Gabriel Vazquez, director of the intermunicipal environment association Aipromades. He said he wasn't aware of any contingency plans like increasing outlet at Ocotlan. Maybe I planted a seed? Meanwhile the state has recently done some dredging in the Canal de Atequiza which should boost the Santiago's capacity during the rainy season. Maybe a good time for folks living near the shore to stock up on sand bags and floaties.

We both agreed this will do little to help the impending crisis if we get the same rise as the past few year's.

For those that are also concerned I suggest you get on board and contact this guy.

Aipromades Ofc Calle Las Redes 129, Fracc. Las Redes, Chapala, Jal. CP 45900

Tels (376) 108-1517 & 108-1519.

Email: aipromades@gmail.com.

Website Aipromades.org. Director General Gabriel Vazquez Sanchez

CanuckBob wrote:With the lake level being almost 2 meters higher at this same time last year we are almost certain to get flooding of the lakeshore roads and homes. According to the last time this was flooded (1976) they had to dredge the mouth of the Rio Santiago to drop the lake level. Simipa or whoever is in charge of this should be proactively dredging that mouth now. The rains will be here in 5 or 6 weeks. I have encouraged Dale from the GDL Reporter to start asking around as to what their plan is to prevent the inevitable......If I was lake shore person I would be also asking around. Geet involved if this is going to affect you!!

http://www.ceajalisco.gob.mx/contenido/chapala/chapala/comportamiento.html

Just being a little technical for the discussion of what to do...……….
The mouth of the Rio Santiago is the Pacific Ocean in Nayarit.
The "SOURCE" is Lake Chapala at Ocotlán, Jalisco

Either way you and they know what had to be done in 1976 to lower the lake. I consider the "mouth" to be the source and the exit to be.......well the anus???

You "out debated" me but I agree with your conclusion.

BTW.....both your descriptive terms have "cheeks" nearby.  

Before the restaurant  Maria Isabela underwent renovation a few years back there was a high water mark on the chimney.  It was quite high.  Unfortunately this watermark was painted over and a historic depth indicator for the lake was obliterated.

We!l they may be getting a new one. Let's hope not!!!

If I'm reading the graph correctly the lake is still 1.54 meters higher than it was at this time a year ago. That's over 4 feet!

Gonna be interesting this summer.

SunFan

Of course we leased a lakefront home when we found it last December. All this talk is making me a bit nervous:/ Hope our "sea" wall on the lake is high enough to prevent any flooding. I guess we will just have to watch and see:(

I believe we will be flirting with the all time record high from 1976 unless we get an abnormally light rainy season OR they dredge the Rio Santiago.

I've wondered why my ancient casa on 16 de Septiembre was built with a substantial rise from street level. Now, I think I know.

Let's hope that we don't have a repeat of 1976. That would flood at least some of LCS.

SunFan wrote:If I'm reading the graph correctly the lake is still 1.54 meters higher than it was at this time a year ago. That's over 4 feet!..........
SunFan

Actually, it is just over five feet. 39 inches x 1.54 = 60.06 inches = 5.005 feet.

inthecolumbiagorge wrote:Of course we leased a lakefront home when we found it last December. All this talk is making me a bit nervous:/ Hope our "sea" wall on the lake is high enough to prevent any flooding. I guess we will just have to watch and see:(

Well last December was the high mark. So if it is 5 feet higher where do you see it in relation to where it was when you were there?

gringal wrote:I've wondered why my ancient casa on 16 de Septiembre was built with a substantial rise from street level. Now, I think I know.

Let's hope that we don't have a repeat of 1976.  That would flood at least some of LCS.

I've taken measurements based on worse case scenario because I manage the hotel on the waterfront across from the LCS side entrance and it will not flood the LCS but will come to about where there last side door is. You won't be able to access the road behind the LCS as it will be 3 feet under water.

ferret wrote:Not a drop of rain so far this year and that, in itself, is unusual. Who knows.

Unusual?? I have only seen rain once in early May since I have lived here and that was last year. Normally nada until late May early June. That is in Ajijic.

I'm looking out the second floor LCS office window at my car parked on the lake road behind LCS. The South Campus would indeed then flood.

Yeah it did rain at least once couple of months ago in the middle of the night.

LCS NOTICES wrote:I'm looking out the second floor LCS office window at my car parked on the lake road behind LCS. The South Campus would indeed then flood.

Sorry,I didn't know about a "south campus". Yes, it will be flooded so I hope you have a plan. I was referring to the regular ole LCS which is right beside and behind me. That part should be OK.

Well the rains this year came to weeks early in Chiapas, t is raining now when it usually starts May15.. Who knows what will happen here.

The Lake Chapala Society is planning on installing docks on its entrance to the South part of the property so you'll be able to sail or motor or kayak right up to the gate.

A solution to the scarcity of parking spots nearby.

SunFan