Posted on August 24, 2021
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, continues to monitor water levels at its Mississippi River Headwaters reservoirs. The water levels in the reservoirs, except for Pokegama Lake, are below the summer target level, which is the level maintained for water supply, environmental and recreational benefits. All reservoirs are releasing the minimum flow. The Corps urges boaters to go slow and use caution in lower-than-normal lakes levels.
Gull Lake, near Brainerd, Minnesota, has a current pool level of 1,193.4 feet and an outflow of 20 cubic feet per second, or cfs. The summer target level is 1,194.0 ± 0.15 feet. The Corps will reduce the minimum flow if the pool reaches 1,192.8 feet. The projected 30-day change in pool level, assuming no rain, is -0.3 feet.
Cross Lake, near Crosslake, Minnesota, has a current pool level of 1,228.7 feet and an outflow of 30 cfs. The summer target level is 1,229.3 ± 0.25 feet. The Corps will reduce the minimum flow if the pool reaches 1,225.3 feet. The pool level, assuming no rain, is projected to hold steady or decline over the next 30-day period.
Big Sandy Lake, near McGregor, Minnesota, has a current pool level of 1,215.5 feet and an outflow of 20 cfs. The summer target level is 1,216.3 ± 0.25 feet. The Corps will reduce the minimum flow if the pool reaches 1,214.3 feet. The projected 30-day change in pool level, assuming no rain, is -0.2 feet.
Pokegama Lake, near Grand Rapids, Minnesota, has a current pool level of 1,273.2 feet and an outflow of 240 cfs. The summer target level is 1,273.4 ± 0.25 feet. The minimum outflow for Pokegama is the sum of outflow from Lake Winnibigoshish and Leech Lake. The pool level, assuming no rain, is projected to hold steady over the next 30-day period.
Leech Lake, near Federal Dam, Minnesota, has a current pool level of 1,293.6 feet and an outflow of 120 cfs. The summer target level is 1,294.7 ± 0.2 feet. The Corps will reduce the minimum flow if the pool reaches 1,292.7 feet. The projected 30-day change in pool level, assuming no rain, is -0.2 feet.
Lake Winnibigoshish, near Deer River, Minnesota, has a current pool level of 1,297.2 feet and an outflow of 100 cfs. The summer target level is 1,298.2 ± 0.25 feet. The Corps will reduce the minimum flow if the pool reaches 1,294.9 feet. The projected 30-day change in pool level, assuming no rain, is -0.1 feet.
Current and historical lake levels and releases can be accessed www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil or https://water.usace.army.mil. Forecasted lake levels and releases are updated weekly at www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil. All Corps reservoirs are operated in accordance with detailed water control manuals to ensure the system performs as designed.
