Del Rio's picture from Feb 24th,(11 days after MC's body was found), at about 4 pm is attached below.
I believe this picture represents a slightly higher water level, just over 568 feet, (data from attachment 2), compared to the 12:45 pm water level on Saturday when MC's body was discovered, slightly below 568 feet, (data from attachment 3). This puts a body with feet in the reservoir water out there far enough it looks like it could even be seen from the roadway, (notice the guardrail in Del Rio's picture.)
You thought we were through? Nope, now it gets interesting.
The most interesting thing about this picture is you can see the water level had recently been a little higher, (maybe half a foot?). Boring you say? Just wait for it.
This higher water level cannot be explained by the Wanapum Dam elevation measurements, (they were below 568 feet and generally going up in the hours before this picture was taken). But the recent higher water shown in the picture can be explained by the small "surge" caused by the 1 to 3 pm generator use at Rock Island Dam, (noted on graph in attachment #2). And yes, that was a small "surge", (increase of 3 feet in a two hour period). Just look at after Del Rio took this picture to see a large "surge", (Rock Island levels go up 3 feet in 1 hour at 7 pm and continue up another foot and half the next hour).
So, what's this mean? I'm not that far ahead, so heck if I know? But if we've got a picture of what this small "surge" did at the Crescent Bar shoreline on Feb. 23rd, we should be able to compare it to water levels from the day MC's body was found and possibly get a picture of what any "surges" would have done to a body whose feet were in the reservoir water, (attachment #3 is from the day body was found and points out where water would have been surrounding body if it was located with feet in the reservoir).
If you don't want to attempt to figure out the graph, the short version is: 6 to 8 inches of water might have been around the body if the feet were in the reservoir as recent as 1 hour and 15 minutes before it was discovered.
Flyonthewall, I think you were correct about the "surge" wave coming from Rock Island Dam and my first assessment of the potential for a "surge" wave from just generator use was incorrect. Wouldn't have been able to know this without the picture. Plus, I believe because the property is located on the outside of the river bend, this bay where the body was found is effected even more by those "surges".
AutumnRose or Del Rio, if you can get me another picture when the water level is on it's way down, noting the EXACT time, I might be able to get a better picture of what the "surge" waves could have done to the body during the time frame MC was missing.
