There was no way to know whether the occupants anticipated coming out to the park to enjoy some quality outdoor time or were curious about reports of flooding. All were turned away as the park was closed and most of the park’s amenities were underwater.
Heavy equipment used to clear debris from earlier flooding was being moved Thursday afternoon to higher ground because the lake level is expected to continue to rise.
Dan Thomasson, reservoir manager for Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, is anticipating a three- to four-foot increase over the weekend, and that’s with no additional rainfall.
“From what I’ve heard there will be more rain,” he said.
Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir’s lake level was 648.27 feet - 5¼ feet above Wednesday’s total - with a normal level of 622. The lake level at Belton Lake on Thursday was 612.48 feet (3½ feet above Wednesday) with a normal level of 594.
Temple Lake Park is a day park with no overnight camping facilities and Bruce Marshall, the gate attendant, said on any weekend during the summer he would expect to have about 300 cars enter the park each day.
Thomasson said he thought that estimate might be a little conservative.
Temple Lake Park has been closed since before Memorial Day.
“It had to be closed in the spring because of high water,” Thomasson said. “We were cleaning up debris in anticipation of opening it for Memorial Day weekend when the water began to rise and we had to close it again.”
At $3 fee per vehicle, it’s not hard to figure out the Corps of Engineer’s anticipated revenue from park occupancy is taking a financial hit.
On Thursday, only the roofs of a restroom and pavilion were visible at Temple Lake Park. The swim beach, parking lots, boat launches, piers and some roads were underwater and only the top of a basketball goal was visible. Treetops broke through the water in numerous spots.
Marshall anticipates the playscape, now partially submerged, will covered with water before long.
At Lake Belton at least 70 camping sites are in areas of the park that were closed Thursday.
At Stillhouse Hollow, more than 64 camping sites were uninhabitable.
Each day park officials visit the individual parks to do an analysis of which campgrounds will be open or closed, Thomasson said.
