Last week's flood raised the level of Enders Lake by 10 feet, covering the outlet structure and putting water at the gates of the dam for the first time in seven years. (Republican photo)

    By Russ Pankonin
    The Imperial Republican
     For the first time since 2000, the top of the outlet structure at Enders Lake is completely submerged. In addition, water has reached the gates of the dam.
     The level of the lake raised nearly 10 feet during the past week as flood waters from heavy rains roared down the Frenchman valley and into the lake.
     Reports of more than 13 inches of rain southwest of Champion, along with similar downpours in the Sand Draw area from late Monday evening June 11 through Wednesday, June 13, sent the lake level to its highest point in seven years.
     According to the Bureau of Reclamation office in McCook, who monitors lake levels in the basin, the elevation of the lake before the storm was 3,087.19 feet above sea level.
     By noon, Wednesday, June 13, the flood water had already elevated the lake by nearly four feet.
     By the time the flood water subsided, the elevation of the lake Tuesday, June 19, was 3,097.09, nearly a 10-foot increase.
     Bill Peck, chief of water operations at the McCook office, said it appears the runoff has tapered off as the lake has risen very little since Monday, June 18.
     He said the lake now holds 21,500 acre-feet of water, which is about half of the lake's capacity of 42,900 acre feet.
     The elevation of the lake would have to reach an elevation of 3112.3 feet to be considered full.
     The last time the lake was this full was at the beginning of the irrigation season in 2000, when the elevation was 3098.79 feet.
     There have been no irrigation releases from the lake since 2004 due to the drought conditions.
     Peck said the influx of water would make the delivery of irrigation water possible next year.
     However, he said no releases are planned this year, even with the influx of water, due to agreements by the irrigation districts not to use the water.
    Peak flood flows
     Brad Edgerton, field engineer with the Department of Natural Resources in Cambridge, said they took flow measurements at the gauges south of Imperial along the Frenchman during the flood deluge.
     Because of all the water, he said they haven't been able to make a full assessment of the amount of water running by the gauge.
     However, one of the readings peaked at 3,600 cubic feet per second.
     This can be compared to previous irrigation releases at Enders Dam which would peak at 350-375 cfs.
     The flood flows filled the valley, allowing three adventurous individuals to take a boat all the way up the river from Enders Lake west to the Cal German farm at Ave. 331 Wednesday evening, June 13.
     Unfortunately, the waters had receded by morning and they were forced to trailer the boat out.