If you’ve been across the international bridge lately, you may have noticed a greater than usual amount of water going through the control gates at the dam.
It’s not your imagination. It’s true.
In addition to the two power houses, there are 15 control gates used to regulate the water flow. As of today, eight of them are open.
“The water is a bit higher than it was this time last year,” remarked Raimo Tyrvainen, energy and utilities co-ordinator for Abitibi-Consolidated here.
“It’s not a whole lot higher,” he added. “It’s right at the top of the rule curve.”
As of Saturday, the water level of Rainy Lake was 13.2 cm (5.2 in) higher than on the same date last year.
Tyrvainen said the higher water levels are a result of a heavy snow pack from the winter and an earlier than usual melt.
Had the melt come a few weeks later, the flow would not have been increased because the rule curve allows for higher levels in May than it does now.
“Had it [the thaw] happened earlier, we would not have had to spill as much water,” Tyrvainen noted. “Essentially, we passed all the snow melt through.”
The Fort Frances Times will begin publishing water levels on Rainy Lake on a regular basis beginning in May. For additional information, go to www.lwcb.ca
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
