Record of Mtg. of:
WCA’s Lake Levels Committee with MI & SD March 28, 2017
Record of Meeting - Mar. 28 /17
WCA’s Lake levels Cmte.
MI – Flood Control
SD - Parks
Present: Al Bezak; Alan Roberts, Neil McMillan; Tom Cutts; D. Kinley; J. Kettner; L. Donnelly; D. Moberg; R. Harrison; Will Kellas (MI);
Regrets: G. Kennedy; G. Fissette; Brad Kiedyk (SD); Fisaha Unduche (MI)
Special Guest: Dale Hutchison (DH) - Manitoba Hydro
Date: March 28, 2017
Subject: Performance review of 2016 program; and priorities for 2017.
Winnipeg River (WR) Levels
Information on the river water flow rate in the WR through the lakes between Nutimik and Eleanor Lake, is reported weekly by the LWCB (Lake of the Woods Control Board). This information is used to approximate lake level for each of the lakes downstream of Slave Falls. Minor fluctuations in this flow rate caused by local rainfall events entering the WR downstream of the English River, show up on the continuous level monitors on these lakes that are maintained by Environment Canada, and monitored by Manitoba Hydro,. These monitors pick up fluctuations due to local causes, such as occasional ice jams at points of restricted flow, that are not monitored by the LWCB.
Manitoba Hydro monitors both the river flow and the local water levels on an ongoing basis, for internal use in management of their generating stations, but have no means to distribute this information to cottagers affected, nor to undertake remedial measures to correct problems that may occur (other than for their power generating stations) from time to time. Manitoba Hydro have offered to provide this level information to Manitoba Infrastructure for their use in identifying situations that would cause problems for local area residents / cottagers.
Resources are available within MI and SD, to respond to significant level fluctuations that occur in these lakes that are deemed to pose a threat to residents. Discussion with Will Kellas identified the Flood Control Group as willing to monitor the level information published by Manitoba Hydro and either take remedial action directly, or advise SD when action is required. In addition, Hydro offered to copy their weekly forecasts of the WR lake level information to Alan Roberts for distribution by the WCA to the cottagers in the area via the WCA’s website.
A discussion of the lake levels on issues on a lake by lake basis resulted in the following resolve:
Falcon Lake:
We have received 2 letters from SD declining our requests for an engineering study into the scope of work associated with dredging of the boat access channels. They have misconstrued the need for prior completion of the design of a new level control structure for the lake, and are using this as an excuse for delay. The resolve was that WCA should continue to press SD to take remedial action (dredge the boathouse access channels) in Blocks #10 and #12 / 23 on the south shore of Falcon, in order to increase the acceptable lake water level range to at least 12 inches from the current 6 inches.
No Stop-logs were installed in the discharge control structure in 2016, and the draw down through the winter of 2016 / 17 resulted in a spring water level of 1065.45 ft. Complaints about the lack of adequate water depth available in the boat access channels are already being received.
It was recommended to MI that – in operating the stop logs during the period between now and having a functional level control facility in place, that the top of the stop logs inserted into the existing control structure (if any) should never on average – exceed 1065.5 ft. during May and June, nor 1065.75 ft. during the months of July or August. All precipitation events of 1.5 inches or more should result in the immediate removal of at least 1 stop log until such time as the water level declined to at or below 1066.0 ft.
The Preliminary Design Study (being carried out by Hatch Assoc.) for a new level control structure has come to agree with our committee’s opinion regarding the inadequacy of the Falcon River for reliable control of the lake level. They have yet to propose their preferred design of a control structure, however, have assured us that a pumped discharge will be included in the options analysis carried out. They intend to carry out a preliminary environmental assessment of the options available, and use this to assist in resolving upon their recommended design approach.
Our problem with this approach is that speculating on environmental impacts that have neither been proven nor disproven, prejudices against any options which might cause minor environmental impact – limiting the selection to those that rely upon the adequacy of the existing Falcon River. This dictates that the option(s) selected, will not satisfy our water level objectives. We will have no choice but to demand a formal impact assessment of the options excluded due to unproven environmental impact, and endure the protracted delay (assuming that SD agrees to carry out the impact analysis required) in construction of a level control facility.
West Hawk Lake:
An Operating Protocol for the West Hawk Lake dam was drafted by a delegation of Caddy Lake and West Hawk cottagers, and has been passed on to MI for implementation. The protocol sets out a dam operating procedure designed to protect the interests of cottagers on both lakes to the extent feasible within the “normal operating level range”, and defines a regimen of compromise for water levels outside of the normal range. This will be subject to annual refinement by agreement by at least 3 delegates from each lake. Current delegates include: Bob Stalker, Grant Fissette, and Joel Kettner from Caddy, and Alan Roberts, Lindsay Donnelly, and Darrell Kinley from West Hawk.
The drawdown level for the winter of 2016 / 17 was 1090.6 ft. MI has undertaken to re-install the Continuous Level Monitor damaged in September 2016, as soon as possible.
Caddy Lake:
It was noted that effective implementation of the dam Operating Protocol is dependent upon a continuous level monitor being installed in Caddy as well. MI undertook to have one installed as soon as possible, and advise this committee by April 10th of the likely date.
Significant flooding (more than 3 inches over the “flood level”) has occurred 10 times in the last 20 years – demonstrating the rapidly rising precipitation levels in the area. Flooding had only occurred 6 times in the previous 38 years that records were kept. CN Rail have been approached to assess the adequacy of the tunnels under their main line at the Whiteshell River crossing north of South Cross Lake
A lengthy discussion of our request for a hydraulic analysis of modifying the weir (by adding a shallow V-notch weir on top of the existing weir) at the discharge of North Cross Lake, was held. This analysis (requested in May 2015) has not been carried out yet, but will be prerequisite to modifying the weir to reduce the discharge rate at the low end of the desired water level range. MI agreed to work with the adhoc Caddy Lake Water Level sub-committee, to address those steps that could be completed preparatory to CN’s resolution of the main drainage impediment.
Jessica Lake:
Assignment of dam operating responsibility has been made to local Parks staff. No commitment for installation of an automated level monitor was given.
Betula Lake:
The need for modifications to the Betula lake discharge weir – similar to that requested at Caddy Lake, must be recognized by MI.
Level readings were taken throughout the summer of 2016 by a very cooperative cottager – hopefully this can be sustained until sufficient data is available for conducting the requisite hydraulic study to support modification of the discharge weir.
Next Meeting:
Our next meeting with MIT and Parks will be scheduled in October 2017.
Record by: Alan Roberts – WCA
Chair – Lake Levels Committee
2