The current level of Lake of the Woods is 324.09 m (1063.3 ft), over 95th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined slightly, by 1 cm (0.5 in) over the past week. The lake level is above the 2014 peak of 323.78 m (1062.29 ft) and is below the record peak since regulation began of 324.31 m (1064.0 ft), set in July of 1950. The dams in Kenora remain fully open and no additional actions can be taken to speed up the lake level drop.
Lake of the Woods level reached a peak the last week of June and levels are starting to decline slowly. The rate of decline should increase over the next week with little rainfall forecasted and outflow from Rainy Lake dropping substantially. The level of Lake of the Woods is expected to decline by 4 to 6 cm (2 to 3 in) over the next week.
These decreases in lake level will start to cause outflow from the lake to fall. This will result in the level of the Winnipeg River immediately below the Norma Dam, to drop by about 3 cm (2 in) over the next week. The level between Kenora and Minaki may drop by about 1 to 2 cm (1/2 in to 1 in) over the next week.
The current level of Lac Seul is 356.72 m (1170.3 ft), 80th percentile level for this time of year. The level of the main body of Lac Seul is expected to fall by 2 to 6 cm (1 to 3 in) over the next 7 days. Lac Seul authorized outflow is scheduled to decrease to 450 m³/s on Thursday, July 14, and then to 400 m³/s on Monday, July 18.