Question About Low Lake Levels

[Billfo]

Question about low lake levels. I see we are very close to normal pool. When does the Corp of Eng drop the lake for the winter ? How low does it usually get ? Is it back to normal by spawn ?

Thanks.

[Quillback]

Who knows? The Corps acts in mysterious ways

I did hear a couple of days ago that Beaver is losing more water to evaporation than is being let through the dam.

[rps]

Actually, the amount of water used to generate electricity is determined by the SWPA. They have a contract with the Corps that between certain lake levels, they determine discharge through the turbines. The low end is some feet below normal pool (depends on which lake).

The corps may override for flood control purposes, for minimum flow requirements, and for emergencies such as a drowning on the river that requires dropping flow to conduct a search.

The corps will therefore allow SWPA to discharge during peak usage (that's when they can sell to utilities on the grid for max dollars) all hot season. Only if the draw down is insufficient will the corps dump more water in the winter. This arrangement also means we could have two very low lakes if it stays so hot and dry.

That is probably more than you wanted to know, isn't it?

[dblades]

Question about low lake levels. I see we are very close to normal pool. When does the Corp of Eng drop the lake for the winter ? How low does it usually get ? Is it back to normal by spawn ?

Thanks.

I don't think they have actually had much winter draw down lately.

[Billfo]

That is probably more than you wanted to know, isn't it?

Not at all. Good information (for me anyway), I work with the transmission grid (at least a small part of the big picture), but dont know much about hydro power as we dont have any hyrdro in Omaha.. Still interesting relationship btw corps lake levels & megawatt sales...

[Martin]

What I've learned over the years:

The lake MAY stay about normal pool all winter.

OR:

The lake may go down to 914 to 910 all winter.

OR:

The lake may go down to 909 to 890..... ( lol )

Bottom line is: You just never know and there's really no way to estimate. My wild stab this winter would be no better then a wild guess, but I think we'll see 910. (remember, that's just a wild guess).