![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bismarckmandanblog.com\/images\/dry_lake.jpg\")
<\/center>With all this talk of how high the Missouri River will be due to releases from a full Lake Sakakawea, I was reminded of a time not too long ago where the big lake was in the hurtlocker, desperately in need of water. I looked back in my photo collection and was quickly able to find these examples.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bismarckmandanblog.com\/images\/spillway_dry_1.jpg\")
<\/center>I was on a motorcycle trip and found myself in the Pick City – Riverdale area, and stopped on the east end of the Garrison Dam to eyeball things a little. I was amazed to see that the water wasn’t even anywhere near the spillway gates. In fact, I was able to walk up to them on dry land. Sensing an opportunity, I did so.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bismarckmandanblog.com\/images\/spillway_dry_2.jpg\")
<\/center>Here you can see the markers for observing the lake level, something quite unnecessary in this photo. I could remember back in 1997, when water was lapping over the top of these monster spillway gates. Fast forward seven years, and they were facing nothing but sand and sediment.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bismarckmandanblog.com\/images\/spillway_dry_3.jpg\")
<\/center>Of course, here we are another seven years out from the Flood of ’97, and the pendulum has once again swung in the direction of overwhelming amounts of water. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit the dam this spring, but I imagine it’s quite a sight. It’s interesting how we’ve seen such wild extremes in seven year intervals.<\/p>\nRemember this post in 2018, if it’s dry and we’re desperately in need of water! What a difference seven years can make.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With all this talk of how high the Missouri River will be due to releases from a full Lake Sakakawea, I was reminded of a time not too long ago where the big lake was in the hurtlocker, desperately in … Continue reading