With all this talk of how high the Missouri River will be due to releases from a full Lake Sakakawea, I was reminded of a time not too long ago where the big lake was in the hurtlocker, desperately in need of water. I looked back in my photo collection and was quickly able to find these examples.

I was on a motorcycle trip and found myself in the Pick City – Riverdale area, and stopped on the east end of the Garrison Dam to eyeball things a little. I was amazed to see that the water wasn’t even anywhere near the spillway gates. In fact, I was able to walk up to them on dry land. Sensing an opportunity, I did so.

Here you can see the markers for observing the lake level, something quite unnecessary in this photo. I could remember back in 1997, when water was lapping over the top of these monster spillway gates. Fast forward seven years, and they were facing nothing but sand and sediment.

Of course, here we are another seven years out from the Flood of ’97, and the pendulum has once again swung in the direction of overwhelming amounts of water. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit the dam this spring, but I imagine it’s quite a sight. It’s interesting how we’ve seen such wild extremes in seven year intervals.

Remember this post in 2018, if it’s dry and we’re desperately in need of water! What a difference seven years can make.