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By Charles Doud

Recent storms have put the Madera Irrigation District into an unusual position -- in the midst of a drought, but right now with too much water.

Millerton Lake, behind Friant Dam, is almost full, Don Roberts told the MID board on Tuesday. Roberts is serving as interim chief of operations and maintenance.

Once the lake is full, which could be soon, at the rate it is filling, the operator will have to start spilling water down the San Joaquin River if irrigation districts entitled to the water don't start taking it.

Roberts said the lake contained 508,000 acre feet on Tuesday, with an inflow of 6,408 cubic feet per second. The lake's capacity is about 512,000 acre feet. Last year at this time, the lke held only 271,194 acre feet, and had an inflow of 3,690 cubic feet per second.

Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

Charles Doud Charles "Chuck" Doud is the Editor and Publisher for the Madera Tribune. You can contact Chuck at 674.8431 or e-mail him (cdoud) at maderatribune.net The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.