It wasn't long ago that Eagle Mountain Lake in Tarrant County was more than 10 feet below normal. But after several weeks of rain, there is a huge difference.
In mid-March the floating restaurant Boon-Docks was grounded due to the low water levels. Six weeks ago the lake was still more than nine feet below normal.
But on Monday it was a different story with boats coming and going freely at area boat ramps. Several weeks ago those ramps were shut down, but Monday morning Damian Zarita and friends were able to put their boat in the water and go fishing.
"He was out here three weeks ago, we couldn't back up the boat at all because it was so dry," said Jorge Vargas.
With the higher water levels, that means Zarita and friends aren't hitting Lake Arlington but coming back to Eagle Mountain Lake for the first time in years.
"I haven't been out here for a couple of years, at least two," Zarita said
The dock and boat ramp at the Trinity Regional Water District's Twin Points Park re-opened just three weeks ago after closing in the fall due to the low water level. It's one of many locations filling up with boat trailers and fisherman.
"That's great. I'll sacrifice on the fishing a little bit as far as the water being up and lasting all summer," said fisherman Barry Palmer.
There may be a difference in opinion, or experience, in terms of the fishing on the lake with the higher levels.
"It's clouded up the water. The fishing has been kind of tough," Palmer said.
"It was good," Vargas and Zarita both said.
But from jet skis to pontoon boats, boaters and businesses on the like all can agree that where the lake's level is at is right where it should be and where they hope it stays.
"Hopefully it'll be a fun summer," Zarita said.
TRWD was still releasing water from the spillway on Monday, but at a much slower rate than in days past. The level is less than an inch below conservation level, as of Tuesday morning.
The gates were opened to make room for additional run-off into the lake and with the possibility of more rain coming this week. The gates will be closed when the rains and run-off stop in order to maintain the conservation pool, until water demands and evaporation drop the level, which happens every summer.
