Public Comments - Water Levels Committee’s Draft 2022 Post Flood Report - International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) welcomes comments on the Water Levels Committee’s draft 2022 Post Flood Report​.

Background 

In the spring and summer of 2022, the Namakan Chain of Lakes and Rainy Lake reached some of the highest water levels on record. The flood was a natural disaster that lasted many weeks. Rainy Lake reached record breaking water levels and Namakan Lake ranked as the third highest water levels on record.

The International Joint Commission employs rule curves to regulate water levels in Rainy and Namakan Lakes throughout the year. The Water Levels Committee (WLC) of the IRLWWB monitors hydrologic conditions and provides dam operators, which are currently H2O Power in Canada and Boise Paper in the United States, with directions for ensuring that rule curves are followed.

The draft Report reviews the conditions that led to the high-water event in 2022, a summary of WLC actions, and provides answers to questions raised by the public, including analysis on what would have happened if the High Flood Risk Rule Curve had been employed starting March 10, 2022.

The IRLWWB is soliciting comments on the draft Post Flood Report. The comment period is open from March 10 to April 3, 2023.