Lake Update

Sailing days total so far in 2008: 12 days sailing, plus one race committee weekend and some club meetings and socials plus lots of work to prepare for the Mallory eliminations.

Most recent sailing casualty: traveler car exploded last race weekend. One spinnaker twing broke and was replaced right before that. Topping lift still needs to be replaced. A replacement traveler car is expected to arrive by Friday.

Next regatta: Spring Series 3, April 25--26, 2008.

Elephant Butte Lake
0414 2100
4,340.30 feet elevation above benchmark, 508,528 acre feet
up +0.16'/1.9" +2097 a.f. in 24 hours
up +0.46'/.+5.5" +6,011 a.f. in 71 hours
–1,870 cfs, outflow from dam
San Marcial Floodway inflow 1,620 cubic feet per second [1570-1730 cfs range]

The Butte has risen 3.36 feet since February 8.

Heron Lake on Monday, 0414 2300
7,147.11 ft. elevation above msl, 207,746 a.f.
up +0.08'/1.0" +325 a.f. in 24 hours
up +0.19'/2.3" +767 a.f. in 71 hours
Azoteal Tunnel flow in cfs, 376 [146-376 range]
Willow Creek flow 237 cfs [162–269 range]

Last weekend I visited Heron Lake; did a bit of work at the tail end of the work party, enjoyed seeing the lake rising, discussed ideas for fixing up the gangway with a couple of people, brought up some books and tools, and took some flags for cleaning/fixing and using in the Mallory. It's only been a couple of weeks since the last ice left the lake and water temperatures were only 39 degrees.

Snowmelt is still erratic and in an early phase; water is being withdrawn from the lake by water contractors, yet overall the lake has risen 2.6 feet and 10,348 acre feet in the past 2 months (since February 8).