Need Information on Lake Water Levels?

Minnesota Power operates Birch and Garden Lake Reservoirs’ water levels to maintain target parameters throughout the year as required by a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) License. To learn more about these operating objectives, click on the “Educational Tab” on the WICOLA Homepage and then “Lake / Reservoir Levels”.

To view current water level elevations, flow, and conditions, please check the Minnesota Power webpage at;

http://web15.mnpower.com/web/public/Hydro/ShorelandTraditions/Levels.html

And the USGS stream flow report covering the inflow to Birch Lake Reservoir at;

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mn/nwis/uv/?site_no=05125000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

What to look for on the Minnesota Power Webpage

The Kawishiwi River Basin Chart includes the current Lake and Lake Reservoir Elevations for Birch, White Iron and Garden Lakes. The Chart also includes the Current Flow from the Birch Lake Reservoir into White Iron and the Flow from Garden to Fall Lake at Kawishiwi Falls.

The Garden Lake and Birch Lake Operating Band Charts can also be found on this page on the lower left corner under the title Kawishiwi River Basin Information. These charts graph the “Target” lake elevations as well as the “Upper” and “Lower” Operating Bands. These charts can be used along with the “Current Elevations Data” to help you determine where water levels are forecasted to be and how that might affect your shoreline and dock positioning.