Stormy Start to August
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed received approximately 1.5 inches of rain on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, during the first significant rainfall of the month. The storm developed quickly Sunday night and into Monday, and the rain lasted through most of the day, elevating water levels across the watershed.
While Gray’s Bay Dam discharge was held at 100 cfs in the 10 days ahead of the storm, Minnehaha Creek increased from 215 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 390 cfs as a result of Monday’s rain. Monday’s rainfall also caused Lake Minnetonka to rise approximately 1.8 inches, to 929.62 feet on Tuesday as the lake received drainage from its tributaries.
With a dry forecast in the near term, and in accordance with the operating plan, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) increased Gray’s Bay Dam discharge to 200 cfs on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, following the storm, to lower Lake Minnetonka toward its Ordinary High Water Level (OHW) of 929.4 feet while balancing high flows in the creek. MCWD will continue to adjust dam discharge in accordance with the operating plan, projected weather forecasts, and water levels across the watershed.
Also in this update
- July saw less rain than June, but water levels remained elevated
- 2024 Precipitation Trends and Forecasts
- Current Water Levels
- Gray’s Bay Dam Operations
- Water Level Resources