Rains cause minor flooding

Everyone in Sisters has noticed that we have seemingly jumped into spring -- at the beginning of February.

Spring-like conditions in the high country are creating early runoff. Snowfall levels hovered around 7,500 to 8,000 feet last week. What could have been a nice winter snowstorm was instead a fairly heavy rain over much of the Sisters country.

The runoff from the recent rainfall in the mountains caused the water level in Suttle Lake to rise within an inch of the floor level at Suttle Lake Resort's restaurant, submerging parts of the dock.

"Even though it's near flooding, we are still happily serving customers," said Mike Abbott, co-manager of the Resort.

According to Abbott, the restaurant endured a flood around seven years ago.

Then, the water level reached some 15 inches above the floor. Since that time, the converted boathouse has been remodeled, eliminating the boat slip that once allowed fish and flood water to breach the building's walls. French drains have been installed and sandbags are in reach should the water reach that level again.

High water levels usually come in the spring, said Abbott, as the result of quick snowmelt. He is surprised by such conditions occurring this early in the year.

Abbott was jovial about the matter though, as he watched a boat load of fisherman net a German Brown Trout not 100 feet from the restaurant.

"Sure cleans the deck nice," he said.