(KOH) – Last winter, lots of wet weather turned little Swan Lake in Lemmon Valley into a disaster. Today, residents are wondering if more trouble is on the way.  Although the lake level dropped about 2 1/2 feet over the summer, the new water year has started with a lot of water in the lake. DRI hydrologist Dr. Greg Pohll told KOLO8’s Ed Pearce that it might be a while before the lake will disappear.  “The only for it to get out is through by evaporation.  So when you have a significant amount of water in the lake, it can take a while for it to recede.”

Winter storms are expected to bring more moisture and a rise in lake level, according to Assistant County Manager Dave Solero.  “We got a little over 3/4 of an inch of rain in November, and the lake responded with a 5 1/2 inch rise.”   He said suggestions such as pumping or trucking water out just aren’t practical.  “We’re really good as engineers, with an unlimited budget, we can do just about anything.  We don’t have an unlimited budget; in fact, we have no budget.”

Lemmon Valley is hoping Mother Nature doesn’t make things worse this winter.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force