Text Box: Text Box: ABOUT THE LAKE Summer of 2008 marks the 46th anniversary of the opening of Tuttle Creek Lake. Although the construction of the dam across the Blue River stirred much controversy, it provided residents with flood control and a 16,000 surface acre reservoir for recreation. The lake is blessed with scenic beauty, several protected coves and anchorages, and a wide sailing area for three seasons of the year. By most standards, the lake is underused thus providing our sailors with unobstructed sailing grounds and a quiet serenity quite uncommon on most inland lakes. Excluding the coves, the sailing area now measures about 1 by 15 miles. In spite of its many advantages the lake has not always been kind to the sailor. As Carl Hinrichs said when he was commodore, "The Tuttle tides are longer and higher than at the Bay of Fundy." The extreme flooding of the lake has caused docks and dinghies to float away, damaged the dinghy park and shelter, and damaged members' sailboats. Moreover, many sailing days have been lost when high water caused inaccessibility to docks and Club grounds. Low water levels are also of concern to the sailor. When the lake level is above 1075 there are few hidden water obstacles; but, as the level recedes many unfriendly stumps appear. When the level nears the 1070 mark most docks become inaccessible, ramp water level is shallow and hidden stumps just below the water level hinder the entrance into the Club mooring area. . Lake fluctuations are very unpredictable. Keel boat owners must monitor the water level as the end of the sailing season nears to insure that they remove their boat from the lake before the water level becomes either too low or too high. The most severe flooding in the history of the lake occurred in 1993 when the water level rose 63 feet above its normal conservation pool level. Until September 1999 when the road was raised, the road leading to the Club grounds had been flooded, sometimes more than once per sailing season. A table on page 7 reflects the maximum and minimum lake elevations as compiled by the Corps of Engineers. Text Box: over should use 1/2" mooring lines. Only one keelboat may be moored to each mooring f. Boats at docks: Members must limit the time that boats are kept at the docks on busy days. Boats must be positioned at the docks to allow them to stream in high winds. Unattended docking of boats is prohibited.

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