August 2024

Although the basin is receiving some rainfall today, dry conditions are expected to return next week and inflow to the major lakes will continue to decline.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.92 m (1059.5 ft), an 45^th percentile level, in the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 8 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2 in), over the next week. Outflow reductions at Lake of the Woods will continue to slow the rate of level decline. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will decrease to:

• 575 m³/s on Friday, August 30^th
• 500 m³/s on Tuesday, September 3^rd
• 425 m³/s on Thursday, September 5^th

The scheduled outflow reductions will cause levels along the Winnipeg River to decline as follows:

• Directly downstream of the Norman Dam: approximately 19 cm (7.5 in) with each outflow reduction, 40 cm (16 in) total drop by September 5^th
• Above the Dalles: approximately 10 cm (4 in) with each outflow reduction, 21 cm (8.5 in) total drop by September 5^th
• The water level at Minaki will not be affected by these flow changes.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.38 m (1169.2 ft), a 30^th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2.5 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 350 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

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The LWCB Basin Data page will not be updated on Monday, September 2^nd (Labour Day). Daily data updates and publication will resume on Tuesday, September 3^rd.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.00 m (1059.7 ft), an 50^th percentile level, in the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 8 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 2 to 5 cm (0.5 to 2 in), over the next week. 

The basin received almost no precipitation over the past week, and only moderate amounts of rainfall are expected over the next week. Therefore, additional outflow reductions are required to continue to slow the rate of level decline on Lake of the Woods. Authorized outflow will decrease to:

• 725 m³/s on Friday, August 23^rd
• 675 m³/s on Monday, August 26^th
• 625 m³/s on Wednesday, August 28^th
• 575 m³/s on Friday, August 30^th

The scheduled outflow reductions will cause levels along the Winnipeg River to decline as follows:

• Directly downstream of the Norman Dam: approximately 14 cm (5.5 in) with each outflow reduction, 43 cm (17 in) total drop by August 30^th
• Above the Dalles: approximately 9 cm (3.5 in) with each outflow reduction, 27 cm (10.5 in) total drop by August 30^th
• Minaki: Once Lake of the Woods outflow falls below 700 m³/s, the level at Minaki will once again be managed by the Whitedog Dam forebay elevation. The water level will drop approximately 13 cm (5 in) before stabilizing at or below 316.09 m (1037.0 ft) early next week.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.41 m (1169.3 ft), a 35^th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 0.5 cm (0.5 in) over the past week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 350 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

Inflow to Lake of the Woods has dropped extremely quickly, going from 80^th to 40^th percentile over the last week. The lake level has also declined rapidly coming down as much as 13 cm (5 in) over the last week and now sitting in the normal range. Weather forecasts for the Winnipeg River basin are hot and relatively dry for the next week. Therefore, to slow Lake of the Woods level decline, and balance outflow with inflow, additional outflow reductions are required next week.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.08 m (1059.9 ft), an 55^th percentile level, in the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 12 cm (4.5 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 4 to 7 cm (1.5 to 2.5 in), over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will decrease to:

• 875 m³/s on Friday, August 16^th
• 825 m³/s on Monday, August 19^th
• 775 m³/s on Wednesday, August 21^st
• 725 m³/s on Friday, August 23^rd

The scheduled outflow reductions will cause levels along the Winnipeg River to decline as follows:

• Directly downstream of the Norman Dam: 15 cm (6 in) with each outflow reduction, 74 cm (29 in) total drop by August 23^rd
• Above the Dalles: 11 cm (4 in) with each outflow reduction, 51 cm (20 in) total drop by August 23^rd
• Minaki: 10 cm (4 in) with each outflow reduction, 50 cm (19.5 in) total drop by August 23^rd

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.41 m (1169.3 ft), a 35^th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level increased by 2 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 350 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.11 m (1060.1 ft), a 55^th percentile level, in the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 13 cm (4 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 6 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in), over the next week.

Over the last week, dam operators did no accurately estimate outflow at the outlet of Lake of the Woods. As a result, additional outflow reductions are required to achieved an authorized outflow of 875 m³/s by Saturday, August 17^th as planned. Lake of the Woods outflow will decrease by approximately:

• 100 m³/s on Wednesday, August 14^th
• 93 m³/s on Friday, August 16^th

If conditions remain dry, similar outflow reductions will be required the following week to slow the rate of lake level decline. The scheduled outflow reductions will cause levels along the Winnipeg River to decline as follows:

• Directly downstream of the Norman Dam: 30 cm (12 in) with each outflow reduction, 53 cm (21 in) total drop by August 17^th
• Above the Dalles: 23 cm (9 in) with each outflow reduction, 40 cm (16 in) total drop by August 17^th
• Minaki: 20 cm (8 in) with each outflow reduction, 34 cm (13 in) total drop by August 17^th

The northern portions of the Winnipeg River basin are receiving moderate precipitation this week which will help maintain levels and flows. In the southern half of the basin, precipitation has been low and forecasts for next week are very dry. Inflow to Lake of the Woods is therefore declining rapidly and the lake level has also started to drop. To maintain a gradual decline in lake level, outflow reductions at Lake of the Woods are required, as long as conditions remain dry.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.20 m (1060.4 ft), an 80^th percentile level, above the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 8 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 6 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in), over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will decrease to:

• 975 m³/s on Thursday, August 8^th
• 925 m³/s on Monday, August 12^th
• 875 m³/s on Thursday, August 15^th

If conditions remain dry, similar outflow reductions will be required the following week to slow the rate of lake level decline. The scheduled outflow reductions will cause levels along the Winnipeg River to decline as follows:

• Directly downstream of the Norman Dam: 15 cm (6 in) with each outflow reduction, 52 cm (20 in) total drop by August 16^th
• Above the Dalles: 11 cm (4 in) with each outflow reduction, 38 cm (15 in) total drop by August 16^th
• Minaki: 10 cm (4 in) with each outflow reduction, 33 cm (13 in) total drop by August 16^th

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.36 m (1169.2 ft), a 30^th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 2 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decrease by 2 to 4 cm (0.5 to 1.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 350 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

Levels have been steadily declining on Lake of the Woods for more than a week and are expected to continue declining with decreasing flows on the Rainy River upstream. The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.24 m (1060.5 ft), an 85^th percentile level, above the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 6 cm (2 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2 in), over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will decrease to 975 m³/s on Thursday, August 8^th. Depending on precipitation, additional outflow reductions may be required next week.  

This outflow reduction will cause levels along the Winnipeg River to decline by approximately 22 cm (8.5 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam, 17 cm (6.5 in) above the Dalles and 14 cm (5.5 in) at Minaki.

Inflows and levels at Lac Seul are expected to remain stable over the next week. No outflow changes are planned with authorized outflow remaining at 350 m³/s.

With the exception of some heavy rainfall early this week impacting the headwaters of Lac Seul, conditions across the Winnipeg River basin have become much drier and very hot. This has allowed for tributary flows and lake inflows to start declining steadily. Upstream of Lake of the Woods, both Rainy and Namakan Lakes are expected to return to their rule curves this week, and as a result, outflow reductions at these lakes are underway. Once the level of Lake of the Woods has also come down a few more centimeters, outflow reductions at the dams in Kenora will be scheduled next week to match the cuts upstream and begin providing relief downstream on the Winnipeg River. More details on the outflow reductions will be provided early next week.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.29 m (1060.6 ft), an 85^th percentile level, above the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level decreased by 2 cm (1 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2 in), over the next week. Lake of the Woods outflow is 1061 m³/s with all sluices fully open at the Norman Dam in Kenora. The dams cannot be opened any more and outflow will rise and fall with the lake level.  

With the Norman Dam fully open, outflows will change with lake levels and so will levels along the Winnipeg River.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.38 m (1169.2 ft), a 30^th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level increased by 2 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to remain stable, increasing or decreasing by 1 to 2 cm (0.5 to 1 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 350 m³/s with no additional changes currently scheduled.