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The Lake Panorama Association (LPA) reported early this morning that the water level on the lake is currently 18 inches below the normal pool.

Early this morning, the LPA dam experienced a malfunction in its control system that caused the dam gate to lower and discharge a substantial amount of water. This malfunction was corrected around 4:30 a.m. The LPA says the dam gate has been raised all the way up and is locked in place.

Lake Panorama is currently returning to normal pool level, although the LPA says the timing of the recovery may be slow. LPA is also in the process of obtaining the necessary parts and making repairs to ensure this problem does not reoccur. Meanwhile, boaters are advised to use extreme caution while boating, as the lower lake level will expose a number of underwater hazards that are not a concern when the lake is at full pool. Some boaters may also struggle to get their boats off their lifts until the lake returns to normal levels.

The LPA’s initial assessment indicates this malfunction is unrelated to LPA’s planned replacement of the dam cylinders. The assessment will be revisited to confirm the issue is limited to the control system in the dam control house. The LPA confirmed that the issue was brought to attention in real-time by alarms associated with the USGS river and lake gauges, which the LPA funds for this purpose.

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Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Kent Gries reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on June 18 at 9:55 a.m. on Fourth Avenue in Jamaica. Stephen Alan Lent, 70, of Jamaica, was driving a 2004 Buick LeSabre westbound and turned southbound into a parking spot and struck a 2006 Ford Ranger that was legally parked. Damage to the Buick is estimated at $1,500. Damage to the Ford Ranger is estimated at $1,500. No injuries were reported. 

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Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Bennett reported a single-vehicle accident occurring on June 21 at 7:07 p.m. on Prairie Street. Sheldon Joseph Astley, 22, of Bayard, was driving a 2016 Ford F-150 Supercrew westbound and lost control and drove into the westbound ditch, striking a speed sign and light pole. The vehicle came to rest in the westbound ditch. Damage to the F-150 is estimated at $7,000. Damage to the light pole and speed sign is estimated at $3,500. Astley was charged with failure to maintain control, using electronic communication device, and operating while under the influence first offense. 

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Guthrie County Chief Deputy Todd Thorn reported a single-vehicle accident occurring on June 22 at approximately 5:28 a.m. on White Pole Road. David Wilfredo Ortiz Merino, 33, of Des Moines, was driving a 2010 Acura TSX eastbound on White Pole Road and went off the south shoulder and into the ditch, colliding with two directional signs and a guardrail. Damage to the Acura is estimated at $5,000. Damage to the guardrail is estimated at $2,500. 

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Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Shane Martinson reported a car vs. deer accident occurring on June 16 at 8:55 p.m. on White Pole Road between Oak Avenue and Pecan Avenue. Morgan Eleanor Clark, 28, of West Des Moines, was driving a 2013 Toyota Camry eastbound on White Pole Road when a deer entered the roadway from the south ditch. Damage to the Toyota is estimated at $2,000.