Correction issued on Lake Superior levels

The news release that appears below was released yesterday by the International Lake Superior Board of Control.

This morning, the same agency advised SooToday.com that this release contains erroneous information.

"The original copy stated that 'This past month the level of Lake Superior rose 16 cm (six inches), while on average the level falls 8 cm (three inches) in April.' It should have read 'This past month the level of Lake Superior rose 16 cm (six inches), while on average the level rises eight cm (three inches) in April," the agency tells SooToday.com

************************* Update on Lake Superior outflow

The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, has set the Lake Superior outflow to 1,720 cubic metres per second (m3/s) (60.7 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of May.

This is the outflow recommended by the regulation plan for the month of May and is an increase from the April outflow, which was 1,590 m3/s (56.2 tcfs).

The May outflow will be released by discharging about 1,602 m3/s (56.6 tcfs) through the three hydropower plants and passing most of the remaining flow through the control structure at the head of the St. Marys rapids.

The gate setting of the control structure will be maintained at the existing setting equivalent to one-half gate open (four gates open 20 cm, or about 8 inches each).

There will be no change to the setting of Gate #1 that supplies the Fishery Remedial Works.

This past month the water supplies to the Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron basins were well above their long-term averages for April.

Lake Superior is currently 8 cm (3 inches) below its chart datum level.

The level of Lake Superior is expected to rise in May.

Currently, the Lake Superior level is about 20 cm (8 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-May level, but is 26 cm (10 inches) above the level recorded a year ago.

This past month the level of Lake Superior rose 16 cm (6 inches), while on average the level falls by 8 cm (3 inches) in April.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron rose by 20 cm (8 inches) this April, while on average these lakes rise by 11 cm (4 inches) in April.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is now about 45 cm (18 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-May level, and is 4 cm (2 inches) lower than it was a year ago, and at chart datum.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is also expected to rise in May.

The board continues to monitor conditions both on Lake Superior and downstream and will advise the International Joint Commission accordingly on those conditions.

Brigadier General Bruce A. Berwick, commander, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the United States board member.

Mr. David Fay is the Board Member for Canada.

For further information please contact Carl Woodruff as indicated above.

Additional information can be found here or here.

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