September 7, 2020
Lake Altus-Lugert is now holding steady in lake level. In the last week, with the irrigation canal shut off, the limited Inflow nearly matched evaporation losses. With such a large, shallow lake evaporation really takes a toll when the sun is shining, temperatures are scorching hot and the wind feels like a blast furnace. Cloudy, cooler weather really helps limit losses due to evaporation. The smaller boat ramps are still “high & dry” and will remain so, until significant rain replenishes the lake level. Dedicated boaters, most being fisher-people are still launching from the Main Boat Ramp, because the fish are biting!
The recent rains do have the park looking nice and green. The deer, especially the fawns, are really enjoying the tender and tasty new growth. Deer have been spotted in every camp ground throughout the day. More are spotted just after sunrise and just before sunset, but deer watching can be successful at nearly any hour of the day—IF you are quiet.
Please do not feed the deer. There is plenty of natural vegetation available for them to consume. Fawns really need to learn what natural foods to eat and where they are found in the area. Bread products and deer corn are comparable to junk food- tasty but not what we should be eating.