It's noticable: water levels going down

It's the same location, slightly different angle.  Picture on the left was taken in 2006, a fairly average rain year.  Picture on the right taken yesterday.  I'd say the lake water level is down about three feet, at least.

There's no drought relief in sight in the forecast for the rest of this year.  It's hard to predict what the spring of 2013 will bring at this point.  If there's no relief before the 2013 hot season arrives, the lake may well expose some ancient relics, it's been hiding for centuries.

An attempt to raise an ancient Buddha statue in 2009 from the lake bottom failed due to the lack of a strong enough crane.  That year 2009 we experienced a milder, shorter drought.