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Lake Superior two inches higher than last year

NEW RELEASE INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR BOARD OF CONTROL *************************** 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 La
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NEW RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR BOARD OF CONTROL

*************************** 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 2,140 cubic meters per second (m3/s) (75.6 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of June.

This is the outflow recommended by the regulation plan for the month of June and is an increase from the May outflow, which was 1,940 m3/s (68.5 tcfs).

The June outflow will be released by discharging about 2,018 m3/s (71.3 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 eight inches each).

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

This past month the water supply to the Lake Superior basin was below average, while the water supply to the Lake Michigan-Huron basin was above average.

Lake Superior is currently eight cm (three inches) above its chart datum level.

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

Currently, the Lake Superior level is about 13 cm (five inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-June level, but is six cm (two inches) above the level recorded a year ago.

This past month the level of Lake Superior rose by eight cm (three inches), while on average the lake rises nine cm (four inches).

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron rose by 11 cm (four inches) this May, which is three cm (one inch) more than its average rise.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is now about 13 cm (five inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-June level, and is 31 cm (12 inches) higher than it was a year ago.

Currently Lakes Michigan-Huron is 39 cm (15 inches) above its chart datum level.

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

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 John W. Peabody, 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.

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