Due to significant rainfall, coupled with a cool, late spring, the inflow to Namakan Lake was well above normal in May and has been maximum of record to date in June (for this time of year).
Inflow to Rainy Lake also was well above normal in May, and has been mostly at the 95 percentile rate (one in 20-year high) in June to date.
As a result, the levels of both Rainy and Namakan lakes, and the Rainy River, currently are well above normal. The dams at the outlets of both lakes are fully open.
Namakan Lake rose above its upper rule curve on May 13 and currently is 26 cm (10.2 in.) above the highest point on this curve.
The URC is the upper limit of the normal operating band specified for the lake by the International Joint Commission.
The current lake level is one cm (0.4 in.) higher than the peak level reached in 2002, but is 25 cm (9.8 in.) lower than the 2001 peak.
The lake rose only four cm (1.6 in) over the past week and may be close to peaking (subject, of course, to more rainfall).
Rainy Lake also rose above its URC on May 13 and also is currently 26 cm (10.2 in) above the highest point on this curve. The lake is now six cm (2.4 in) above the level it reached in 2005, but is still 55 cm (26.6) below the level it reached in 2002.
Rainy Lake rose 14 cm (5.5 in) over the past week and is still rising strongly, with inflows currently about 20 percent larger than the outflow capacity of the dam.
The lake will continue to rise in the near term, and its ultimate peak level will depend on the amount of rainfall received over the next few weeks.
The Rainy River currently is 2.7 m (8.7 feet) above its median level at this time of year below the Fort Frances-International Falls dam and is 2.5 m (8.1 feet) above median at Manitou Rapids.
These high levels, which are due to the Rainy Lake dam being fully open and local tributary flow being high, are similar to the levels reached in 2005, but are more than one metre (3.3 feet) lower than those experienced in 2002.
The board suggests waterfront property owners and users of the system keep themselves updated on basin conditions.
Up-to-date information can be found by following the International Rainy Lake Board of Control link at www.ijc.org
People also can call the board’s representatives, Rick Walden (1-819-997-2529) or Ed Eaton (1-651-290-5617).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
