From: Bauer, Shannon L MVP
Subject: Corps to begin early drawdown of Lake Traverse Feb. 16
To:
Date: Friday, February 12, 2010, 8:27 AM
NEWS RELEASE
Feb. 12, 2010
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
St. Paul District
MVP-PA-2010-020
Contact:
Shannon Bauer: 651-290-5108, 612-840-9453, shannon.l.bauer@usace.army.mil

Corps to begin early drawdown of Lake Traverse Feb. 16

ST. PAUL, MINN. – Normally the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul
District, begins drawing down Lake Traverse on March 1, however, due to
excessive fall and winter moisture in the Red River of the North river basin
drawdown will begin early. Drawdown at Orwell Lake will begin according to
established schedule on March 1.

Air and ground reconnaissance completed by the National Weather Service,
Corps of Engineers and local cooperators indicate a basin wide snow-water
equivalent of more than 3 inches in the Lake Traverse basin. As such, the
Corps of Engineers will drawdown the reservoir to a Category II drawdown of
974.5 feet by the end of March, starting Feb. 16. The lake is presently at an
elevation of 976.7 feet. Outflows from Lake Traverse will be passed through
Mud Lake and down the Bois de Sioux River.

Outflows at White Rock Dam will be increased to 400 cfs on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
March 1, outflows will be increased to 1,100 cfs as per normal drawdown. Due
to increased water flows on the Bois de Sioux River, ice conditions could
deteriorate and become unsafe as far downstream as Wahpeton, N.D., and
Breckenridge, Minn. Fisherman and snowmobilers should be cautious. Remember,
there is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice on any water body.

Reconnaissance also indicates a basin wide snow-water equivalent of more than
3 inches in the Orwell Lake basin. As such, the Corps of Engineers will
drawdown Orwell to a Category II drawdown level of 1,050 feet by the end of
March, starting March 1. The lake is presently at an elevation of 1,064.1
feet. Discharges from Orwell are presently at 750 cfs and will be increased
beginning March 1 to accomplish this drawdown.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, serves the American
public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage
reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster
response. It contributes around $175 million to the five-state district
economy. The more than 638 employees work at more than 40 sites in five
upper-Midwest states. For more information, see http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

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