Once again, the “rain gods” have smiled down on our mountaintop lakes and reservoirs and replenished them handsomely. Not since Lake Gregory was filled to the brim by a single downpour in 1938 have we witnessed so much H2O in such a brief interval.
Here comes the rain again, falling on my head like a memory, falling on my head like a new emotion. I want to walk in the open wind, I want to talk like lovers do, want to dive into your ocean. Is it raining with you? (“Here Comes the Rain Again” – The Eurythmics – 1983)
Legend has it that that there is still a tractor at the bottom of Lake Gregory near the dam since construction of the lake wasn’t quite completed when the deluge began. Local sage and fisherman extraordinaire, the late Roland Mainer, once swore he saw it one time when the lake level was low. However, current Lake Gregory General Manager Nathan Godwin last year had a survey made of the bottom of the lake and was excited at the prospect of dragging it up to the shore and putting it on display. Unfortunately, no tractor was found, which put that rumor to rest.
Anyway, it seems that Lake Gregory and Lake Arrowhead both overflowed their spillways for the first time in quite a while recently, as did Big Bear Lake. It never fails to amaze me that we pay so much for water when three-quarters of the earth’s surface is comprised by the wet stuff.
By the way, did you know there’s another legend that suggests there’s a train engine at the bottom of Lake Arrowhead? But since Lake Arrowhead is 190 feet deep near the dam, whereas lake Gregory is only 30 feet deep, it’s unlikely we will ever know whether the train story is factual or just another myth.
Now, if we could just keep all of this bountiful treasure of surplus water in our lake and in the ground, instead of having it leach out into the fire-denuded slopes that continue sliding down onto our roadways, we’d all be better off, and I believe Caltrans would be happier, too.
As much as I love the pitter-patter of rainfall, all these roadblocks and detours all over the mountain are starting to wear thin on my nerves. I’m hoping for blue skies and green lights. I’m not sure what this has to do with anything, but a James Taylor tune just popped into my head.
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain; I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I thought that I’d see you again. (“Fire And Rain” – James Taylor – 1970)
Keep it flyin’,
Uncle Mott
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