Originally published in Lake of the Woods Area News, Volume 55, Number 5, Winter 2025
To those of us who are fortunate to be able to spend quality time on the shores of Lake of the Woods and other areas in the Winnipeg River Basin, it will come as no surprise that low precipitation throughout the basin resulted in low water levels in the spring and summer of 2025. The lower-than-normal water conditions began in spring, persisted through summer and continued into the early fall. In late September, the level of Lake of the Woods was approximately 322.72 m (1058.8 ft) a low normal range for the time of year. Total year to date rainfall in the Lake of the Woods area in late September was at a 15th percentile, meaning 85 per cent of reported years were higher and 15 per cent were lower.
In fact, water levels in 2025 were ranked 24th lowest out of the last 30 years.
While water level conditions looked promising in early spring, the month of May had less than 20 mm (0.8 in) of rainfall for the entire month. This was unusually low for the time of year with 95 per cent of previously recorded rainfall levels during this period being higher. The lack of rain also resulted in an increase in wildfires and the related smoke conditions we began to experience. According to the Canadian Drought Monitor, the official tracking source of drought data nationally, by early June Northwestern Ontario had less than 85 per cent of its normal precipitation and expanding drought conditions. Late June rainfall increased with 30 to 80 mm of rain in the area however this wasn’t enough to compensate for the previous low levels of rainfall and runoff and the region continued to be classified as being in a drought condition. By the middle of July, the water level was stable at approximately 322.79 m (1059.0 ft), or at the low end of the normal range for the time of year.
For the fall season it is recommended that any adjustment to lake levels be done gradually and that levels be maintained within the range of 322.8 to 323.1 m (1059.0 to 1060.0 ft) into freeze-up based on normal flow conditions. This recommendation is intended to limit potential damage to shoreline infrastructure such as docks, cribs, boathouses and water lines that results from winter draw down when ice forms higher than this. Water levels and weather patterns will be monitored closely by the Control Board and Secretariat in anticipation of setting the October regulation strategy. Lake level monitoring is tracked year-round through a variety of sources including satellite monitoring and water level gauges strategically located in various parts of the Lake. The four primary gauges are Clearwater, Cyclone, Hanson and Springsteel. There are also gauges located near Kenora, however these are flow gauges not used for determining lake level averages and aren’t representative of the entire lake particularly when outflows are high.
Remember when you are thinking of going on the lake in any season to be aware of local conditions and consider the varying levels of the lake due to changing weather, wind set up and other factors that may have influenced lake levels and ice conditions. For up-to-date information on the work of the Control Board please visit the web site at lwcb.ca.
