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Lake Superior water level expected to rise

NEWS RELEASE INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR BOARD OF CONTROL *************************** The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, has set the Lake Superior outflow to 1,750 cu
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NEWS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR BOARD OF CONTROL

*************************** The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, has set the Lake Superior outflow to 1,750 cubic meters per second (m3/s) (61.8 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of August, effective August 3, 2011.

This is an increase from the July outflow which was 1,720 m3/s (60.7 tcfs).

This outflow is as prescribed by Plan 1977-A.

The August outflow will be released by discharging about 1,640 m3/s (57.9 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 centimeters (cm), or about 8 inches each).

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

This past month the water supplies to the Lake Superior basin were above normal while those to the Lakes Michigan-Huron basin were near normal.

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

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

Currently, the Lake Superior level is about 25 cm (10 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-August level, and is 10 cm (4 inches) higher than the level recorded a year ago.

This past month the level of Lake Superior rose 8 cm (3 inches), while on average it rises 5 cm (2 inches) in July.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron remained steady this July, which is typical during July.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is now about 31 cm (12 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-August level, and is at the same level is was a year ago.

Currently Lakes Michigan-Huron is 26 cm (10 inches) above its chart datum level.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is expected to drop in August.

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

Major 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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