September 16, 2005
Levels of many lakes in both southern and northern Manitoba are unusually high at this time following a wet spring and well-above-average precipitation this summer.
Lake level forecasts are based on normal precipitation and evaporation from this point onward and do not include wind conditions. Levels at particular locations on large lakes can be temporarily much higher or lower due to winds.
September 2005 Lake Conditions
Lake Winnipeg
Highest level since the mid 1970s. Crest - 716.6 feet in late July. Highest recorded level without wind - July 1974, 718.1 feet.
Level Sept. 12, 2005 - 715.65 feet, 1.8 feet above average.
By mid-October based on normal precipitation - 714.9 feet, by mid-November - 714.5 feet.
Outflows of the lake have been at the maximum possible since February 2005.
Levels at the south end of the lake could rise up to six feet (not including wave action) with a very strong sustained north wind.
Diking is underway to protect vulnerable areas.
Due to unusually high levels, a special report addressing Lake Winnipeg is available at:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/water_info/lake_river/lakes_report.htmlLake Manitoba
At 812.7 feet, about one foot above the September average for the past 30 years.
Lake crest - 813.3 feet in July 2005.
Expected to decline to 812.35 feet by mid-October.
Flooding of haylands has been reported in northern portions of the lake this summer.
There is a risk of some shoreline damage in the event that strong autumn winds develop. However, the threat is much lower than that on Lake Winnipeg.
Lake Winnipegosis
Level is 0.6 feet above September average for the past 30 years and the highest since 1997.
Dauphin Lake
Higher than usual all summer and still half a foot above the top of the range. Some shoreline erosion could occur if strong autumn winds develop.
Lakes on Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park
Near normal levels now including levels along the Winnipeg River system which were unusually high earlier this summer.
Smaller lakes in southern Manitoba
Near normal levels.
Many of these lakes, such as Pelican, Rock and Whitewater lakes experienced record levels earlier this summer following torrential downpours in June.
Smaller lakes in the Interlake and Westlake region are still well-above-average levels.
Lake St. Martin is two feet above its summer target level but is declining slowly and should not pose a problem this autumn.
The Pas Area
Lakes in the vicinity of The Pas were at desirable levels earlier this summer but have risen above the desirable range due to heavy rain in late August and September.
Northeast of Lake Winnipeg
Lakes east and northeast of Lake Winnipeg experienced near record high levels earlier this summer.
Lakes in this region continue to be at well-above-average levels including lakes from Wanipigow Lake north to Island, Gods and Oxford lakes.
Nelson River System
Lakes along the Nelson River system are at record-high summer levels due to
record-high flows on the Nelson River.
Churchill River Diversion flows have been kept lower than average to ease pressure on Split Lake.
Churchill River
Many lakes along the Churchill River and at points further north are at record-high levels due to above-average rainfall from July through September.
Most lakes are expected to decline between now and freeze-up but some lakes along the Churchill and Nelson rivers may rise slightly before beginning to decline. Weather conditions during the next few months will be important, especially winds over large lakes. Environment Canada’s long-range weather outlook for the autumn calls for above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation for most areas of Manitoba.
- 30 -