CHENEY, Kan. — While it’s not as important now as in the summer months, water levels at Cheney Reservoir are more than a foot below normal.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the lake level was at 1,420 feet above sea level. That’s a full foot lower than normal. Of course, with the colder weather, few are using the lake except for hardcore fishermen. But with so many drier months ahead, the levels could become a problem in the spring. At two feet below normal level, many of the small boat ramps are unusable.

The lake has been running pretty much at normal level after it fell by more than six feet during the drought of 2011 and 2012.

Along with the great fishing and boating at Cheney, the lake also provides a majority of the drinking water for the city of Wichita.