Lakes still fullest they've been this century

NEWS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR BOARD OF CONTROL

The outflow is being set to the normal maximum winter flow as prescribed by Plan 2012, the regulation plan for Lake Superior, and is about the same as the January flow.

The February outflow will be released by discharging about 2308 m3 /s 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 centimetres (cm) each).

The one-half gate equivalent setting is the normal winter maximum, and is typically maintained from December through April.

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

The monthly mean water level of Lake Superior in January was 183.54 m.

This is 22 cm above the long-term (1918-2013) January average and the highest January level since 1997.

The net water supplies to Lake Superior were below average in January, ending an almost year-long streak of above-average supplies stretching back to February 2014.

The level of Lake Superior declined 10 cm last month, while on average the lake declines 7 cm in January.

The Lake Superior level at the beginning-ofFebruary is 21 cm above average, 25 cm above the level recorded a year ago at this time, and 30 cm above its chart datum level.

The monthly mean water level of Lake Michigan-Huron in January was 176.51 m.

This is 22 cm above the longterm (1918-2013) January average, and the highest January level since 1998.

The net water supplies to Lake Michigan-Huron were close to average in January.

The level of Lake MichiganHuron declined 2 cm last month, while on average the lake declines by 3 cm in January.

The level of Lake Michigan-Huron is 25 cm above its long-term average beginning-of-February level, 56 cm higher than it was a year ago, and 52 cm above its chart datum level.

The levels of both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron are expected to continue their seasonal decline in February.

Mr. Jaymie Gadal is the Board Member for Canada. Brigadier General Richard Kaiser is the U.S. Board Member. For further information, please contact Mr. Jacob Bruxer, Canadian Regulation Representative, International Lake Superior Board of Control, by phone at (613) 938-5862 or by e-mail at [email protected] Additional information can also be found at the Board’s homepage: http://ijc.org/en_/ilsbc Or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalLakeSuperiorBoardOfControl

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