The water level in Lake Monroe is expected to crest Thursday morning, but the beaches likely will remain closed for a while, an official with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said. Here’s what you need to know.
How high is the water in Lake Monroe?
The water level is near 551 feet above mean sea level, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That’s about about 12.5 feet above normal — though it remains far from the major flood stage of 556 feet.
How high will the water in Lake Monroe rise?
The water in Lake Monroe is expected to crest Thursday morning, at about 5:51 a.m., about 13 to 14 feet above normal, but still a way below the major flood stage, said Emmett Holsapple, wildlife specialist/assistant manager at Lake Monroe.
The lake typically has a surface area of about 11,000 acres, but now covers about 13,000 acres. However, he said, at 556 feet, or major flood stage, the lake would cover about 18,000 acres. The potential expansion of the lake explains why DNR does not allow structures to be built below a certain elevation, he said.
DNR had expected the lake to crest sooner, but the heavy rains over the weekend added water to the lake, which also is still absorbing flows from the north, Holsapple said.
How is the high water affecting recreation?
Holsapple said the high water has forced the DNR to close the beaches at Paynetown and Fairfax State Recreation areas. The water has risen so high that no sand is visible, he said, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
The lake level may drop a bit over July 4, but it needs to drop about 6 feet before the beaches can be opened, he said.
“It’s going to be a while,” Holsapple said.
When exactly the beaches can reopen will depend on how much more rain falls in the area, but even in perfect conditions, the beaches probably won’t be opened until the end of July at the earliest, he said.
More rains could push the re-opening of the beaches into August or even the fall, Holsapple said.
While the Corps of Engineers can release some of the lake water, it has to do so carefully to avoid flooding downstream.
“We’d like to have the water down, but it’s out of our control,” Holsapple said.
What about the fireworks at the marina for July 4?
The fireworks over Lake Monroe and the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina have been canceled because of rain and flooding.
How has the high water affected fishing and boating?
Fishing and boating are continuing, Holsapple said, and while fishing may have slowed a bit, people are still catching fish in decent numbers. He said bass fishermen have told him that fishing is about the same as normal, and rising waters have even increased the areas where people can catch catfish and carp.
While Lake usage is at an all-time high, Holsapple said DNR is reminding people to proceed with caution, as the high water may have dislodged, from higher elevations than normal, trees and debris, which may be floating in the lake.
Holsapple said debris can easily damage boat engines but also can cause injuries to people, especially if they’re being pulled on a tube.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Lake Monroe water level still rising; beaches to remain closed for a while. What to know.
Reporting by Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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