Excel dam discharge rate and river flow web site

[Zeke]

Excel updated their web site and changed the address for the flowage level. This is the new address I got from them www.excelenergy.com/hydrolevels
Flowage remain high wonder when drawdown will occur?

[MuskieRandy]

I think your link is bad. Try this:
http://www.xcelenergy.com/Company/Op...ischarge_Rates

[Zeke]

I think your link is bad. Try this:
http://www.xcelenergy.com/Company/Op...ischarge_Rates

That's unusual, it worked yesterday and I bookmarked it. Still works as a bookmark but as you correctly posted it takes you someplace else today.
Still wondering why the flowage remains just a foot and a half down. I figured the drawdown would start in the fall. Could it be "memorandum of understanding compliance"? Water from the Manitowish chain?

[gdi]

Keep it high

[ranger618]

Shouldn't Xcell be slowing down discharge rate by now to bring the flowage level up?

[MuskieRandy]

Discharge is low right now. 308 cfs IS LOW. The level is coming up.

[ranger618]

That's great news! That is a reduction of more than 15% since I posted the question.
Full Pool is about 3ft away

[BlueRanger]

Ranger618, no, this is very abnormal and is not good news. At the end of March they would normally be intentionally drawing down to -5 to as much as -8 feet to make room for spring snowmelt runoff. The fact that they're already moving in the opposite direction is an extremely pessimistic sign. If you look at today's MODIS image you can see why - there is very little snow cover remaining in the area - in fact we're right on the edge of the snow line, although the drainage area is primarily north and east of the TFF. But looking at the 10-day forecast, the remaining snow will probably be gone by the end of next week. We'd better start practicing our rain dances...

http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/mod...r.143.250m.jpg

By the way, nobody answered Zeke's question last fall, but again, no, they don't draw down in fall - they reduce discharge and try to get it as full as possible going into winter. The whole purpose of the TFF is to provide a reserve of water that can be released for downstream hydro operations during the parts of the year when the natural river flow is normally lowest - winter and late summer.

[MuskieRandy]

Yes, it is troubling that the level isn't coming up very fast since they reduced to about 300 cfs. 300 is about the minimum they will go, and the fact it isn't coming up much means that not much must be going in! We need rain. See:

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

[LundAngler]

Ranger618, no, this is very abnormal and is not good news. At the end of March they would normally be intentionally drawing down to -5 to as much as -8 feet to make room for spring snowmelt runoff. The fact that they're already moving in the opposite direction is an extremely pessimistic sign. If you look at today's MODIS image you can see why - there is very little snow cover remaining in the area - in fact we're right on the edge of the snow line, although the drainage area is primarily north and east of the TFF. But looking at the 10-day forecast, the remaining snow will probably be gone by the end of next week. We'd better start practicing our rain dances...

http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/mod...r.143.250m.jpg

By the way, nobody answered Zeke's question last fall, but again, no, they don't draw down in fall - they reduce discharge and try to get it as full as possible going into winter. The whole purpose of the TFF is to provide a reserve of water that can be released for downstream hydro operations during the parts of the year when the natural river flow is normally lowest - winter and late summer.

Per Wikipedia (I know it's a lame source) "The dam also provided flood protection and created a unique recreational resource."

[Flambeau Vista Retreat LLC]

This link is down again. Please let me know if you find a new link and I will get it changed on this site. Thanks.

Scott

[MuskieRandy]

The link is always moving around!

http://www.xcelenergy.com/Company/Op...ischarge_Rates

[Hot Runr Guy]

The link is always moving around!

http://www.xcelenergy.com/Company/Op...ischarge_Rates

Thanks!

HRG

[Flambeau Vista Retreat LLC]

Thanks MuskyRandy. Also thanks to Tom502 who emailed me the link. I emailed this on to the folks at Outdoor Network that own the site, but have not heard a response. I'll keep trying.