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Dan Malak is without a doubt one of the best sailors on Lake Ray Hubbard. For more than 25 years, he and his boat “Orion” a 31-foot racing/cruising sloop have led the pack of racers in nearly every regatta in recent memory. He knows every corner of the lake, each wind pattern, the best course for any given weather condition, and has an experienced crew that can handle any situation. Among the small, but tight-knit racing community on the lake Dan has become the de facto “go-to” guy for organizing and keeping the sport of sailboat racing alive in our area.
On a warm Friday evening, August 31, everything changed. Sailing a downwind leg of an afternoon race under full spinnaker and leading the pack as usual, Orion lurched to a sudden stop. Dan and the crew heard a thump from down below that could only mean one thing – they had somehow run aground. Closer inspection revealed something even worse. They had, in fact, hit a submerged tree, and it had poked a hole in the hull. The boat was taking on water, and the only thing keeping it from sinking twenty feet to the lake bottom was the tree itself. Orion was stuck fast.
Dan Malak, Orion and her crew had become the latest victims of the North Texas drought, which has caused water levels to drop over six feet, exposing similar hazards to navigation lake-wide. The danger to swimmers, skiers and boaters, even those with Dans experience, has become extreme.
As bad as the situation on Ray Hubbard is, many lakes in North Texas are far worse. Lake Lavon, where Rockwall and many other cities in the area get their drinking water, is nearly 12 feet down, leaving vast areas high and dry, putting the lakes storage at 53% of capacity and forcing stage 3 water restrictions on residents. Bridgeport Lake on the western side of the Metroplex is 20 feet below normal, causing all boat ramps to be inaccessible, effectively putting a stop to all recreational activity.
The National Weather Service reports municipal water districts across the state have lost as much as 20 percent of their capacity in the last 12 months. They state that the drought is likely to continue well into next year despite “some prospects for above normal precipitation the remainder of the year.”
What can we do to get through this situation? For starters, there are burn bans in effect for most counties in the region. Fire danger is extremely high, and fighting wildfires puts enormous pressure on water supplies. Consider replacing thirsty lawns with drought-tolerant native plants. A great place to learn more is the Native Plant Society of Texas website.
Exercise extreme caution when boating, skiing or swimming in area lakes while the water levels are low. Submerged trees and debris can cause serious injury and damage to your vessel. The hazards are closer to the surface and are invisible until its too late.
As for Orion, shes on dry land now, where the Malaks are awaiting word from their insurance company as to whether she will ever race again.
by Bob Lewis ~ Planet Rockwall
