Gray’s Bay Dam Open
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) opened Gray’s Bay Dam on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in accordance with Zone 4 of the Dam’s operating plan. Given current water levels, precipitation forecasts, and the time of year, the Dam was opened to discharge 20 cubic feet per second (cfs), to sustain base flow in Minnehaha Creek.
Starting in mid-May, the Dam’s operating plan prescribes a range of discharge rates based on current and forecasted conditions, to balance Lake Minnetonka’s level and flow in the Creek. The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting over an inch of precipitation in the watershed early next week, and dam discharge may be adjusted based on how the forecast evolves.
MCWD will continue to evaluate water levels, along with near- and long-term precipitation forecasts, to determine discharge rates that align with the operating plan’s goals.
also in this update
- 2025 Precipitation Trends and Forecasts
- Current Water Levels
- Gray’s Bay Dam Operations
- MCWD and Hennepin County Receive Award
- Water Level Resources