Photo courtesy of Keith Soderbeck
A warning from the Lake of the Woods Control Board about rapidly rising water levels on the Lac Seul and English River watersheds.
Officials say April brought record precipitation and exceptionally high snowpack in the area is expected to result in a rapid rise in tributary flows over the next week as the snow melt picks up.
The Control Board is directing further outflow increases from Lac Seul this week as the lake is expected to rise quickly.
Meantime, residents on Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River that had to deal with flooding in the past are asked to make preparations again.
The Norman Dam will be fully open later this week, but the Lake of the Woods Control Board says water entering the system is more than can be handled by the dam.
Water levels have increased more than two feet (65 centimeters) on the Lake in the past month and more than five feet (170 centimeters) on the Winnipeg River.
The Control Board says water levels will depend on rainfall over the next two weeks and Lake of the Woods is expected to rise toward the top of its legislated operating range by mid-May.
(With files from Tim Davidson)
