UPDATE ON LAKE SUPERIOR OUTFLOWS AND EXPECTED CONDITIONS - FEBRUARY 2017
The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission (IJC), has set the Lake Superior outflow to 2370 cubic metres per second (m3/s) for the month of February, effective February 3rd. The outflow is as prescribed by Plan 2012 and may at times vary due to weather events and changes in hydrologic and ice conditions.
The February outflow will be released by discharging about 2280 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 will be maintained at the equivalent of one-half gate open (four gates open 20 centimetres (cm) each) for the month of February. 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 Gate #1, which supplies a flow of about 15 m3/s to the channel north of the Fishery Remedial Dike.
The net water supplies to Lake Superior were above average in January. The level of Lake Superior fell 6 cm last month, while on average the lake declines 7 cm in January. The Lake Superior level at the beginning-of-February is 15 cm above average, 8 cm below the level recorded a year ago at this time, and 24 cm above its chart datum level.
The net water supplies to Lake Michigan-Huron were above average in January. The level of Lake Michigan-Huron remained stable last month, while on average the lake declines 3 cm in January. The level of Lake Michigan-Huron is 21 cm above its long-term average beginning-of-February level, 6 cm lower than it was a year ago, and 48 cm above its chart datum level.
The levels of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron are both expected to continue their seasonal declines in February.
United States
Cindy Jarema
(313) 226-6127
Cynthia.A.Jarema@usace.army.mil
Canada
Jacob Bruxer
(613) 938-5862
Jacob.Bruxer@canada.ca