Minnetaki and Low Water Levels

[Fishook]

We are scheduled for our annual trip to Minnetaki next June. Water levels were terribly low this past summer/fall and, according to the camp owner, are even worse now. Water is so low you can't put boats in. Minnetaki is just below Sioux Lookout and is on the English River system. Is this happening all over up there/in Canada? Anyone know why? I keep thinking this has to be a managed thing and not due totally to being dry/evaporation - levels are down 8 feet plus. What does the outlook for lots of snow look like this winter? Appreciate any feedback.

[Abrams]

You need not worry . . . . yet.

I own a cabin on Abrams. I've had it for 34 years. . . it's been in my family since 1945 so I've seen many seasons come and go in the the sunset country. Lakes in this area are part of several river systems, as you know; water levels are control by a dam at the end of Lac Suel. This is part of the problem, the other part is it was DRY last summer. From my observations the water levels every year start high and end low, this was just an extreme year.

With normal snow fall and a few timely rains this spring things will be back to normal. If not boat travel will be dangerous. I believe 3 or 4 years ago the water was LOW in the spring, which was strange. Still, it’s an awesome testament to mother nature when the water levels changes 8 linear feet in a few short months.

[Fishook]

Thanks for the reply. Just curious if you are able to use the Chute when the water is this low? We stay at PAC in the Arm and only fish on Minnetaki so we do not go into Abrams. Will keep our fingers crossed that water levels improve come Spring.

[Abrams]

Depends on how low for the chutes, by the end of last summer . . . . no unless it was a 9.9 or something small.

[Wild Thing]

Hey guys,

Go here http://www.lwcb.ca/ to see the water level reports for Lac Seul, which includes English River, and for Lake of the Woods.

We're on Lake of the Woods which is now in the 8 percentile, meaning it's this low only 8 years out of 100. If we don't get a TON of snow upstream this winter, it's going to be very low this spring, probably off the charts.

The reason is that NW Ontario and northern minnesota are in the worst drought in 30 years and possibly more. Even Lake Superior has dropped a foot, and that takes a pretty bad drought.

FYI, this will likely be a hot news story in spring when a lot of boat landings are out of the water and unusable. If guys don't check ahead, could make for a nasty opener!

[Fishook]

How are things looking at this time? Snow levels normal or above/below average? Only three months to go so hope water levels improve over last fall.

[Abrams]

I have not talked with the neighboors recently. I suspect they have not received very much snow but I'm not sure. When I find out I'll post.

They would need 4 feet of snow to get things back to normal.

[Wild Thing]

The snow over/on the actual lake has little to do with the water levels, which reamin VERY low -- at least 3 feet below normal.

Officially the lake is now at the 15 percentile (50 would be avg.) but is dropping slowly.

What we really need is a ton of late snow and rain in northern Minnesota and the border area of Ontario. Rainy Lake is in an emergency water control condition and water going into the Rainy River is very limited.

Unfortunately, while the march snow has helped, much of the region remains 6-10 inches below normal for rainfall over the past 12 months.

FYI

[Fishook]

Thanks for the reply Abrams and Wild Thing. Keeping my fingers crossed and praying for spring rains.