LAKE OF THE WOODS- The Lake of the Woods is finally starting to see a decline in water over the past week as precipitation around the region is slowing down.
Over July, the Northwest region has seen some wild weather with more than 140 millimetres of rain around Kenora and 200 millimetres of rain around the Rainy Lake sub-watershed.
According to the Lake of the Woods Secretariat, “[t]he current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.96 m (1062.9 ft), over 95th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 6 cm (2 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 at 324.31 m (1064.0 ft), set in July of 1950. The dams in Kenora remain fully open. Over the next week, the lake level is expected to decline by 12 to 14 cm (4.5 to 5.5 in).”
In addition to the declining water in the Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake has seen its first outflow reduction in months resulting in further rates of decline in the Lake of the Woods.
“With decreasing inflows to Lake of the Woods, the outflow from the lake will also gradually drop. Levels along the Winnipeg River will see moderate decreases of up to 10 cm (4 in) directly below the Norman Dam and 6 cm (2 in) at Minaki,” acknowledges the LotW Secretariat.
In Lac Seul, the water is 356.73 m (1170.4 ft), which lands the lake at the 90th percentile level for this time of year.
The level of the main body of Lac Seul increased by 2 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by up to 5 cm (2 in) over the next week depending on rainfall.
Lac Seul authorized outflow increased to 450 m³/s on Friday, August 5th.
