Lake Superior levels expected to continue decline

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 1,990 cubi

NEWS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR

BOARD OF CONTROL

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The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, has set the Lake Superior outflow to 1,990 cubic meters per second (m3/s) (70.3 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of February, effective February 1, 2014.

The outflow is as prescribed by Plan 1977-A and is 100 m3/s (3.5 tcfs) less than the January outflow.

The February outflow will be released by discharging approximately 1,900 m3/s (67.1 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 February will be maintained at the equivalent of one-half gate open (four gates open 20 centimeters (cm) each), effective February 1.

There will be no change to the setting of Gate #1 which supplies water to the channel north of the Fishery Remedial Dike.

This past month the water supplies to both Lake Superior and Lakes Michigan-Huron were above average.

The level of Lake Superior declined 7 cm (3 inches) last month, which is equal to the average amount the lake declines in January. The Lake Superior level is approximately 3 cm (1 inch) below its long-term average beginning-of-February level, but 30 cm (12 inches) above the level recorded a year ago.

It is 6 cm (2 inches) above its chart datum level.

The level of Lake Superior is expected to continue its seasonal decline during February.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron rose 1 cm (0.4 inches) this past month, while on average the lake declines 3 cm (1 inch) in January.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is 31 cm (12 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-February level, but is 38 cm (15 inches) higher than it was a year ago, when the lake set a new record low.

Lakes Michigan-Huron is now 3 cm (1 inch) below its chart datum level.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is expected to remain at about the same level during February.

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

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

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