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Highlands Today

Fay Pushes Water Back Underneath Jackson's Docks

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By DOUG CARMAN

Highlands Today

Published: August 24, 2008

SEBRING - Tropical Storm Fay brought Lake Jackson up more than half a foot, according to a reading of the lake's gauge, and the storm partially restored several other county lakes whose levels dropped several feet after two years of drought.

Most of the private docks on the lake's west shore, previously over dry land and tall weeds, once again stood over water as the lake's surface level rose to approximately 98.75 feet. Highlands County Lakes Manager Clell Ford said it was an even 98 feet Monday.

Still, it will take more than Fay to bring Sebring's most visible lake back to normal levels, Ford added. Even though the lakes in Avon Park have not yet been examined after the storm, Lake Lotela and the other lakes in that area also need a lot more water.

The rest of the county's saturated, and as far as lakes are concerned, Ford said the drought's over in those parts.

"Nine inches doesn't seem like that much, but apparently it's enough," Ford said of Istokpoga and the Lake Placid-area lakes. "Right here they really don't need more rain."

Jackson and Lotela's lake levels reached historic lows earlier this year after two years of abnormally dry weather. The county received above-average rainfall since the start of the summer, but most of the rain fell in the Lake Placid and Venus areas, causing Lake June to fill up.

The data from the National Weather Service Thursday indicated that the Archbold Biological Station south of Lake Placid had an even six inches of rain since Monday, when the outer bands of Fay started reaching the county. Avon Park had 4.71 inches. Other gauges throughout the county reported four to eight inches of precipitation.

FAST FACTS

Jackson and Lotela's lake levels reached historic lows earlier this year after two years of abnormally dry weather. The county received above-average rainfall since the start of the summer, but most of the rain fell in the Lake Placid and Venus areas, causing Lake June to fill up

Doug Carman can be reached at 386-5838 or dcarman@highlandstoday.com

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