Higher precipitation in the last several years has resulted in a new challenge – higher water levels during the current cyclical upward variation in precipitation patterns. In 2019 and 2020, a number of lakes used a “no wake” boating advisory due to the high water levels. Observers reported boathouses full of water and shoreline trees formerly on dry land are now dying in standing water.

Click here to read “How Wet Is It?” including the central sands region’s early 2020 precipitation data.

Since we’ve had cyclical patterns before of high and low precipitation, another downward pattern of less precipitation and decreased recharge through evapotranspiration will return at some point, as will problems of lowered surface waters in the central sands region for previously vulnerable lakes, rivers and wetlands that were impacted by high-capacity well pumping in the area.  It is also possible that a number of private wells used for household drinking water and perhaps wells for watering livestock will again be impacted negatively.  Thus, we need to work together with our farming families, local communities, and counties to find equitable, sustainable water-usage management solutions.  The DNR’s role in this sound, science-based management will be critical.