Area lakes flood onto the shores

With recent flooding, state lakes are over flowing their brims. Water levels are at an extreme high to the point that beaches and trails are being submerged under water. 

“We’ve been all over the lake, throughout different parts fishing, so there’s been visible signs that it’s getting higher,” Local fisherman Nicholas Boes said. 

Branched Oak Lake’s water reached up into the picnic table and barbecue areas. 

“If there had some beaches here, kids would be down here playing on the beach, course the water is awful cold,” Local camper James Matulka said. 

And at Holmes lake, the water levels are making it hard for recreationalists to fully enjoy their day out.

“It’s not fun when it’s like this, you know it’s not the same. People aren’t out and about and as active. I feel like even the softball fields are being affected,” Boes said.

“It’s definitely not a good thing because you can’t get your dogs around, you can’t get your daily exercise,” Local cyclist Caden Haar said. 

Amongst those that do make it out, some are making the best of it.

“Hopefully I don’t step in any puddles ’cause I like these shoes and I hope the dogs don’t step in any puddles ’cause they might need a bath after this,” Recerationalist Laila Al-Mutotir said. 

While others just run into bad luck.

“I was riding my bike at the park and I came over a puddle and i was looking down at my brakes and everything to see if they were okay, ’cause I didn’t want them to get rusted or anything, and I go straight through a puddle and my feet get drenched in the water and now my feet are soaked,” Haar said.

Because of the flooding, the water may be unsafe to be in, so Lincoln Parks and Recreation even canceled the scheduled canoeing event at Holmes Lake Wednesday evening.

“So yeah we were supposed to come out canoeing, but then it got canceled because of all the flooding,” Al-Mutotir said. 

For now, recreationalists are just going to have to wait for the flood waters to go down.