Water levels expected to rise on Lake of the Woods

KENORA — Lake of the Woods Control Board is warning residents water levels on Lake of the Woods are expected to rise rapidly.

According to the staff of the Lake of the Woods Control Board “Secretariat water levels on Lake of the Woods are expected to rise rapidly over the next week.”

As in many communities in the region, April precipitation has been well above average and it is believed that this trend will continue with the snowfall and rain forecast for the next few days.

The LWBS Secretariat advises all residents that, “After drawing down the lake over the winter to prepare for the spring refill period, the LWCB had been directing further outflow increases in the first half of April in anticipation of a moderately strong spring runoff. However, the weather over the past week, together with the forecast rainfall for the next few days, has changed the outlook considerably. This rain on snow is expected to cause inflow to Lake of the Woods to rise to an extremely high rate.”

It is believed that if more rainfall occurs than is expected, Lake of the Woods could see a rise by more than 30 centimetres over the next week. In addition, since this is only April, the lake will have a limited buffer left for May; which is when the region typically receives more rain.

As a result, the Municipality has indicated that, “The LWCB is increasing the size of outflow increases from Lake of the Woods this week and next. The level of the Winnipeg River will rise quickly as a result of these outflow increases as well as from local runoff caused by the rain on snow. By next week the Winnipeg River level is expected to rise to what is considered a moderately high June level.”

LWCB’s goal is to save enough storage room in the lake for the May-June period to reduce the risk of higher levels on Lake of the Woods and along the Winnipeg River, if wet conditions continue.

Kenora residents are encouraged to check out their website in order to gain information and updates regarding water levels by going to:  https://www.lowdsa.com/.../basin-conditions-changing...