We were just leaving the Coffee Bean Connection in Downtown Baraboo when the rain began to fall.   Sure, there were flash flood warnings in Sauk County, but we were still hoping to get in an afternoon of paddling at Devil’s Lake State Park.

Now we know why the lake has flooded so often in recent years.

Park lovers will be happy to hear that despite the heavy rains, the beaches are still there. Some sections of the north shore picnic areas are flooded as in the past but will dry out quickly with a few days of sun. (Finger’s crossed!)

When we arrived at Devil’s Lake we could see the water was high already and it wouldn’t be going down on this day for sure.  Devil’s Lake sits in a bowl bordered by 500 foot bluffs on two sides, and glacial moraines that dam off the north and south ends.  The shape of the land funnels rainwater back into the small lake which in the last decade has been flooding regularly.  On this day we paddled our kayaks out into the downpour to have a look for ourselves. We launched our kayaks from the north shore boat landing into rains so heavy we could not see the far shore just 1 mile away. As we paddled around the lake we were suprised by the  number of  fast flowing streams that had formed to carry the rainwater from the hills and parking areas out into the lake.  We discovered 2 amazingly beautiful waterfalls dropping from high on the east bluff down too the lake below. The small stream at the south west corner of the lake had become a river. A strong current was carrying large amounts of mud and debris from the marsh area out into the lake. Each floating log, each bit of paper and blade of grass had become a refuge offering safety for insects washed from their homes in the heavy flow.  Hungry birds ignored the rain to take part in a feast.  By late afternoon the rain finally tapered off and we returned to shore.  It seemed to me the water was a just a bit higher than when we left only a couple hours earlier. What an amazing experience!

The local paper reports about 2 inches of rain fell yesterday on our already saturated valley.  Today we get a bit of a respite before a chance of rain & storms return again for the next few days.  Heavy rains and flooding  is becoming a bit of a June tradition around here.  Let’s hope it doesn’t get out of hand… again.

• CLICK HERE for a sideshow of pictures from yesterday’s heavy rains at Devil’s Lake State Park.

* It should be noted that paddlers should not be on the water if there is thunder or lightning present. Heavy rains and flash flooding can create fast changing and dangerous conditions on the water.

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