A couple of years ago, we bought a small basic cabin on a lake.  It has power, two bedrooms and a kitchen.  No running water though, so you have to walk up the hill to the outhouse if you have to “go”.

The first year, we had a great shoreline with plenty of space for lawnchairs and a fire pit and throwing the ball for Abby.  Last year, though, the water level rose over 5 feet and the shore disappeared.  Since our cabin sits on the side of a steep hill, the high waters covered most of the flat areas in front of the cabin.  In fact the water came almost up to the front of the cabin.  Over the hot summer, the water level went down less than a foot.

However, this year’s spring run off raised the lake another 3 feet. So it is now at the footings of the front of the cabin.  We spent the first couple of visits this year sandbagging and clearing under the cabin.  Apparently the spillway is another 5 vertical feet at the south end of the lake.

Summer is under way now, and we are hoping the water level goes down, but more rains and snow in the mountains have countered the effects so far.