Lake Levels, Drought Conditions & More

[Rick]

• · Precipitation & Drought Levels

April 2015 monthly precipitation totals were below historical averages across most of Minnesota, continuing a predominantly dry pattern that originated during the mid-summer of 2014. In many communities, April precipitation totals fell short of average by one-half inch to one and one-half inches. For a few south central and southeast Minnesota counties, April precipitation totals topped five inches, exceeding the long-term average by an inch or more.

As of early May 2015, the U. S. Drought Monitor indicated that Severe Drought conditions existed in northwest and north central Minnesota. Moderate Drought conditions were in place over most of the remainder of the state. A few southeast Minnesota counties were free of drought designation.

The drought conditions were the result of a dry 2014 autumn, below-average snowfall during the 2014-2015 winter, and a dry spring. Precipitation totals for October 1, 2014 through May 5, 2015 were five to seven inches below normal for much of Minnesota (see map). For large sections of the state, October 1, 2014 to May 5, 2015 precipitation totals ranked below the 5th percentile (one year in twenty) when compared with historical data for the same seven-month period.

• Stream Flow

The 2015 open water season began with relatively low stream flows across most of Minnesota. The below average winter snowfall and dry spring led to very little snowpack runoff for the spring melt. A small corner of southeast Minnesota is not categorized as drought affected and stream flows are in the above normal range for those watersheds.

• Lake Levels

Preliminary Spring 2015 results of 500 statewide lake levels show that 50% of the lakes decreased 1 to 12 inches since Fall 2014; 25% of the lakes stayed the same as Fall 2014; 25% of the lakes increased 1 to 12 inches by Spring 2015.

So far, 50% of the lakes were below their average lake levelof the entire historic record, but 36% of the lakes were above their average lake level. When comparing Spring 2015 lake levels to their entire historic record, 62% of the SE lakes were in the Normal percentile, 10% above normal, and 28% below normal or low.

Most of the highlighted lakes experienced Normal percentile ranges when focusing on April comparisons. Swan and Marion Lakes dropped a percentile since October, but held onto their waters and were at Above Normal percentiles for April. North Center Lake and Lake of the Woods dropped to Below Normal April percentiles.

Indian and White Bear Lakes also dropped another percentile into the Low percentile for April, the same percentile seen for multiple months in 2013 for these lakes. At the end of this month, White Bear Lake had similar water levels as its lake levels in June 2013 and August 2011.

• Groundwater

Groundwater levels in all but the far eastern edge of the state were at or below normal levels for the month of April. Surficial aquifer levels, as well as buried and bedrock aquifers appeared at the same or lower overall levels compared to their historical monthly levels from last fall.