ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is closely monitoring water levels at its Red River of the North reservoirs. Below average precipitation and drought conditions continue to impact reservoir levels and discharges. Recent scattered precipitation in the basin has generally kept the pool elevations level.
The pool level at Lake Traverse, behind Reservation Dam, near Wheaton, Minn., is within the summer target level (elevation 976 to 977 feet), which is the level maintained for water supply, environmental and recreational benefits. The lake remains low for this time of year compared to recent years. Current pool level is 976.0 feet, and the gates remain closed (no water is being released).
The adjacent Mud Lake, behind White Rock Dam, is 0.9 feet below its summer target level of 972 feet. Current pool level is 971.1feet, and the gates remain closed.
The pool level at Orwell Dam, near Fergus Falls, Minn., is within the summer target level (elevation 1,063.5 to 1,064.5 feet). Current pool level is 1,064.1 feet and the release from the dam is estimated at 100 cubic feet per second. The Corps will maintain a minimum release of 80 cfs, while the pool level remains above 1,060 feet.
At Baldhill Dam, near Valley City, N.D., Lake Ashtabula is at the summer target level (elevation 1,265.8 to 1,266.2 feet). Current pool level is 1,266.1 feet, and the release is approximately 30 cfs. Conditions continue to be monitored to determine if additional release reductions are needed. Minimum release is 13 cfs.
At Red Lake behind Red Lake Dam, near Red Lake, Minnesota, the pool has fallen below the summer target level (elevation 1,174 feet). Current pool level is 1,173.8 feet, and the release is approximately 100 cfs. The Corps will remain at this release rate while assessing conditions and confirming municipal water supply and ecological needs.
At Homme Dam, near Park River, N.D., the pool level is near the summer target level (elevation 1,079.8 feet). Current pool level is 1,079.7 feet, and the Corps is not currently releasing water.
Current and historical lake levels and releases can be accessed at www.mvpwc.usace.army.mil or water.usace.army.mil. All Corps reservoirs are operated in accordance with detailed water control manuals to ensure the system performs as designed.
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