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2022.03.16 Level Forecast and Flow Changes

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.42m (1057.8 ft), a 35th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level rose by 1 cm (0.5 in) over the past week and is expected to change little over the next week. Upstream, the International Joint Commission’s Water Levels Committee set targets for Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake at the end of March at the lower end of the respective Rule Curve ranges and the dam operators have increased outflow from both lakes to meet these targets. This has resulted in a modest increase in inflow to Lake of the Woods for the remainder of March. In response, the LWCB is gradually increasing outflow Lake of the Woods to maintain storage room ahead of the spring melt. The following flow adjustments are planned over the next week:

March 16: from 300 to 315 m³/s

March 17: 330 m³/s

March 18: 345 m³/s

March 19: 360 m³/s

March 20: 375 m³/s

Each flow adjustment will result in the Winnipeg River near Kenora rising by roughly 3 cm ( 1 in). The Winnipeg River level at Minaki will not be affected by these adjustments.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.87 m (1164.3 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 7 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 4 to 6 cm (2-3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow will be reduced from 250 m³/s to 200 m³/s on Thursday, March 16.

2023.03.09 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.41 m (1057.8 ft), a 25th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level remained stable over the past week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 300 m3/s with no scheduled changes.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.95 m (1164.5 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 10 cm (4 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 7 to 9 cm (3 to 3.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 310 m3/s with scheduled decreases to 250 m3/s today, Thursday March 9th and 200 m3/s Thursday March 16th.

2023.03.02 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.41 m (1057.8 ft), a 20th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2 cm (0.5 in) over the past week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 300 m3/s with no scheduled changes.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.05 m (1164.8 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 9 cm (3.5 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 7 to 8 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 310 m3/s with no scheduled changes.

2023.02.23 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.43 m (1057.8 ft), a 20th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 3 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 1 to 2 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will decrease to 350 m3/s today and is scheduled to decrease to 325 m3/s on Saturday, February 25 and again to 300 m3/s on Monday, February 27.

As a result, levels along the Winnipeg River will decrease by 5 cm (2 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and 2 cm (1 in) at the Dalles with each of these outflow changes. The river level at Minaki will not be affected.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.14 m (1165.2 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8.5 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 8 to 9 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 310 m3/s with no scheduled changes.

2023.02.16 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.46 m (1057.9 ft), a 25th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 3.5 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 2 to 3 cm (1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 375 m3/s and is scheduled to decrease to 350 m3/s on Thursday, February 23.

As a result of this flow change, levels along the Winnipeg River will decrease by 6 cm (2 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and 3 cm (1 in) at the Dalles. The river level at Minaki will not be affected.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.23 m (1165.4 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8.5 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized is 310 m3/s with no scheduled changes.

2023.02.09 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.50 m (1058.0 ft), a 25th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 3 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 2 to 3 cm (1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow decreased to 400 m3/s on Thursday, February 9.

As a result of this flow change, levels along the Winnipeg River will decrease by 7 cm (3 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and 4 cm (2 in) at the Dalles. The river level at Minaki will not be affected.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.31 m (1165.7 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 8 to 9 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized is 310 m3/s with no scheduled changes.

2023.02.02 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.53 m (1058.2 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 3 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 2 to 3 cm (1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is scheduled to decrease to 400 m3/s on Thursday, February 9.

As a result of this flow change, levels along the Winnipeg River will decrease by 7 cm (3 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and 4 cm (2 in) at the Dalles. The river level at Minaki will not be affected.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.40 m (1166.0 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 7 to 8 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow was reduced to 310 m3/s on Thursday, February 2.

2023.01.26 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.56 m (1058.3 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 3 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 2 to 3 cm (1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 430 m3/s with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.48 m (1166.3 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8.5 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 7 to 8 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 325 m3/s with no changes scheduled.

2023.01.19 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.60 m (1058.4 ft), a 35th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2.8 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by up to 3 cm (1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is scheduled to decrease to 430 m3/s on Tuesday, January 24.

This outflow decreases will cause the level of the Winnipeg River to drop by 13 cm (5 in) downstream of the Norman Dam, 6 cm (2 in) at the Dalles and will cause no level changes at Minaki.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.57 m (1166.5 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 7 to 8 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 325 m3/s with no changes scheduled.

2023.01.12 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.62 m (1058.5 ft), a 35th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 1.5 cm (0.5 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by up to 4 cm (1.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow was increased to 480 m3/s yesterday and there are no further changes scheduled this week.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.65 m (1167.0 ft), a 30th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 m (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 7 to 9 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 325 m3/s with no changes scheduled.