It is always enjoyable to see Fern Ridge Lake in the summer, when the water is kept at full capacity. During late fall, the water level is lowered in anticipation of the winter rains. This explains what type Fern Ridge Dam is, a flood control dam. It was built to prevent the annual flooding that we used to have. The lake is sure not as pretty as it is during the summer, as one can see in this photo. In summertime, the water comes up to the green grass in the foreground.