We took photos at Cedar Mills Marina on Monday June 1st 2015, the day after Lake Texoma crested at 645.72 feet above sea level, its highest level on record.

And we took more photos today, a week later. At the time of this writing the lake level is 641.76, almost exactly four feet down since last week, measured at the Denison Dam. Naturally, here on the West End of Lake Texoma the perspective is somewhat different.

Access is restricted into Cedar Mills and other marinas on the lake, and access is restricted to public camping areas and boat ramps because the water is still dangerously high.

PLEASE do not overlook the fact that there are submerged structures you cannot see if you choose to launch a boat on Lake Texoma now.

And, if you are dealing with flooded cabins, storage buildings, boat houses and other lakefront structures, as well as boats that have taken on water, here are some very important things to remember:

1) The flood has driven many snakes out of their homes in the earth, so watch for them. Watch for snakes in the water, in partially flooded structures, in shady areas and out in the open. In our neighborhood we’ve seen HUGE SNAKES on the edge of the road, with cars slowing down so drivers and passengers could get a good look. One snake made its way into our garden and it was at LEAST 6 ‘ long and 2" thick.

2) And the flood has given mosquitos unlimited places to breed. That means you want to bring your bug spray and use it liberally. MOSQUITOS may be heavy during the daylight hours, not just in the evening now. In order to avoid mosquito-borne illnesses as well as the aggravation of itchy bites, don’t fail to bring and use bug spray when you visit Lake Texoma this summer, all summer. There will be pools of stagnant water left standing as the lake recedes, and those pools are the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos.

3) Finally, the combination of dampness due to flood damage and the high summer temperatures will result in the perfect conditions for mold to grow and spread. MOLD is not only harmful to structures and the contents of cabins and buildings, but to animals and people, too. Discovering the presence of mold is just the beginning, and dealing with it (mold you can see and mold you can’t see, but it’s still dangerous) can be a life-long challenge.

Getting things back to normal on Lake Texoma is going to take a while. It will take patience and a LOT of work to recover, but there is still good fishing when you’re out with an experienced striper guide, because there’s plenty of water!