Mendota 849.92 - 0.07 ft +0.32 ft
Monona 844.68 +0.21 ft - 0.02 ft
Waubesa 844.24 +0.03 ft - 0.26 ft
Kegonsa 842.99 - 0.49 ft - 0.01 ft
Since the last report of October 21st , we have received 1.13 inches of rain. The National Weather Service at the Dane County Regional Airport reported a total of 5.49 inches of precipitation since September 1. We have received 25.79 inches of precipitation since January 1, 2011, - 4.81 inches below normal. Last year, we received 35.29 inches of rainfall for the same year to date period.
Effective November 1st, we have begun transitioning to winter drawdown status on the Yahara Lakes.
We have increased flow out of Mendota and will continue to bring that lake down.
Because Lakes Monona and Waubesa have been below their respective Summer Minimum levels for a couple of weeks, riparian landowners have experienced difficulties getting their shore stations out of the water, on to shore. We will continue the current water levels for Monona and Waubesa till next Tuesday November 15th, then open up the dam at Babcock County Park.
Lafollette Lock and Dam is completely open.
Each lake has a "Winter Minimum" designated by the Water Level Orders. These orders require that we not go below the respective levels. It our goal to maintain all lakes 0.2 ft above their respective winter minimum level. This usually applies only to Lake Mendota, as the other lakes do not get close to their winter minimum levels.
This is ths last bi-weekly update posted until spring 2012.
