Find out how fast it's going to flow

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 2,040 cubic meters per second (m3/s) (72.0 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of April, effective April 3, 2014.

The outflow is as prescribed by Plan 1977-A and is 60 m3/s (2,120 cfs) more than the March outflow.

The April outflow will be released by discharging approximately 1,942 m3/s (68.6 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 for the month of April will be maintained at the equivalent of one-half gate open (four gates open 20 centimeters (cm) each), effective April 3.

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

The monthly mean water level of Lake Superior in March was 183.23 m (601.15 ft).

This is 1 cm (0.4 in) above the long-term (1918-2013) March average and the highest March level since 1998.

This past month the water supplies to Lake Superior were above average, while water supplies to Lakes Michigan-Huron were below average.

The level of Lake Superior declined 1 cm (0.4 inches) last month, while on average the lake declines 2 cm (1 in) in March.

The Lake Superior level at the beginning-of- April is 1 cm (0.4 in) above the long-term average, and 33 cm (13 in) above the level recorded a year ago.

It is 3 cm (1 in) above its chart datum level.

The level of Lake Superior is expected to begin its seasonal rise during April.

The level of Lake Michigan-Huron rose 2 cm (1 in) this past month, while on average the lake rises 4 cm (2 in) in March.

The level of Lake Michigan-Huron is approximately 34 cm (13 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-April level, but is 33 cm (13 inches) higher than it was a year ago.

Lake Michigan-Huron is now 3 cm (1 in) below its chart datum level. The level of Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to continue its seasonal rise in April.

BG Margaret Burcham is the United States Board Member and Mr. Jaymie Gadal is the Board Member for Canada.

Additional information can be found on the Board’s homepage or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District Superior Regulation webpage.