How Oakdale Lake Handles Lots Of Rain And Runoff

It's not unusual for Oakdale Lake's single narrow outlet pipe to become clogged with debris or overwhelmed by rain water (or both!), at times pretty severely, like today after a few inches of rain overnight.  

The last time I saw the lake completely submerge the trail running along the western shore was a few years ago, though I think today the water has risen even higher than then.  Today,  it looked to me like the level of the lake was at least 15 inches above normal.  Since water was roaring out of the outlet pipe on the other side of the road this afternoon, the lake's level should begin receding soon -- unless, of course, we get more rain or the pipe becomes clogged.  Or both!