Elevation as of September 28, 2007: 1310.50 ft.
Season : Fall 2007
Typical Full Elevation: 1312.5 to 1313.0 ft.
2007 Projected Fall Full Elevation Range: 1311.0
– 1313.0 ft. (dependent upon Fall precipitation)
Comments
§ The Upper Chippewa River watershed has experienced some rainfall events over the last several weeks. However, tributary inflows to the Chippewa Reservoir have not increased due to the extremely dry conditions that have persisted over the watershed area during the summer season.
§ The summer drawdown level reached this summer was 2.94 ft. (1310.06 ft. elevation). This is approximately 0.5 ft. deeper than the average summer drawdown level over the past 15 years. The drawdown was greater than average due to the lack of significant rainfall during the summer season, as well as five consecutive years of below normal precipitation in the watershed area.
§ A drawdown of the Moose Lake Reservoir will begin on October 14, which will provide approximately 7,400 cubic-feet of water to the Chippewa Reservoir. This should increase the Chippewa Reservoir elevation by approximately 0.5 feet. The drawdown of Moose Lake will be completed in November.
§ Discharge from the dam will be maintained at or slightly above the minimum flow requirement (250 cfs) until the reservoir refills. If the reservoir refills this Fall, the discharge flow will be increased to match the inflow into the reservoir.
§ Fall rains and any resulting river inflow to the reservoir are impossible to predict in advance. As such, the rate of refill or target elevations are also difficult, if not impossible, to predict with a high degree of accuracy.
Definitions of Seasons of the Year for Operating the Chippewa Storage Reservoir: