El Dorado Lake

Is it ever too hot to enjoy the great outdoors? Not if you ask David Turner. "We never worry about the heat. " He and his family decided on Thursday to spend the weekend camping at El Dorado Lake. But if you take a look at the neighboring campsites Friday evening, you'd see not everyone is so worry free. He and his family were the only ones in their section of the park. Camp Host, Avola Fitzwater, tells Eyewitness News, "It's slow. There's been a few nights when we don't have anybody out here.

A week after issuing a water emergency, Augusta puts in place mandatory restrictions on outdoor water usage. The city will go around to residents this week, telling them whether they can water on odd or even days. The city will also provide information on what hours they can water. The City Council made the decision after a meeting Monday night. --------------------- Original Story, July 5 It's worried about it for a year, and on Tuesday, Augusta declared the city to be in a water emergency.

"Santa Fe lake is normally around 200 acres, right now it's near 50 acres," explains Rod Davis. He's the caretaker at the lake, just west of Augusta. And last week, the lake was the lowest level he's ever seen it. "Looking at the records, it seems like the 80's were the last time it got this low. " Last Thursday's temperatures were in the 90's. That would normally mean boats, jet skis and swimmers on the lake's beaches - but after a year of very little rain, there were none.

Police have not said what the man's motive was. Over the years, parents have made headlines across the country for killing their children. On Tuesday, a New Jersey father killed his two children, then himself. In September, a man killed his estranged wife and step children in Florida. In Kansas back in 1994, a man killed his two daughters at El Dorado Lake. Rick Follin said he killed his two daughters because he didn't want to lose them -- because he thought his wife would take them instead.

Do you know where your water comes from? The city of Wichita currently gets its water from two places - Cheney Reservoir and the Equus Beds Aquifer.       But those aquifers are losing fresh water, which could be a problem down the road.  So a local community has a solution. You use it, probably more than you know.  "Shower, dishes, and in the summertime, water the yard," explained Tony Ohlman.  He was watering his lawn with it. As long as people have it, most don't care where their water was before it got into their pipes.

For Virgie and Virgil Schowalter, El Dorado Lake is their summer home. Last year, they worked as "camp hosts," helping out during one of the park's busiest summers. "I think people were having 'stay at home' vacations and the gas was high last year," explains Virgie. This year, the couple is relaxing as just camp guests. A very different role, but one thing has remained the same. "I think they're still having a good crowd and this year and only one or two sites are left in this campground.