Just two weeks into the rainy season, Lake Chapala has already gained substantial ground and continues rising at a steady rate.
The latest data released by state and federal water agencies indicates that the lake has picked up nearly 20 centimeters in elevation since hitting the dry season low point in mid-June, more than double the increase registered for the same period last year. Over the past week the level has been creeping up an average of two centimeters per day.
Another positive indicator is the total 90 centimeter drop in level calculated for the 2013-2014 dry season as compared to last summer’s 97 centimeter uptick, and well under the average 1.4 meter decline measured during the previous three dry cycles.
The National Water Commission (Conagua) reports that the lake took in 124 billion cubic meters (Mm3) of water between June 20 and July 1. Water is currently pouring into the lake from the Lerma River, its main tributary, at a rate of 183.2 cubic meters per second. Figures posted by Jalisco’s water agency CEA on Thursday, July 3 show Chapala holding a volume of 3039.2 Mm3, equivalent to about 38.5 percent full capacity.