Levels and Flows for Rivers, Lakes, Reservoirs and Aquifers

Lakes Report

April 27, 2007

Levels and forecasts for 36 lakes in Manitoba as of April 27th, 2007 are provided on the attached tables for “Southern Manitoba Lakes” and “Northern Manitoba Lakes” Use the scroll bar at the bottom of the attachment to go from one table to the other.

A report for 35 Manitoba lakes is attached. The two attached tables contain the following information:

1. Lake levels for April 27, 2007 or the most recent level available.
2. The change in level since September 14, 2006 when a report was last issued.
3. Predicted lake levels for May 27, 2007
4. The target lake level for the summer and the desirable range for the lake.
5. Comparative levels for the spring of 2005 and 2006.

Most lakes have already crested due to spring runoff, but Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnipegosis, Lake Manitoba, Lake of The Prairies, and many lakes in northern Manitoba have not yet crested.

Lakes which are presently above their desirable range or are expected rise above that range later this spring include:

• Lake Winnipegosis

• Lake of The Prairies

• Whiteshell area lakes except those on the Winnipeg River

• Dauphin Lake

• Red Deer Lake

• Shoal Lakes in southern Interlake

Lake Winnipegosis levels will be similar to those of last year with flooding of low-lying haylands likely under strong on-shore winds.

Lake Of The Prairies may overtop its spillway, especially if significant rain develops during the next few weeks.

Whiteshell area lakes are unusually high. Logs will be pulled nest week to reduce levels.  

Dauphin Lake is not seriously high and is expected to recede to within the desirable range during May, based on average rainfall.

Red Deer Lake is expected to crest at the second highest level on record during early May. Homes have been diked.

The Shoal Lakes have no outlet and are likely to remain high all summer, but levels should be about 0.7 feet lower than last year.

Lakes in the vicinity of The Pas are likely to be somewhat too high, but levels are not presently available.

Lakes with unusually low levels include: 

• Lake Of The Woods

• Lake Winnipeg

• Lakes on the Winnipeg River

Lake Of The Woods has hardly risen this spring due to generally below average precipitation for the past 12 months. Levels will be even lower than last year unless above average precipitation develops during the next few months.

Lake Winnipeg is gradually recovering from a low late-winter level but will remain below average this summer unless the Winnipeg River recovers.

Lakes along the Winnipeg River are a few feet below average this spring and will remain below this summer unless sustained average to above average precipitation develops during the next two to three months.

Click on the following links to see the data/levels:

Southern Lake Sheet

Northern Lake Sheet