The headwaters of the Lake of the Woods watershed have seen little rainfall in recent weeks. These dry conditions have prompted large reductions in outflow out of the International Dam at Rainy Lake. Inflow to Lake of the Woods will fall quickly over the next week because of these Rainy Lake outflow reductions.
The LWCB is directing daily, small flow cuts of Lake of the Woods to balance conditions on the lake and the Winnipeg River, with a particular focus on gradual changes during river spawning. This will help bring outflow in line with wider watershed conditions.
Starting Saturday, June 20, Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will be reduced by 15 m³/s daily through Friday June 26 as follows:
- June 20: 435 m³/s
- June 21: 420 m m³/s
- June 22: 405 m³/s
- June 23: 390 m³/s
- June 24: 375 m³/s
- June 25: 360 m³/s
- June 26: 345 m³/s
The Winnipeg River near Kenora is expected to fall by 3 to 4 cm (~ 1 to 1.5 inch) with each daily flow reduction. The Winnipeg River level at Minaki will not be affected by these outflow adjustments.