KENORA — With more raining expected over the weekend, the City of Kenora is anticipating water flows will rise again.
The latest update from the Lake of the Woods Control Board has been posted on the Municipality of Kenora’s website. As of May 1, 2022, the Control Board informed the region that they, “directed an authorized outflow of 1025 m³/s.”
Their update shared that, flows across the region have been exceptionally high but declining in recent days. They anticipate that flows are expected to rise again, with widespread rainfall forecasted for around Lake of the Woods and Rainy River this weekend.
The Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association also shared that they have been receiving many inquiries from concerned residents about the rate of rise of Lake of the Woods, especially since many docks still remain frozen in. They acknowledged that this is true; "However, in areas along the Winnipeg River that have not opened up." Lake of the Woods has risen by 40 centimetres (16 inches) in the past two weeks, while the level of the Winnipeg River near Kenora has risen 110 cm (43 in). Lake of the Woods is projected to rise by 18 cm (7 in) or more over the next week, while the outflow increase tomorrow will raise the level of the Winnipeg River by another 30 cm (12 in).”
They further explained that the maximum outflow capacity from Lake of the Woods is in fact a function of the lake level, and that the higher the lake level, the more pressure the lake provides to push water through the outlet in Kenora and past Norman Dam.
Residents were assured that the current lake level is not high, but also indicated that Wednesday’s outflow increase, which is the fourth one in a week, is expected to bring the outflow to around 92 per cent of the maximum for the current lake level.
As a final update note, the Lake of the Woods Control Board stated that. “The lake is now 53 cm below the top of the operating range set in the Lake of the Woods Convention between Canada and the United States.
The Control Board plans on reviewing the latest conditions Monday, and evaluate the next steps.
