International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board
The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB)’s Water Levels Committee (WLC) established an initial spring regulation plan for Rainy and Namakan Lakes on March 10, 2023. This plan is issued in accordance with a new temporary supplementary Order issued by the International Joint Commission on March 3 which combines the previous high flood risk and standard rule curves for Rainy Lake. This will provide flexibility to direct dam operations as spring develops without having to employ a different rule curve.
In accordance with the WLC spring regulation plan, the March 31st target water levels for both Rainy and Namakan Lakes will be the lower third of their respective rule curve bands. The WLC will monitor conditions over the coming weeks and provide further direction for lake level regulation prior to the end of March 2023.
The March 31st targets were established based on an evaluation of current conditions including the following factors:
- Above-normal snow water equivalent in the headwaters, with lesser amounts to the west and closer to normal near Rainy River.
- Groundwater supplies in the normal/slightly above normal range for the tributaries upstream of Namakan and Rainy Lakes.
- The potential for above-normal spring flows for the US tributaries in the Rainy River Basin identified by the National Weather Service- North Central River Forecast Center.
- Warmer than normal winter temperatures to date with lower frost depth below the ground surface.