Lake Superior is higher, but still a little low

NEWS 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 2,130 cubic meters per second (m3/s) (75.2 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of September, effective September 1.

This is the outflow recommended by the regulation plan for the month of September and is an increase from the August outflow, which was 1,820 m3/s (64.3 tcfs).

The September outflow will be released by discharging about 2,002 m3/s (70.7 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 Lake Superior and Lakes Michigan-Huron basins were above normal.

Lake Superior is currently 24 cm (9 inches) above its chart datum level.

The level of Lake Superior is expected to remain stable in September.

Currently, the Lake Superior level is about 10 cm (4 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-September level, and is 5 cm (2 inches) above the level recorded a year ago.

This past month the level of Lake Superior rose 8 cm (3 inches), while on average it remains relatively stable in August.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron fell 2 cm (1 inch) this August, while on average it falls 4 cm (2 inches) during August.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is now about 12 cm (5 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-September level, and is 24 cm (9 inches) higher than it was a year ago.

Currently Lakes Michigan-Huron is 42 cm (17 inches) above its chart datum level.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is expected to fall in September.

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 Member for Canada.

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