Dam operators given leeway with Rainy/Namakan lake levels

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board’s Water Levels Committee has issued its spring directive for lake levels on Rainy and Namakan Lakes.

The Water Levels Committee is directing dam operators in the area to keep Rainy Lake within the 25 to 75 percent band of its Rule Curve, which designates the minimum and maximum lake levels.

Namakan is to stay within the 40-75 percent band of its Rule Curve.

The directive takes into account current conditions and forecasts.

The Rainy Lake basin has experienced relatively dry conditions since the last, with snowpack and snow water equivalent being close to normal in the eastern headwaters and slightly below normal to the west.

The level of frost is also variable, which could enhance spring snowmelt runoff.

Long-range forecasts indicate below normal temperatures and equal chances of above and below normal precipitation.

Officials have suggested the risk of spring flooding is currently low.

The Water Levels Committee says it will continue to monitor conditions over the coming weeks and take further direction on the lake levels as needed.