Chad Jonsson, Syracuse Parks Department Superintendent, and Doug Yoder, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, install a new yellow strip allowing easier visulaization of the lake level at Syracuse Dam. (Photo provided)

A visual enhancement to the water level gauge at the Syracuse Dam or control structure was undertaken recently.

Chad Jonsson, Syracuse Parks Department superintendent and Doug Yoder, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, installed a new yellow strip allowing easier visualization of the lake level.

All dam gates were closed June 3, with water still cresting about three inches above the legal lake level. On Aug. 6, the water level went 2 inches below the legal level. This was due to water flowing into Syracuse and Wawasee lakes not equaling the evaporation levels.

According to Yoder, evaporation looses were 5 inches to 6 inches a month in June, July and August, converting to almost 15 million gallons a day in evaporation.

Major input flows, which currently are very low, are from springs, direct rainwater and contributory streams such as Turkey Creek at Runnaway Bay, Dillon Creek at enchanted Hills and the Tri-County Game Preserve, through the Lake Papakeechie spillway.

Data from the National Weather Service, Northern Indiana, shows the months of June and July were each two inches below in average rainfall.