Blankets of lirio (water hyacinth) swelling along shoreline and ever rising waters are visible signs of a four-year lucky streak for Lake Chapala.
After a steep drop izn the 2010-2011 cycle, measurements of the lake’s summer season water level recuperation have maintained a consistent upward rise in all subsequent years.
National Water Commission (Conagua) data released this week shows that Lake Chapala had regained 1.24 meters since June 15, in contrast to a 74 centimeter descent registered during the previous dry months.
The agency reports that water is still pouring in from the Lerma and Zula rivers at a steady rate, with the characteristic inundation of lirio coming in its wake. Upstream dams are burgeoning and weather forecasters predict precipitation will continue to the tail end of hurricane season, November 1.
Lake Chapala now stands at almost 60 percent holding capacity, up from 43 percent four months ago. The volume of water is currently calculated at 4.68 billion cubic meters (4,687 Mm3), compared to last year’s peak of 4,136 Mm3.
Looking at additional comparative stats further demonstrates an upward trend. The lake recovered just 24 centimeters during the summer and fall of 2011. The seasonal boost totaled 49 centimeters in the following cycle; 97 centimeters in 2013, and 1.29 centimeters last year.
Reasonable expectations suggest the latter figure will be surpassed within the coming week.
To tackle the lirio blight at Chapala’s waterfront, the local government is calling all hands to pitch in for a beach area clean-up blitz starting Friday, October 9 and running all day Saturday.