[T]he waters were much calmer once we arrived there
Some days are better than others on a lake. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it's cloudy, sometimes it's sunny, and sometimes the water level is so high that the surrounding woods and parks are entirely flooded. That was the situation for this kayak on Monroe Lake, just south of Bloomington in Indiana.
After a night of camping at the Paynetown Campground on the north end of Monroe Lake, my wife Jill, my dog Landon, and I decided to go kayaking on the lake. It was July 3rd, and there were many speed boats and pontoon boats on the water with revelers galore. Fortunately, the east side of the lake is not as well trafficked, and the waters were much calmer once we arrived there.
What made this day extra special was that the area had received significant rainfalls in the days and weeks leading up to the trip. The waters were so high that new islands were formed where the water had flooded the lowlands surrounding the lake, leaving any high point as a new place of refuge for the local wildlife. At one point, we stopped for a picnic on a new island that had previously been the boathouse for a boat ramp and parking lot. We cackled around the parking lot and underneath the shelter that was nearby.
Having a dog in a kayak can sometimes feel cramped when the dog is feeling nervous. Landon was not too excited to be out on the water until we arrived at that island. As soon as we got back in the boat, we saw a duck go by, and Landon was now happy to be kayaking on Monroe Lake. There are more than 250 species of birds that have been recorded at Monroe Lake. Stillwater Marsh at the north end of the lake serves as a seasonal migratory location for many species of birds.
[M]ore than 250 species of birds that have been recorded at Monroe Lake
Did you know?
- The Indiana bat, which is a federally endangered species, calls the area surrounding Monroe Lake home.
- When we're at Lake Monroe, on a typical day, we'll cover 10,750 acres. It was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the early '60s.
- More than 120,000 people use this manmade reservoir for their drinking water.
- The deepest part of Monroe Lake goes down to 40 feet.
- The small town of Elkinsville was displaced during the construction of this lake.
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