Here we are, the 16th of December, and we have had so much rain in the past 24 hours, that the lake level is higher than it has ever been. I even had to move the pigs to higher ground as most of their pasture is now "lake."

In this pic, you can see the tops of trees along the side of the dam, with water on both sides. Normally, those trees are 10-15' above the lake level. There is also a fence in there, which is apparently completely underwater.



Here's another pic

I guess its safe to say our 3 yr drought is over with! Can't remember a fall and winter as wet as this one. Went out today without sunglasses - its been so long since it was sunny, that I was nearly blinded!
Does the lake retain the water until it evaporates, or is there a spillway or natural seepage that will lower the level faster than evaporation?

LOL. In Texas, I hesitate to say that a drought is over. Think it would be safer to say that its plenty wet now. LOL.

There is an overflow basket in the lake. It will drain the water down to the proper level much faster than evaporation could. Here is a pic we took during the worst of the drought last year showing the overflow basket. It is now completely underwater.



The water goes through a pipe in the dam and down a seasonal creekbed on the opposite side. This picture was also taken last year (opposite ends of the weather spectrum) showing the water coming out of the overflow on the back side of the dam.



At the moment, however, that "seasonal" creek is running nicely, and although the level is close to normal, water is still pouring out of the overflow. You can hear the water thundering out of the pipe, although its about 1/4 mile from the house.

In case anyone is interested, the sows boyfriend was returned to his own home yesterday. The piglets are due in about a month.

Now that is what I call an overflow pipe. Are you people sure that Texas is this dry place we hear about?

Seems to be either a feast or famine thing here Terry!
That was so neat to see your overflow system Caro! Awsome engineering for a private lake.
When I was kid in England, all the kiddos would ask if we had to ride horses to school in Tex. Since their only exposure to Texas was the old westerns, they assumed that everyone in Texas must surely live on a spread as amazing as yours!

Happy Holidays All! It was fun to have everyone pop in for a visit on Mag's forum.

You mean you don't all ride horses??? and have oil wells at the bottom of the garden and swim in ceeement ponds.....Well Jethro looks like we been chatting up the wrong ladies. ;)

Sorry to disappoint you ;-)
Gee Terry, that was so long ago that I think it even predates the Bev Hillbillies! It was when you were getting Marshall Dillon titled as ‘Gun Law’ there, while it was Gun Smoke over here. When we were living here, back then, my Yank friends had visions of all Brits living on ancient huge spooky estates, instilled by the ghost story and murder mystery movies of the time I guess Eastenders takes of that myth, as does Jerry Springer the other one ;-) It’s a much smaller world now, init?!