You would think too much water on a lake wouldn’t be a problem for boating, but apparently on Oxford Township’s Stony Lake it is.
High water levels caused by the significant rainfall this area’s experienced since the end of April have left the boat launch at Stony Lake Park closed since before Memorial Day.
‘I’ve never seen it this high,? said Parks and Rec. Director Ron Davis. ‘We closed it like eight years ago because the water level was too low, but we’ve never had it too high.?
A wooden ramp leading to the boat dock is falling apart, but it can’t be repaired because it’s partially submerged in lake water.
Davis noted at this point, even if it was fixed right now, a longer ramp would be needed just to reach dry land.
‘You can’t get to the dock,? he said.
The dock itself is in need of some repairs as a result of winter ice damage. Davis explained they already have the necessary parts to fix it, they just have to arrange for a diver to come out and make the underwater repairs.
A split rail wooden fence, which normally sits on dry land, is surrounded by water as the lake has moved an estimated 10-15 feet inland, according to Davis.
One of the launch’s four parking spaces is under water as is the sidewalk that runs along the split rail fence. Until the water level goes down, the boat launch will remain closed.
‘Unless we have a safe amenity, we’re not going to open up,? Davis said.
When it reopens will all depend on what Mother Nature decides to do.
‘It’s naturally spring fed and there’s really no egress for water to get out of there except for evaporation,? Davis said. ‘Hopefully, we’ll get some warm weather and it will start evaporating.?
The parks and rec. department’s received a lot of calls from boaters upset over not being able to access the lake, but Davis indicated there’s nothing he can do about it.
‘We can control a lot of things, but we can’t control the water level,? he said.
Jet skiiers have asked if they can still access the lake because they don’t need the dock to launch, but Davis said he’s not going to discriminate between users.
‘You can’t start picking and choosing who you’re going to let down there,? he said.