lake level management strategy

Lake level management strategies and information for the Yahara lakes as requested by Dane County Supervisors Schmidt, Stubbs, Hendrick, Sargent, Corrigan, Stoebig, Eicher, McDonell, Miles, Vedder and Rusk. The intent of requesting and posting this information is to better communicate with our constituents the strategies in place by the County on a bi-weekly basis. More information can be found at http://countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/lakelevelpg.aspx

Sunday, December 26, 2010

12/24 Lake Level update

Lake level changes from December 10th

Mendota: - 0.10 ft

Monona: - 0.17 ft

Waubesa: - 0.06 ft

Kegonsa: + 0.13 ft

We have received 0.96 inches of precipitation in the form of snowfall since December 10th.

Total precipitation received from January 1, 2010 to date is 37.7 inches. Normal precipitation is 32.5 inches, 5.2 inches above normal.

Snow fall from December 1, 2010 to date, is 18.8 inches compared to a normal of 8.2 inches. We presently have a snow depth of 8 inches.

Currently Lake Mendota is 0.32 ft above Winter Minimum. Flow out of Lake Mendota was decreased in order to allow Lakes Monona and Waubesa to drop. We expect to maintain this flow for the next several weeks.

Locks and dams at both Babcock County Park and Lafollette County Park have been completely open since April, and will remain - in full flow condition.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

December 9, 2010

Change from December 1

Mendota - 0.31 ft

Monona + 0.09 ft

Waubesa + 0.03 ft

Kegonsa + 0.04 ft

We have received 0.37 inches of precipitation in the form of snowfall since December 1.

Currently Lake Mendota is 0.42 ft above Winter Minimum. We have decreased the flow out of Lake Mendota in order to allow Lakes Monona and Waubesa to drop.

Locks and dams at both Babcock County Park and Lafollette County Park have been completely open since April, and will remain - in full flow condition.