4/13/89

3/18/01 creek open and melt inflow - small kill of carp, northerns, bluegills 4/1/01

On 12/19/01 a strong wind took all ice 85% cover off and then as T dropped following the wind, full ice cover developed for the first time.

Spring 2003 - Creek water flowed freely into Lake Val for most of March, and the edges of the lake were open for about a week prior to the ice out date of April 1.

Lake ice cover formed in late Oct. - early Nov for a few days and then broke up with strong winds followed by warm temperatures.  The fist major snowfall brought about final full ice coverage on Nov23.

Spring 2004- Creek water has been freely flowing since around mid February and the edges of the lake were open for about a week prior to the ice out date of April 2.

Lake ice cover reached about 80% of the lake starting on November 29, but remained open on the edges and SE end until fully icing closed on December 13.

Spring 2005 Water flow down Valentine Creek into the Lake since early February. Very mild winter.

No ice prior to Nov. 24, when a strong wind mixed the lake and ice formed the next day.  A warm spell Nov 26-28 removed the ice before a final cover formed on November 29.

Spring 2006 - Water flowed into the lake through the creek as open flow almost all winter 2005 through spring 2006.  Lake ice was mostly gone on April 3 and full ice out by April 4.

Lake fully frozen for a final time on November 29.  Ice had formed several times previously but opened up again.

Ice out date was the latest since 1996.  Winter was significantly colder than recent records. A melt in mid-February began influx of melt water into the lake via the stream which continued until the late ice-out date.

Open water in center on November 25 with full ice cover occurring the night of November 26. Creek also frozen over and incoming water levels low.

March 24 margins of lake ice free for about 10 feet.  Ice about 1/2 gone on Friday March 26.  Total ice free at around 2:30 Saturday March 27 as noted by a disc golfer between rounds.

Rain in the last week of December 2010 opened up Valentine Creek to strong open water flow into the lake.

Feb 13 - 16, 2011 melting opened up good flow in the creek inlet through campus. Open flow into the lake during much of the last half of March. Ice entirely out on lake on April 10.  April 9, open water was along shore around much of the lake.  Rain and thunderstorms with wind overnight on April 9 and April 10 temperatures near 70°F.

Nov 19 snow, Nov 20 - 22 100% ice cover, Nov 23 50% ice cover, Nov 24-28 0% ice cover, Nov 29 70% ice cover, Nov 30 100% permanent ice cover....very low water levels in inflow due to dry soil conditions throughout the late summer and fall.