Enid Lake Is Up After 16 Inches Of Rain
Yalobusha County jailer Dustin Watts (left) brought several pairs of waders for deputies including investigator Jerimaine Gooch to check out a partially submerged car near Wildcat Brake last Thursday.
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – Almost 16 inches of rain recorded during February has pushed the lake level at Enid Lake to 259.20 feet above sea level, almost 24 feet above the normal lake stage for this time of the year, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The high water is affecting public access at several areas around the lake including Long Branch boat ramp, where water is at the top of the ramp, and Persimmon Hill boat ramp, a low water ramp that is now closed for launching. At some boat ramps signs, guardrails, and rip rap rocks may be under water.
The rising water is also attributed to an unusual call the sheriff’s department received last Thursday afternoon after a fisherman discovered a partially submerged car near Wildcat Brake. Terry Allen, Jr. was fishing when he found the abandoned car in a wooded area off the road. Allen also noticed a strange odor and promptly reported it to the sheriff’s department.
Deputies donned waders to get to the vehicle and searched it and the surrounding area before ruling out foul play. Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported somebody had likely been joyriding on four-wheeler trails in the Honda Accord and abandoned it after it mired in mud. The fast-rising water in the lake soon found the vehicle.
“The car was completely hidden from the nearby road, which was also under water,” Humphreys said.
After finding no evidence of a crime, the scene was turned over to rangers, who contacted George Crocker to retrieve the vehicle.
According to park rangers, barrels have also been placed on numerous roads and other areas around the lake to warn visitors of rising water. The marked areas include Otoucalofa, Wildcat, Robin-son Crossing, Mudline, Bluford McCullar, Lakeside, Patton Road, Billy’s Creek, the Old Hwy. 32 bridge, Love Joy Road, Dewitt House Road, Silo/Guest Creek Road, Point Pleasant home sites, Bonner Road, Persimmon Hill Turnaround and Hubbard Creek.
“Water has risen over the turn-arounds and crossed portions of these roads. Visitors are urged to use extreme caution when visiting these areas,” the Corps reported in a press release earlier this week.
The Corps also warned boaters of potential hazards including stumps, snags, lake points and other areas that have not been submerged in the past several years.
