ANALYSIS OF THE WATER-LEVEL
 FLUCTUATIONS OF LAKE JACKSON NEAR
 TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
 By
 Gilbert H. Hughes

 INTRODUCTION

 Lake Jackson, near Tallahassee, currently (1966) is at a
record-high level and is flooding parts of adjacent residential areas.
The apparent disregard of the hazard of developing the adjacent
flood plain areas is partly understandable as the lake was almost
dry as recently as 1957.
 The wide fluctuations of the lake level concern those who have
an interest in the overall utility and scenic attractiveness of the
lake as well as those whose property may be flooded. The purpose
of this report is to summarize the hydrologic data that pertain to
the fluctuations of the lake level so that the cause of the fluctua-
tions can be more easily understood. Such understanding is
required of those responsible for making decisions relative to lake
control and land development.
 Lake Jackson occupies a closed depression in an area of expand-
ing population within the environs of Tallahassee, the State Capital.
The lake is a valuable asset to the residents of the county and
state, providing a convenient recreational area for boating, fishing,
and bird hunting.
 The approximate center of the somewhat irregularly shaped
lake is about 7 miles north of the center of Tallahassee, figure 1.
The altitude of the lowest point on the rim of the ridge that
separates Lake Jackson drainage basin from the Ochlockonee River
is about 115 feet. Lake Jackson recently rose to a maximum alti-
tude of 96.5 feet. At altitude 90 feet, Lake Jackson covers about
9.8 square miles (6,300 acres) or about 23 per cent of its 43.2
square mile drainage area.

 AVAILABLE DATA

 LAKE LEVELS
 The altitude of the water level of Lake Jackson has been
 measured by a continuous water-level recorder since March 1950
 except at times when the water level dropped below the operating