Flooded parking lots, campgrounds, boat ramps complicate Fourth of July on Monroe Lake

MONROE COUNTY, Ind. — The water level at Monroe Lake is more than 12 feet right now and might only get higher as we get closer to the Fourth of July festivities.

”This is the worst we’ve seen it, for sure,” said Tom Greemann, the owner of Two Herons Marina.

To get to Two Herons Marina by land, you have to have a car high enough to drive through the 11 inches of water. If you have a lower car, you’ll need to walk through the lake water covering the parking lot.

”Our biggest problem this weekend is going to be parking,” said Greemann.

On the Fourth of July weekend, every spot of dry land is used for parking. This year, they have significantly less dry land across Monroe Lake. Campgrounds, beaches and boat ramps are submerged across the area.  

”Our beach area, which is a big day use for our patrons, is unavailable right now at Paynetown because the water is over the road,” said Luke Fulford, the assistant property manager for DNR at Monroe Lake.

Fulford said roughly half the amenities like beaches, boat ramps and communal docks are compromised by the high water right now. 

Greemann rents out boats and also has people rent his slips and park their own boats. He’s worried these high waters will limit what is supposed to be his best weekend of the year. 

”We probably would sell $20,000 in the store and hopefully we’ll still come close to that,” Greemann said.

Greemann said they’re ready for whatever, including building a bridge across the watery parking lot and shuttling boaters from farther parking lots. 

”It’ll be fun, we’re going to make it fun,” said Greemann.

Greemann’s best advice for this weekend: get to Monroe Lake early and be prepared to wade through the water to where you need to get to.