LWCB Secretariat Updates: 2024.07.04 Winnipeg River Conditions and Level Forecasts

Over the last month, outflow from Lake of the Woods has been steadily increased due to sustained high inflows to the lake and rising water levels. These outflow increases have caused levels along the Winnipeg River in both Ontario and Manitoba to rise by several feet. River levels near Kenora have come up 285 cm (112 in) since mid-May. Further downstream, natural constrictions in the river hold back water and the level of the Winnipeg River is affected differently by the outflow from Lake of the Woods. The graph and map below show the water level at different locations along the Winnipeg River for different outflows from Lake of the Woods. The current outflow is close to 1100 m³/s, which means river levels are close to those shown by the green line in the graph.

At the town of Minaki, the river level is normally controlled by operations at the Whitedog Dam. However, because outflow from Lake of the Woods has been increased above 700 m³/s, the dam can no longer control water levels and they have begun to rise as well. The level at Minaki has increased by 93 cm (37.5 in) since June 1^st, just before Lake of the Woods outflow rose above 700 m³/s, which is 92 cm (37 in) above the normal level of 316.09 m. Further downstream in Manitoba, levels along the Winnipeg River have also increased and are now above their normal range for this time of year. The level at Nutimik Lake has increased by 105 cm (41 in) since June 1^st.

All sluice gates at the Norman Dam in Kenora are now open and outflow from Lake of the Woods can only increase with rising lake levels. The outflow will therefore increase gradually, unless heavy rainfall occurs. Over the next week, outflow is expected to increase by approximately 10 to 20 m³/s. Levels along the Winnipeg River will therefore rise by:

For levels on the Winnipeg River in Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro provides a water level forecast: https://www.hydro.mb.ca/corporate/operations/water-levels/