May 8, 2006

SEATTLE—Lake Pend Oreille is slowly rising to its summer level, according to the Seattle District, Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps operates Albeni Falls Dam, which regulates the level of Lake Pend Oreille.

The Corps will gradually raise the lake level until it reaches an elevation of 2,062 feet above mean sea level by the end of June as it does each year. The Corps determines reservoir releases and lake fill rates by modeling estimated lake inflows that take into consideration weather and snow pack forecasts.  The lake was at an elevation 2056.3 feet as of midnight May 7.

The lake elevation ranges from 2,062 to 2,062.5 feet above sea level throughout the summer season for recreation uses. The Corps lowers the lake elevation for the winter each year to provide flood control protection, and for fall power generation.  Winter lake levels are adjusted to ensure access to shoreline spawning gravels for kokanee, or to allow wave action to clean the gravels.

Current lake levels and yearly average lake elevations are available at any time on-line at:

http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nws/hh/basins/pend.html

Seattle District provides clean energy to the Northwest from hydropower produced at Albeni Falls, Chief Joseph and Libby dams.