January 21, 2011 Update

Information for January 21, 2011

 

                        Elevation               Change from January 7, 2011    

 

Mendota         848.54                  +0.02 ft

Monona          NA                      NA

Waubesa         844.20                  - 0.18 ft

Kegonsa         842.52                  - 0.33 ft

 

The Lake Monona gage has been off line since January 17, due to icing problems.  I expect Lake Monona has declined similarly to Lake Waubesa.

 

We have received 0.78 inches of precipitation in the form of snowfall since January 7, 2011     .

 

Snow fall from December 1, 2010 to date, is 33.4 inches compared to the norm of 21.5 inches.  We did not have a snow pack the previous report, today,  we have a depth of 7 inches.

 

Currently Lake Mendota is 0.34 ft above Winter Minimum.  Flow out of Lake Mendota remains steady in order to allow Lakes Monona and Waubesa to drop.  We expect to maintain this flow rate for the next several weeks.

 

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

 

The Stoughton Dam is within operating water level orders.  Today's discharge is 273 cfs compared to a median average of 233 cfs.  This increased flow assists in moving water volume out of the upper lakes.

January 7th 2011 update

January 7, 2011

 

                        Elevation               Change from December 22nd      

 

Mendota         848.52                  No Change

Monona          844.62                  - 0.25 ft

Waubesa         844.38                  - 0.20 ft

Kegonsa         842.85                  - 0.12 ft

 

We have received 0.19 inches of precipitation in the form of snowfall since December 22nd               .

 

Total precipitation received during the 2010 calendar year was 37.86 inches.  Normal precipitation is 32.95 inches.  Precipitation for 2009 was 38.35 inches.

 

Snow fall from December 1, 2010 to date, is 21.8 inches compared to the norm of 15.5 inches.  We had a snow pack of 8 inches for the previous report, a trace remains today.

 

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 rate for the next several weeks.

 

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

 

The operator of the Stoughton Dam is within their operating water level orders.  Today's discharge is 355 cfs compared to a median average of 282 cfs.  This increased flow assists in moving water volume out of the upper lakes.

 

Information like this is also now being posted at the Dane County website:  http://countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/lakelevelpg.aspx