Judging by row after row of beached docks and the large, sandy ring around the Angostura Reservoir, it's easy to see that one of western South Dakota's largest reservoirs is far below capacity.

Through a combination of a seven-year drought, 100- degree days and the ever-elusive rainstorm, the reservoir is only at slightly more than 40 percent capacity.

"This is definitely the lowest it's been since we started coming here," Nicole Stethem said.

Stethem said her family has been having reunions at Angostura every year since 1996, but because of extremely low water levels, this might be their last year.

"The visitors are still here, but not in the great quantities like it used to be," Mary Holloway, an employee at Angostura Marina & Resort, said.

Although the area has been in a drought for seven years, Angostura started experiencing a major change in water levels only recently.

"We've been seeing these low waters over the past three years," William Collignon, Angostura Recreation Area supervisor, said. "The amounts of folks who decide to come here have definitely been affected by that."

Despite that, Collignon said, the naturalist programs hosted by the park have not wavered from their original numbers.

Accessibility to the reservoir, however, has been affected.

"With the water levels being this low, we are down to one permanent boat ramp area on the north side," Collignon said. "But there are some projects coming up in the month of August where we'll look at having more accessibility."

Bob Schneider, assistant director for South Dakota Game Fish & Parks Division of Park and Recreation, said there is discussion about installing two new boat docks in the south recreation area and also in Sheps Canyon. Additionally, the primary north dock will also be expanded to accommodate more visitors.

"There are three efforts," Schneider said.

The recreation area supervisor speculated about how long it might take for Angostura to regain some of its water level.

"Really, what makes Angostura different than the other reservoirs is how it gains water. The amount of water is deemed on rainfall and storm events," Collignon said. "In the past, we've seen rain events that raise the level 5 feet in a week, but we just haven't had those for a while."

In the meantime, Collignon said, there is still a lot of water and recreation opportunity at the reservoir.

"We can still accommodate people who come down here for recreation, and that's what we're going to keep on trying to do."