Snow Melt, Rain Causing Lake Level To Rise

Heavy rains and mountain snow melt have sent a rush of water toward Lake Pend Oreille, forcing flood-control spills at Albeni Falls Dam.

“I’ve been here 10 years and haven’t seen it like this before,” said Dave Harris, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “It’s been dry the last few years, and it’s unusual to have this much water coming in.”

The lake level and the Pend Oreille River are expected to rise dramatically the next few days. The corps is warning boaters, waterfront homeowners and ranchers who use low-lying areas for grazing animals to beware of the sudden changes.

“There is concern for the stability of some levees and farmers who have cows grazing on islands,” said Wayne Wagner, the corps’ chief water manager. “We don’t think we will have any big problems; we just want people to know the water is rising.”

Water is pouring into the lake at a rate of about 90,000 cubic feet per second. Without discharges at Albeni Falls Dam, the lake could rise more than half a foot each day.

“We expect to prevent any significant damage to property, but it is impossible to predict exactly how much water is coming,” said Bob Schloss, project engineer at the dam.

The lake is at an elevation of 2,061 feet, about a foot and a half below full pool. Because of discharges at the dam for flood control, the lake is not expected to reach and stay at full pool until the middle of June.

High water levels are expected to last throughout the weekend, and the corps urged boaters to be extra cautious near the dam.

, DataTimes MEMO: IDAHO HEADLINE: Rain, snowmelt causing lake levels to rise